Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 21, 1993 TAG: 9311210166
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
After all, VMI was losing for the 10th time this season, this time to Southern Conference foe Appalachian State 35-21.
The Mountaineers (4-7 overall, 4-4 Southern) had not won a road game all year, and Saturday's game ultimately was decided by two critical fourth-quarter calls. Both went against the Keydets.
VMI's 1-10 season record was its worst in coach Jim Shuck's five seasons and its worst since 1986. The team lost to Appalachian State for the ninth consecutive time.
But any of the 3,533 observers who might have entertained the thought that VMI football is down and out, obviously are unfamiliar with the program. To Shuck and his squad, VMI stands for Very Much in It - regardless of the situation.
Saturday, the Keydets very much were.
Given the circumstances, Shuck was remarkably upbeat after the game, choosing not to criticize the officiating, the opposition or his team's play.
"I thought our guys fought hard and tried hard," Shuck said, "but it just wasn't quite enough."
VMI led 7-0 and 15-14, and appeared to have momentum on two occasions in the game's waning minutes, only to be called for penalties.
Appalachian State had the ball and a 22-15 lead midway through the fourth quarter and appeared to be moving toward a clinching touchdown. Fifteen plays into the Mountaineers' drive, VMI's defense stiffened, setting up fourth-and-eight at the Keydets' 9-yard line.
But VMI lineman Eugene Pribila was flagged for a personal foul, giving Appalachian State an automatic first down at the 4. Three plays later, fullback Damon Scott scored his third touchdown of the game, and after the extra point, the Mountaineers led 29-15 with 5 minutes, 7 seconds remaining.
Pribila insisted the contact was incidental. "They said I late-hit the guy," he said, "but I was jumping over the pile and tried to miss him. I was just hustling on the play."
After the kickoff, Keydets quarterback Spike Johnson threw an interception at the Mountaineers' 28. But two plays later, Brian Froehlich recovered a fumble, and the Keydets scored in four plays. A two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
Trailing 29-21 with three minutes to go, VMI's next strategy was no surprise. Still, the Keydets appeared to perfectly execute an onside kick, as Jeff Hubbard jumped high to pick off Geoff Goff's bouncing squibber.
The officials ruled, however, that the ball had not traveled the required 10 yards before Hubbard touched it. The Mountaineers were awarded the ball and scored again.
"We practice that play a lot," Hubbard said. "I kind of hesitated on the kick, to make sure it went 10 yards, but evidently the referees didn't see it that way."
"I'll have to watch the film on that," Shuck said.
VMI's running attack was particularly encouraging to Shuck, whose Keydets picked up 307 yards. Freshman halfback Thomas Haskins, who gained 224 yards on Nov. 13 against The Citadel, again paced the team with a game-high 121 yards and all three VMI touchdowns.
by CNB