Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 9, 1994 TAG: 9410110035
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Long
The Hokies, a week removed from the end of a seven-game winning streak, took a five-touchdown lead and tore down Temple 41-13 in a Big East Football Conference game before a homecoming crowd of 44,204 at Lane Stadium.
Quarterback Maurice DeShazo ran for one touchdown and threw for two, breaking Will Furrer's career record for games with two or more touchdown passes (DeShazo has 15). One of his tosses gave Antonio Freeman his record-setting 19th career touchdown reception as 20th-ranked Tech improved its record to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the Big East.
Tech's defense entered the Syracuse game ranked second nationally, but gave up four rushing touchdowns and 461 total yards. On Saturday, Temple had 42 negative yards rushing and netted 78 - the fourth time this year a team has failed to reach the 100-yard mark against Tech.
``People probably lost respect for us last week,'' said defensive end Cornell Brown. ``We just wanted ... to gain [back] our own self-respect, in a sense.''
Temple earned praise - too much, apparently - by sticking with mighty Penn State for a while on Oct.1 before losing 48-21. The Owls (2-3, 0-1) have not won a Big East game in 19 tries.
``We got patted on the back so much last week by fans, classmates and faculty,'' said Ron Dickerson, Temple's coach. ``It went to their heads. We tried on Wednesday to tell them to ignore that ... They didn't ignore it. They thought they were good, and they're not good.''
The Owls entered the game with the Big East's third-rated pass defense, in part because of their permissive run defense. Tech, with first-time starter Ken Oxendine gaining 71 yards on 16 carries, traveled a season-best 245 yards on the ground.
The Hokies lost three fumbles - two by Oxendine, one of those coming at the Temple 5-yard line - and Tech went scoreless on an early possession that reached the Owls' 11.
By that time, though, the Hokies already led 7-0, thanks to Stacy Henley's 25-yard return of a punt blocked by William Ferrell. Four plays earlier, a running-into-the-kicker penalty on Tech had prolonged the Temple drive.
``Actually, we had the return on on the one we blocked,'' said Frank Beamer, the Hokies' coach. ``We send a couple guys and [tell them], `If they don't pick you up, keep going.'''
The Owls offered little to impede Tech, whose defense got the meal it missed against Syracuse. With the Hokies leading 14-0 in the second quarter, Temple's Sidney Morse met Tech's defensive line on a third-and-one. On fourth down, Owls quarterback Henry Burris pitched to Juan Gaddy, who was grabbed by Ken Brown and rapped out of bounds by Torrian Gray for no gain.
The Hokies, who dressed as Virginia did (orange shirts, white pants) before the Cavaliers got the blues, followed with a nine-play, 55-yard drive. On third-and-goal from the 4, DeShazo dropped to pass, started up the middle, then veered left to escape a groping defender and touch his toes in the left corner of the end zone. Tech led 21-0 with 45 seconds left in the half.
``I didn't take a chance [with the pass],'' said DeShazo, who threw no interceptions for the first time since the Boston College game on Sept.17. ``I said, `I'm determined to get in the end zone.'''
Tech drove 68 yards in the third quarter to lead 28-0 on Brian Edmonds' 7-yard run and the extra-point kick, and Temple's Burris returned the ball to the Hokies when his floater was intercepted by Tony Morrison at the Owls' 29.
DeShazo, who had overthrown Freeman on potential touchdowns several times this year, connected this time on Tech's first play as the Hokies took a 35-0 lead with 3 minutes, 45 seconds left.
``Maurice threw a good ball,'' Freeman said. ``I congratulated him.''
Burris, chased most of the day but sacked only once, saw a couple good passes dropped and didn't throw many more. He was 23-of-42 for a school-record 323 yards against Penn State, and on Saturday he could have become the first Owl to throw for 200 or more yards in four consecutive games. He was 16-of-37 for 138 yards.
``When we looked at the films [of Penn State], we saw some weaknesses,'' Burris said. ``It was hard to find some weaknesses [in films of Tech].
``I know at times we're going to be inconsistent. Today was just one of those times.''
Tech took it as time to atone for the Syracuse game, although several Hokies denied expending a lot of emotion Saturday afternoon. It was business, linebacker Ken Brown said.
``We're not completely satisfied,'' Morrison said. ``[But] it's good for a bounce-back.''
by CNB