Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 11, 1994 TAG: 9409190012
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZY
DATELINE: HATTIESBURG, MISS. LENGTH: Medium
On a night when Tech's offense and special teams were about as intermittent as the rain, the Hokies slipped to a 24-14 victory over Southern Mississippi.
Not long after 21st-ranked Tech bobbled Southern Miss into a two-touchdown lead, it became apparent the only way the Hokies wouldn't win their seventh consecutive non-conference game was to beat themselves.
And they tried.
A dampened crowd of 17,391 - perhaps it will be the smallest to see a Top 25 team play this season - probably was wondering if Tech shouldn't be nicknamed the Bobblers.
Southern Miss may be the best team in the new Liberty Bowl Alliance, but it's an average club at best. It couldn't stop the Hokies' running game and it couldn't solve Tech's defense.
Good teams find a way to win and at this early stage of coach Frank Beamer's eighth season on his alma mater's sideline, it's without the ball.
One of these days - probably Saturday in Tech's Big East Football Conference opener at Boston College - an opponent may really have to drive for a touchdown against the Hokies.
In two victories, coordinator Phil Elmassian's unit has given up three scores, all in the shadow of the goal post - from its 11-, 3- and 2-yard lines, the latter two Southern Miss' touchdown trips.
After the Golden Eagles (1-1) had a 12-yard run to start their second possession of the game, they didn't earn a first down until 32 minutes later, with seven minutes left in the third quarter.
By the end of that period, the score still was tied at 14, but Tech had kept the ball for almost 10 more minutes than the Golden Eagles. And when it was over, the Hokies had gone from beating themselves to beating the Eagles to beating the seven-point spread.
Tech lost four fumbles and a kicker (to injury), committed nine penalties, threw two interceptions and had two other bobbles recovered and eventually turned into Southern Missed opportunities.
Tech's kicking teams tried playing soccer-style - no hands. Punter Robbie Colley dropped two snaps. Holder John Shields fumbled another, and straight-on kicker Ryan Williams ended up with a separated left shoulder trying a Garo Yepremian passing impression.
Williams' exit gave Atle Larsen an opportunity, ending Tech's distinction as the only Division I-A team using a straight-on kicker. Big deal.
Larsen, who booted a clinching 42-yard field goal with less than three minutes to play, had made Williams win the job in preseason. Larsen may be Norwegian, but the transfer from Morehead State isn't foreign to pressure situations.
Where Tech had trouble running the ball in the opening waltz over Arkansas State, the Golden Eagles couldn't stop the Hokies' ground game. One thing Tech's offense did with consistency was keep the ball - for more than 36 minutes - while piling up 201 rushing yards.
``The only good thing we did on offense was to make plays when we had to,'' said coordinator Gary Tranquill. ``We can't turn it over like we do and keep winning football games.''
He's right. Tech's tough defense is likely to need some help next weekend against a BC team that gained 503 yards in a tough opening loss before 105,000 fans at Michigan.
Defensively, Tech held Southern Miss to 2.22 yards per play, just under the average of the Eagles' two touchdown drives.
``You have a scholarship, so when you're put in that situation, you go out and earn your scholarship,'' Elmassian said. ``That's just part of it.''
Tech's defense permitted only 144 yards, and in two games opponents have converted only six of 28 third-down opportunities. How much better can the Hokies play without the ball?
``We'll have to be much better against Boston College,'' Elmassian said. Tech begins a tough three-game Big East stretch with visits to BC and Syracuse sandwiching a Thursday night home date with West Virginia.
``People picked us second in the Big East [in the preseason poll]. BC would get my vote as No.2. They have a lot of talent, and they know how to win.''
After surviving Saturday night, the same can be said of the Hokies.
by CNB