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

DATE: SUNDAY, September 10, 1995                   TAG: 9509120029
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CAVS GAME NOTES

Sharper, who led the Cavaliers in tackles last year and was named second-team All-ACC, played the remainder of the first half but did not re-enter the game after the first series of the second half.

In his absence, N.C. State ran at will on the Cavaliers, picking up 140 of its 230 second-half yards on the ground. Wali Rainer, a ``true'' freshman, saw much of the playing time in Sharper's absence.

``We were missing one of our best football players,'' UVa coach George Welsh said after the Cavaliers' 29-24 victory. ``He's our best linebacker, [a player] who was having a great year. So, yeah, it hurts.''

Sharper, injured on the same play on which he caused a fumble, said he is optimistic he will be able to play Sept.16 against Georgia Tech.

MORE INJURIES

UVa defensive end Duane Ashman and linebacker Skeet Jones were helped from the field following a 28-yard run by N.C. State fullback Rod Brown on the Wolfpack's last series, although Jones hobbled back onto the field one play later.

Three other Cavs starters were sidelined by injury, including center Dave Gathman and tight end Bobby Neely, neither of whom made the trip. Jon Harris, a regular at defensive end, played but did not start.

CLUTCH CATCH

Welsh said the key play on Virginia's final drive was a 12-yard completion to Germane Crowell on third-and-10 from the UVa 31. Crowell held onto the ball despite a crunching hit that left him needing assistance from the field.

STREAKS

Virginia extended its string of games with at least one interception to 19, thanks to Joe Crocker's pickoff on the next-to-last play of the first half. Crocker also recovered a fumble, although he was victimized on the touchdown pass that put N.C. State ahead 21-20. ... UVa sophomore Derick Byrd failed to catch a pass for the first time in his 15-game college career. ...

The Wolfpack had beaten Virginia three consecutive times before Saturday and had won its four previous ACC openers. ... Patrick Jeffers' 52-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter was the 13th of his career, moving him into fourth place on UVa's all-time list. Third-place John Ford had 20.

NEXT OPPONENT

Virginia (2-1 overall, 1-0 ACC) entertains Georgia Tech (1-1, 0-0) at 1:30 p.m. at Scott Stadium. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 20-19 loss at Arizona on Thursday night in a game they led 19-7 in the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers have won the past three games in the series and six of the past eight.