Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 2, 1994 TAG: 9410060002
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SYRACUSE, N.Y. LENGTH: Medium
In Tech's 28-20 loss Saturday to Syracuse, place-kicker Ryan Williams continued his impressive booting. The senior's four field goals in the Carrier Dome gave him six in a row and 8-for-9 this season.
Williams eclipsed the 200-point mark for his career when he posted the Hokies' only first-half scoring with three three-pointers. The Suffolk, Va., native hasn't missed a field-goal attempt since returning from a left shoulder separation suffered in Tech's Sept. 10 victory at Southern Mississippi.
``It's been a little different since I came back, so [holder] Jon Shields and [deep snapper] Tim Wade have worked really hard in practice with me,'' Williams said. ``I've been wearing a restrainer to keep my arm from moving.''
Williams, who had to win his job in preseason over Norwegian native Atle Larsen, a Morehead State transfer, has not missed from inside the 50 this season.
Williams, who hit two field goals in his return against West Virginia 10 days ago, has 211 career points, third on Tech's career scoring list. He trails former kickers Chris Kinzer (234) and Don Wade (224).
He also has 32 of the 124 points this season for the Hokies (4-1), who have scored 12 touchdowns and 11 field goals. Williams also is perfect on eight point-after attempts in 1994.
DEFENSIVE SLIP: Before Saturday's third straight Carrier Dome defeat, the Hokies' defense had allowed only 23 plays of 10 or more yards and only nine plays (six passes, three rushes) of 20 or more yards.
Syracuse, in shredding the Hokies' defense ranked second in Division I-A, however, had runs of 42, 31, 26, 18, 16, 13 and 12 yards, and completed passes for 39, 38, 32, 21, 19, 14, 12, 12 and 11 yards.
That's why Tech's defense has slipped from an average of 200.5 yards per game to 252.6.
MOVING UP: Tech split end Antonio Freeman, pegged as an All-America candidate in preseason but with only six receptions in the Hokies' first four games, had his best outing Saturday.
The senior from Baltimore caught eight Maurice DeShazo passes against the Orangemen - tying his career single-game high - and moved up two slots on Tech's career receptions list.
Freeman passed the 90 catches by Mike Burnop (1970-72), now Tech's radio broadcast analyst, and Donald Snell's 92 from 1983-86. Freeman, with 97 catches in his college career, trails only Ricky Scales (113), Mike Giacolone (103) and Myron Richardson (100) in Hokie history.
HONORED: Former Glenvar High star Brandon Semones, the Hokies' sophomore whip linebacker, will have a $3,000 grant donated to Tech's general scholarship fund in his name.
Semones was named a Honda Scholar Athlete Award winner during the Tech-West Virginia telecast on ESPN 10 days ago. The award, donated by Honda to the school, is based on a combination of academic and athletic excellence.
NEXT WEEK: The Hokies, who have four of their final six games at home, return to Lane Stadium - where they've won eight in a row - for a 1 p.m. Big East kickoff against Temple (2-2). Pitt visits Syracuse at noon for the weekly Big East noon TV game.
by CNB