Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 10, 1994 TAG: 9412140062
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
One will take home its first national title. The other will have to be satisfied with making it to the game, the championship of NCAA Division III football, the 22nd Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
``What we're hoping for, especially on national television, is not to go out and flub it up,'' joked John Luckhardt, who will coach 11-1 Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) against undefeated Albion (Mich.) live on ESPN.
But seriously ...
``Really, I think physically and philosophically we're very much the same. From what I've seen on tape, I've been impressed with their approach,'' Luckhardt said.
Both Albion and W&J play hard-nosed defense and can mix it up offensively, but each has relied mostly on the run this season.
Albion's Britons have allowed an average of 256 yards total offense per game, with only 89.7 coming on the ground. That's not great news for Jake Williams, W&J's leading rusher.
``I know their front seven looks good, but I really can't think about it. I have to have faith in my [offensive] line,'' said Williams, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound back who averages 5.7 yards per carry and 101 per game with a running style he described as ``shifty.''
``I rely basically on my quickness and vision. I can hit the hole pretty quick, but I'm not the biggest guy. I have to rely on my blockers and use my speed to get to the outside.''
When the Presidents go to the passing game, they look to quarterback Jason Baer, who has thrown for 1,807 yards this season. The sophomore set a W&J record this year for touchdown passes with 25, including 10 in three playoff games.
The W&J defense has allowed an average of 72.3 rushing yards in the playoffs, but in nine regular-season games, opponents ran for only 23.7 yards per game against the Presidents.
W&J, which was 8-1 in the regular season, led Division III in rushing defense, allowing only .81 yards per carry.
``That's unbelievable,'' said Albion coach Pete Schmidt. ``I don't think anyone is going to run the ball consistently against that defense. We'll probably pass more.''
The Britons also turn to a sophomore quarterback: Kyle Klein, a lefty who has become the first Albion quarterback to throw for 2,000 yards. He has exactly 2,000 on 129-of-236 passing (55 percent).
``We've been throwing a lot lately and will probably have to [today] just to keep [W&J] off the line of scrimmage,'' Klein said. ``They have a big defense that can dominate a ball game.''
Among those big defensive guys is 6-foot, 228-pound Matt Szczypinski, an All-American tackle. Szczypinski has 85 tackles, including 15 for loss and 14 sacks this season for the Presidents.
The Albion running game, which has averaged 252 yards per game this season, is led by speedy Jeff Robinson. The 5-11, 195-pound senior back has run for 1,598 yards this season on his way to All-America honors.
Robinson was a national qualifier in the 100-yard dash in 1992 and 1994 and competed on the Albion 400-meter relay team at the NCAA championships in 1993.
``[Being a sprinter] helps out a lot,'' Robinson said. ``But I basically just do whatever it takes to get into the end zone.''
And the team that manages to do that the most today, will return home with its first national championship.
by CNB