Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 23, 1994 TAG: 9410250032
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Williams, who nearly lost his place-kicking job after a poor 1993 season, didn't get worked up about becoming Tech's all-time leading scorer. Henley, a former rover banished to the offense only to start at cornerback on Saturday, gushed over his sudden resurrection.
``If you remember this time last year, I was benched,'' said Henley, a senior from Woodbridge. ``It does feel weird, but it feels great at the same time. It feels great ... I don't understand it.''
Williams, a senior from Suffolk, passed Peach Bowl legend Chris Kinzer with his 235th career point. He's benefited from better Tech offenses - he has 35 field goals to Kinzer's 47, but 130 extra-point kicks to Kinzer's 93.
He said he didn't know exactly how many points he needed when the game began (nine) and wasn't exactly sure whether or not the last extra-point on Tech's 45-7 victory was the record-breaker (it was).
``It's good that I broke it. I'm happy that I broke it,'' Williams said. ``But it's just like anything else: It's not going to help me next week at Miami.''
Williams acknowledged a little pride in rebounding from last year, during which he missed five extra points and was 6-for-11 on field goals. This year, he's 13-for-15 on field goals and has missed one of 21 extra-point tries.
``I feel good that I'm having such a good season,'' he said. ``Coming off a season like I had, anything good is better than the way it was last year.''
Henley, a receiver playing only on special teams, said he suggested to coaches he be looked at on defense again. He practiced at rover before the East Carolina game last week and said defensive coordinator Phil Elmassian moved him to cornerback this week.
He had three tackles and broke up a pass Saturday, and Tech coach Frank Beamer said he expects Henley to stay at corner.
That's assuming he doesn't have another fallout with Elmassian.
``We never [blew] up [at each other],'' Henley said. ``It's a business. I understand that. Our relationship now is business ... He tells me what to do, and I do it.''
FIVE WIDE: Pittsburgh's five-wideout set was a wash. Until six minutes were left in the fourth quarter, quarterbacks John Ryan, Pete Gonzalez and Sean Fitzgerald were 4-for-6 from the set for 49 yards, an interception by Tech's Torrian Gray and two sacks for minus-14 yards.
Tech on occasion blitzed a cornerback or linebacker, but dropped into coverage at other times.
``We were trying to get a sack,'' said linebacker Brandon Semones, who had three. ``We were trying to mix it up.''
HARDBALL: Among the attendees Saturday was former Tech baseball star John Oates, recently hired as manager of the Texas Rangers.
``You've got to take some time off, and today's one of those days,'' said Oates, a Colonial Heights resident whose son, Andy, attends Tech.
ETC: Tech trainer Eddie Ferrell said he expects guard Damien McMahon to play Saturday at Miami after missing the last four games with a foot injury. ... Antonio Freeman's 164 yards on punt returns set the Big East record, which was held by Miami's Kevin Williams (152 against Penn State in 1991).
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB