Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 4, 1994 TAG: 9409070096
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Except when he missed it. Then, one of 21st-ranked Virginia Tech's most scrutinized players followed with three-pointers from 45 and 33 yards.
He was 6 of 11 last year, 0-for-3 from 40 yards and over.
``I'm happy about it,'' Williams said. ``I'd still like to make the 50.''
Williams' day was part of a Tech special-teams performance that included a blocked field goal, punt returns of 33 and 45 yards, and five touchbacks out of seven kickoffs.
Williams, the incumbent who had to win his placekicking job again in preseason, had five of those touchbacks, and his other kick was returned to the16 from the 1.
``In practice, I didn't think they were going to go in the end zone,'' Williams said. ``I've been hitting hang time really high, and balls have been dropping at the 5 or 10. The added adrenaline [in a game] kind of gives you that little extra to get it in the end zone. As long as it's high and it's got good hang time, [Tech coach Frank Beamer] is not real worried. But the deeper the better.''
Williams, the only straight-on kicker in the NCAA over the past two seasons, is continuing a tradition for Tech. Since midway through 1985, only two of Tech's 150 field goal attempts have been by a soccer-style kicker (Brian Reaves in 1990).
And Cornell Brown's block of a 53-yard field goal attempt by Arkansas State's Jim Tarle marked the Hokies' fourth straight game with a blocked kick. It's the 37th blocked kick in Beamer's 79 games at Tech.
HARRUMPH: Beamer had cool words for much of Tech's performance Saturday. Asked if scoring 21 first-quarter points took away Tech's edge, he said curtly, ``It shouldn't, though.''
Asked whether he thought the passing game confused ASU early, he said, ``I think our passing game would've had 'em confused late if we'd executed it. It just wasn't sharp.''
And he remarked on Tech's second-half performance in which it gained only 112 of its 381 total yards.
``We came out in the second half with the intention of being a better football team than we were in the first half. Overall, I don't think we were,'' he said.
PAY ATTENTION: Arkansas State followed its second-quarter touchdown with an onside kick that was caught in the air by Tech receiver Cornelius White, a regular on the front line of Tech's kick-return team. The play sent a message about the Indians, coach John Bobo said.
``If I didn't have confidence in our team, I never would've gambled during the course of the game,'' said Bobo, trying to resurrect a program that has won eight games the past four years. ``Two years ago, I wouldn't have done that for a million dollars. You've got to gamble sometimes to try to win.''
ETC: Tech tailback Dwayne Thomas didn't score Saturday, the first time in the past eight games he hasn't scored a touchdown ... Antonio Freeman's three catches moved him into a tie with Sidney Snell (86 receptions) for sixth on Tech's all-time list ... Center Billy Conaty's right shoulder popped out of its socket and back in on a third-quarter play. Trainer Eddie Ferrell said Conaty had the same injury during the Independence Bowl, and it hadn't bothered him in practice. Conaty is probable for next week's game at Southern Mississippi.
by CNB