Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 10, 1995 TAG: 9509120025
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: EMORY LENGTH: Medium
The Generals lost 35-22 to Emory & Henry in the season opener for both Old Dominion Athletic Conference teams on Saturday at Fullerton Field, but not before launching a second-half comeback that surely would have made their former coach, the late Gary Fallon, proud.
After being physically abused in the first half and after trailing 35-8 in the third quarter, Washington and Lee scored two touchdowns and moved the ball into Wasp territory twice more before falling.
``Coach Fallon always said, `Don't ever, ever give up,''' said Miriello, who was named the Generals' interim head coach after Fallon, the winningest coach in W&L history, died of an apparent heart attack on April 29.
``I believe we would have made him proud. He's still with us.''
Emory & Henry (1-0) led 28-2 at halftime, with 22 of those points coming in a span of 5:19 in the second quarter.
The Generals came back thanks to the arm of junior quarterback Brooks Fischer, who threw for 165 yards in the second half and led W&L on its two scoring drives.
The Generals haven't beaten the Wasps since 1982, a span of 13 games.
``This is the best we've played against them in my four years,'' said W&L defensive tackle Robert Hull.
The 22 points were more than the Generals scored in the first four games combined last season.
``Washington and Lee played a great second half,'' said Wasps coach Lou Wacker. ``We played a fairly good first half. We tried to convince [our players] not to come out flat in the second half. It didn't take for some reason.''
The Wasps' only score in the second half came when defensive end Steve Godsey recovered a fumble and ran 4 yards for a touchdown.
Wade Vidal's conversion kick made it 35-8 with 9:04 left in the third quarter.
``The offense didn't score in the second half?'' Wacker asked. ``Things were worse than I thought.''
Actually, things could have been worse if not for a couple of fourth-quarter interceptions by Tyrone Bachman and Williams in Wasps territory.
``I underthrew both balls,'' said Brooks Fischer, who finished 16-for-27 for 204 yards. ``I tried to put too much touch on them.''
Fischer had scored the Generals' last touchdown by bulling over from 1 yard out to cap an 11-play, 60-yard drive with 11:35 left.
In the third quarter, he hit Jonathan Gardner with a 3-yard toss that made it 28-8. Later, he was 5-for-5 for 66 yards on an 83-yard drive that ended with Brian Manternach's 12-yard run that made it 35-15 with 2:54 left in the third.
The Generals' only points of the first half followed an Emory & Henry touchdown. The Wasps scored on a 3-yard touchdown run by J.D. Davis, who finished with 96 yards. But Hull blocked Vidal's point-after kick and defensive back Griff Russell returned it for a defensive two-point conversion.
``Defensively, maybe we thought we were a little better than we are right now,'' said Miriello. ``Mentally, we learned something. We need intensity for an entire game.''
see microfilm for box score
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB