Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 9, 1994 TAG: 9410110038
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Long
However, it's doubtful they could have predicted the force with which the Herd stormed into Alumni Memorial Field, wrecking VMI's homecoming with a 49-7 Southern Conference victory.
Marshall (5-0 overall, 3-0 conference) charged to a 28-0 lead in the game's first 10 minutes, taking advantage of two early Thomas Haskins fumbles to score on its first four possessions.
Haskins, a sophomore tailback who entered the game averaging a team-high 142 yards rushing per game, fumbled three of the first four times he touched the ball and saw limited playing time. He finished with nine yards rushing on five carries for the Keydets (0-5, 0-3).
Haskins' early departure opened the door for two of VMI's backup tailbacks, who accounted for 66 of the Keydets' 96 total rushing yards. Jabaar Bean, a walk-on freshman who had rushed for a total of 96 yards in VMI's first four games (second behind Haskins), finished with a team-high 49 yards on 20 carries. Avi Hopkins, a 5-foot-5, 150-pound freshman playing in his first collegiate game, had 17 yards on six carries.
VMI coach Bill Stewart's only explanation for the personnel changes was: ``We're going to play three tailbacks. We're going to play a lot of people.''
``It was a lack of concentration,'' Haskins said. ``When you're making mistakes and hurting the team as a whole - basically, not having a good day - that's when it's time for the second string guys to come in.''
Bean, who twisted his right ankle in the third quarter and was on crutches after the game, was more than happy to fill in for Haskins, who set a school record in VMI's opener with 251 yards rushing against Richmond.
``[Haskins] has proved himself, now it's my turn to prove myself,'' Bean said. ``I've gotten the ball pretty regularly in the past couple games. Now, it's just a matter of gaining confidence.''
The Herd opened the game by moving 80 yards on five plays in a span of one minute, 37 seconds. Former Heritage High School standout Chris Parker capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to post a 7-0 lead.
Haskins gained 6 yards on VMI's first play of the day, but fumbled at the 25-yard line on the next play and the Herd's Eric Clausen recovered. Marshall took 1:56 to set up a 3-yard touchdown stroll by Parker, a junior who ranks second on Marshall's career rushing list. He had 51 yards on nine carries Saturday to improve his career total to 2,983.
Haskins fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Marshall took over on VMI's 24-yard line. Senior quarterback Todd Donnan, son of Marshall head coach Jim Donnan, threw a pass that found Shawn Goodwyn, who scampered into the right corner of the end zone.
The Keydets advanced to the Marshall 39-yard-line on their next possession, but on fourth-and-seven, freshman quarterback Al Lester's pass intended for tight end Greg Harris across the middle fell incomplete. The Herd capitalized 1:03 later when Donnan completed a 26-yard touchdown pass to Goodwyn to make it 28-0.
``Todd was a good field general and our offensive line played very well,'' Jim Donnan said. ``He showed a lot of mobility and found the second and third receiver when he had to.''
Todd Donnan, who ranks second all-time in pass completion percentage for Marshall (57.1), connected successfully on 18 of 22 attempts Saturday for 274 yards. Goodwyn caught four passes for 73 yards and Tim Martin had seven for 77.
VMI appeared destined for a field goal on its next drive after running out of downs on the the Marshall 13-yard-line. Kicker Geoff Goff trotted onto the field for what would have been a 30-yard attempt, but holder Greg Ellen took the snap and rolled to his left on a fake. Ellen found Harris for a 20-yard reception and the Keydets' only points of the game.
``We put that [play] in Tuesday or Wednesday,'' said Ellen, a freshman who became the No. 2 quarterback this week after senior Spike Johnson - last year's starter - moved to wide receiver.
``Marshall's [field goal] coverage was overloaded and they only had one guy deep. ... It ended up that they were sucked right in and I had a window. It worked out just as planned.''
The Herd made it 42-7 by halftime and replaced Donnan at quarterback in the third quarter with freshman Larry Harris. At the start of the fourth quarter, backup running back Erik Thomas took a Harris handoff and rushed 15 yards for a touchdown to provide the only second-half scoring and the final margin.
Sophomore strong safety Demond Ferebee prevented another possible Marshall score with seven minutes remaining in the game when he intercepted a Harris pass on the goal line.
``It was a tough homecoming loss to a fine Marshall football team,'' Stewart said. ``There were some fine individual performances. But as a football team, I don't think we grew very much today.''
Tim Williams, a former standout at Bath County, had an impressive day, catching four passes for 124 yards, including a 35-yarder to help set up VMI's touchdown.
Lester completed 6 of 9 passes for 90 yards and Ellen was 2-for-5 for 64 yards.
The crowd of 9,538 was the third largest ever at Alumni Memorial Field.
by CNB