Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, November 13, 1994                   TAG: 9411230020
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE                                 LENGTH: Medium

MANY HAPPY RETURNS FOR CROCKER IN WIN OVER TERPS

Virginia defensive back Joe Crocker admits he wasn't thinking touchdown when Maryland kicker Joe Donnell approached the ball after the Terrapins' final touchdown Saturday at Scott Stadium.

``It was all instincts,'' said Crocker, who earlier had returned an interception for a touchdown. ``The ball took a strange hop right into my arms. Only a fool would have fallen on it.''

Crocker had to be treated for cramps in his legs following his 46-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, but 21st-ranked UVa already had wrapped up a 46-21 victory over the Terrapins.

Crocker had two fourth-quarter interceptions against Maryland quarterback Scott Milanovich, the first coming off a pass tipped by a UVa defensive lineman that Crocker returned 38 yards for a touchdown.

It was the third touchdown of the season for Crocker, a junior, who scooped up a blocked punt and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown in UVa's 42-6 victory at Wake Forest on Oct.8.

``It's not every day that a defensive player gets to score two touchdowns in a game,'' said Crocker, the first UVa player to do so since linebacker Randy Neal had two interception returns for touchdowns in 1992 against Virginia Tech.

Milanovich had not been intercepted in more than four games before UVa linebacker James Farrior ended Milanovich's streak at 166 attempts with a third-quarter pickoff. Farrior and Crocker each have four interceptions, second on the team behind Ronde Barber's ACC-leading seven.

The Cavaliers, who led Division I-A with 22 interceptions last season, are among the leaders again this year with 19 after nine games. UVa has intercepted passes in 13 straight games.

``We were aware of Milanovich's streak,'' Crocker said. ``We set out to stop him and today I think we slowed him down pretty good.''

DAVIS HURT: Tyrone Davis, the ACC leader in touchdown receptions, caught a two-point conversion pass but otherwise had one reception for 20 yards before being sidelined by a sprained toe in the third quarter. Davis was limping noticeably after the game.

nMaryland defensive tackle and co-captain Jamie Bragg was injured on UVa's first offensive play and was carried from the field on a stretcher. The preliminary diagnosis was a dislocated ankle.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: Maryland became the third team to attempt 50 or more passes against UVa this season. ... UVa had not given up a score in the first quarter all season until Milanovich connected with Jermaine Lewis on an 18-yard touchdown pass.

UVA NEXT WEEK: The 21st-ranked Cavaliers (7-2 overall, 5-2 ACC) visit No.16 Virginia Tech (8-2) at noon Saturday in a game that will be televised on the Big East network. UVa was scheduled to end the season against the Hokies for the fifth consecutive year before an earlier game with North Carolina State was moved to Nov.25 for television purposes.