Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 8, 1995 TAG: 9509080108
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Long
Payback time came Thursday night at Lane Stadium.
In a dazzling performance, Hartsell completed 24 of 38 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns as Boston College ruined Virginia Tech's season opener 20-14 before a crowd of 44,426.
A year after his worst college game - Hartsell was 3-of-11 for 18 yards before getting hurt in Tech's 12-7 victory at BC in September 1994 - the junior quarterback spent the night throwing darts through the Hokies' porous pass defense. Needless to say, he found the bull's eye regularly.
``They gave us some big plays and we made 'em,'' Hartsell said. ``It's that simple.''
The reasons behind Tech's first season-opening loss in five years were simple, too. The Hokies couldn't catch and they couldn't cover.
``I can't remember when we've dropped so many passes in a game,'' said Frank Beamer, Tech's coach. ``And our overall pass defense has got to get better.
``Give BC credit. They executed better than we did and deserved to win. They made third downs [conversions] all night long. We couldn't stop 'em.''
Despite themselves, the Hokies had their chances at the end. Down six points with 2:38 left, Tech drove from its 31-yard line to the BC 19 with :44 showing.
``I thought at that point we were going to score and win the game,'' said Hokies defensive tackle Jim Baron. ``It was going to be a storybook ending on ESPN.''
It was not to be. Druckenmiller's final four passes either caromed off the hands of his receivers - Cornelius White, Jermaine Holmes and Michael Williams - or a BC defender. A mistaken extra down given the Hokies by the officials didn't even help.
``We just didn't get the job done at the end,'' said Druckenmiller, who was 21-of-42 for 296 yards in his first college start. ``We've got nobody to blame but ourselves. We had our shots and didn't take advantage.''
The Eagles, held without a touchdown in their season-opening 38-6 loss to Ohio State, needed only three minutes to hang a six-pointer on the Hokies' defense.
Hartsell was 5-for-5 for 79 yards on the Eagles' game-opening 80-yard touchdown march.
The two big connections on the drive both came to a BC tight end working against Hokies junior middle linebacker Myron Newsome, making his first Tech start. After Hartsell found Brent Gibbons for 38 yards to the Tech 12, he hit wide-open Todd Pollack from 11 yards two plays later for the score.
The Eagles also found wide receiver Steve Everson frequently. The sophomore had career highs of 10 catches and 142 yards receiving.
The Hokies, who went three-and-out on their first drive after Druckenmiller's first two passes were dropped, moved the ball to the BC 12 on their next possession before stalling. Tech set up for a 30-yard field goal, but senior Atle Larsen pulled the kick wide left.
Two possessions later, Tech put together another good drive. The Hokies pounded the ball on the ground to the BC 36, then Druckenmiller found tight end Bryan Jennings for a 15-yard pass play to the 21.
But on the next play, junior fullback Brian Edmonds was wrapped up at the line of scrimmage. Before Edmonds hit the ground, BC safety Terence Wiggins stripped the ball away and raced 53 yards before being chased down at the Tech 21.
After a pass-interference call on Antonio Banks and an offsides on Tech set up BC at the Hokies' 4, Hartsell hit uncovered Dennis Harding as the Eagles made it 14-0 with 9:26 left in the first half.
Desperately needing a big play, Tech found a cure just seconds later. On the Hokies' first play after the BC kickoff, Druckenmiller rolled right and hit flanker Bryan Still in stride on a short flare pattern. Still deked BC cornerback Daryl Porter at the Tech 32, then sped untouched down the right sideline into the end zone as the Hokies closed to 14-7.
From that point, Tech was fortunate to get to the locker room at halftime down seven.
After Tech punter John I. Thomas fumbled a snap to set up BC at the Tech 43, the Eagles had 4:46 left to rebuild their lead. But after driving to the Tech 4, BC wasted the opportunity when back Justice Smith was hit by William Yarborough and fumbled the ball into Banks' awaiting hands.
Tech outgained the Eagles 240-170 in the half, including an 83-7 advantage on the ground. Both quarterbacks were excellent - Hartsell was 15-of-22 for 170 yards, while Druckenmiller was 8-of-17 for 157 yards.
BC (1-1) made it 20-7 on its first drive of the second half. Hartsell's 10-yard pass to tight end Michael Hemmert capped a 13-play, 70-yard drive during which the Eagles converted all four of their third downs. Baron blocked Dan McGuire's extra-point attempt, making the score 20-7.
``We could never stop 'em,'' Beamer said. ``And when your defense has to stay out on the field that long against that big ol' line it wears on you.''
Tech played the entire second half without Still, who suffered a slightly separated right shoulder after being hit on the opening kickoff of the second half.
But Druckenmiller wouldn't let the Hokies fold. Late in the third quarter, Tech embarked on a eight-play, 58-yard drive that would cut it to 20-14. Edmonds, who had a 20-yard run early in the drive, got the touchdown when he bowled over from the 1 on fourth-and-goal.
That was it for Tech until the unfulfilling final drive.
``We really wanted this one,'' said Tech defensive end Cornell Brown. ``It's going to be tough to get back up. But we've got to put this one behind and get ready for the rest of 'em.''
\ see microfilm for box score
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB