Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 21, 1993 TAG: 9311210105
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
When Virginia quarterback Symmion Willis was hit by Tech pass-rusher Cornell Brown and fumbled deep in Cavaliers territory, Holland knew what he should do next.
Except he didn't do it.
On a windswept, sunny Saturday at Scott Stadium, Holland "was looking for a Sunday bounce" on this second-quarter play. The Hokies' sophomore defensive tackle got it. But what about that no-fun, oft-repeated coaches' mandate to fall on a loose ball?
"Nah, I wasn't going to do that," Holland said. "I saw the end zone right there. I just told myself, `Grab it and stay on your feet.' "
Mission accomplished. The 75th Tech-UVa meeting was one between ranked teams for the first time. It was filled with missed opportunities and ruled by defense. Appropriately, the Hokies' two biggest plays in the 20-17 victory were made when the Cavaliers had the ball.
The first was Holland's 8-yard run with a fumble as the Hokies took a 17-3 lead midway through the second quarter. That gave Holland the first touchdown by a Tech defensive lineman in 23 years.
"Really?" he said.
Sammy Bria was the last Tech defensive trench-fighter to get into the end zone with the ball. A guard in the wide-tackle six during Jerry Claiborne's last season as the Hokies' coach, Bria intercepted a Villanova pass and ran 77 yards for a score in a 34-7 victory on Nov. 7, 1970.
Holland, 20, wasn't born then, but the Chesapeake resident certainly could appreciate his historic score.
"It's my first," he said.
How about at Western Branch High School?
"I was a defensive lineman; I never carried the ball," Holland said.
Not in peewee ball, either?
"I never played peewee football," said the 283-pound lineman. "Actually, I was too small then."
His play, however, was the biggest for the Hokies until linebacker George DelRicco redeemed himself with five minutes left in the third quarter, with Tech leading 17-10 and Virginia on the Hokies' 7-yard line and thinking field goal.
DelRicco admitted later that he berated UVa kicker Kyle Kirkeide. Given a taunting penalty, the Tech linebacker gave UVa a fourth-and-one opportunity from the 3. Cavaliers coach George Welsh decided to run tailback Jerrod Washington, who was superb all day and had started this drive with a 40-yard run.
DelRicco made the hit. In the back of the press box, the drooping shoulders of the Peach and Hall of Fame bowl scouts looking for a UVa victory told more than the score. Even two changes at quarterback couldn't rally the Cavaliers, who had emotion and defense but no consistency on offense.
"In a game like this, a big game, your emotions get in the way sometimes," said Holland, who started Saturday in his alternating role with classmate J.C. Price. "There weren't many big plays, so when you have a chance to make one, you try to do it. When you're a defensive lineman, things like that just don't happen.
"How often do you think about scoring a touchdown? All the time. I've thought about it since I was a little kid."
In the euphoria of Holland's score, he never thought about keeping the ball as he was pounded to the artificial turf by teammates. He'd thought about scoring before, but not what he'd do if it ever happened.
"For about 20 minutes there, right after it happened, it was like I was unconscious," Holland said. "I had to get back in the game."
While the greatest single-season turnaround in school history - from 2-8-1 to 8-3 and an Independence Bowl bid - has been a dream for the Hokies, the Cavaliers' late-season nightmare has left their bowl hopes in others' hands.
While Tech is wondering about its bowl opponent, UVa (7-4) doesn't care who it might play. The Cavaliers just want the opportunity. After a 1-3 crash - it happened last year, too, and left Welsh's team home for the holidays - the Cavaliers will gladly come in the back door.
The Hokies have been told by Independence Bowl officials their most likely foes are North Carolina State, Iowa and Indiana. If it's N.C. State, that's good news for UVa, which then would be headed for the ACC's fourth-team berth in the Hall of Fame Bowl, after Clemson locked up a Peach Bowl spot Saturday with a 16-13 victory over South Carolina.
Tech's triumph made the Independence Bowl look good with its early commitment to the Hokies, who in one week have sold 2,500 tickets to the Dec. 31 game without advertising.
As the Hokies' Holland showed the Cavaliers, the people who want to go places this time of year must seize the opportunity.
by CNB