Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 19, 1995 TAG: 9509190049
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
After Bobby Neely had a career-high six receptions against Michigan, it was reasonable to assume Virginia's football team might be hurting without him.
Don't look now, but the Cavaliers are 3-0 since Neely suffered an ankle injury and was replaced in the starting lineup by Walt Derey.
Derey and No.3 tight end Erich Wiltsee, whose primary responsibilities had been blocking, each had two receptions in the first half Saturday in the Cavaliers' 41-17 victory over Georgia Tech.
``We called some bootlegs,'' UVa quarterback Mike Groh said, ``and the passes easily could have gone to somebody else, but I don't think Georgia Tech was too concerned with those guys. They were the last guys [the Yellow Jackets] covered, and they were wide-open.''
The Cavaliers never have lost a game started by Derey, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound junior from Northside High School in Roanoke, whose only previous start was last year against Clemson, UVa's opponent Saturday at ``Death Valley.''
``Derey has always played well for us,'' UVa coach George Welsh said. ``He doesn't have Neely's speed; that's about the only difference. He looks awkward sometimes, but most of the time he catches it.''
Most of the time? Nobody - not Welsh, not Groh - could remember Derey ever dropping a pass.
``He knows his role, which is basically to block first and catch second,'' Groh said, ``but, every time the ball comes to him, he makes the catch and gets 10 or 15 yards. You can't ask any more than that. I think [Derey is] a guy who's just gotten better and better.''
The passing game was not a high priority at Northside, which traditionally has used a ball-control, Wishbone offense. Derey said his career highlight was when he caught a first-half touchdown pass in a 7-6 victory over Cave Spring and his future UVa teammates, Tiki and Ronde Barber.
``A lot of people told me, when I came here, that I would be moved to tackle,'' Derey said. ``The fact is, I really liked tight end and did what I could to keep my speed up. I also knew what my role was as the second tight end. I took a lot of pride in my blocking.''
``I'm happy with the day I had [Saturday]. I'm not one of the receivers they're going to feature. I've still got to prove myself in game situations, but I think I've been pretty consistent catching the ball in practice.''
If he can establish himself as a receiver, Derey will have the inside track on the starting job when Neely leaves after this season.
``That's what I'm hoping,'' said Derey, who also snaps for punts and field goals. ``I'm not looking as this season as a springboard into next year, but I'm sure it doesn't hurt for me to show them I can do more than block.''
STILL A SAFETY: Former Group AA player of the year Anthony Poindexter replaced injured linebacker Jamie Sharper and had 10 tackles (eight solo) in his starting debut Saturday, but don't expect Poindexter to leave his safety spot.
``I hope not,'' Welsh said. ``We've got good young linebackers in the program. I want him to play safety ... strong safety. That's where he can help us the most over the long haul.''
Just as impressive as Poindexter was true freshman Wali Rainer, who also had 10 tackles (eight solo) in just 41 plays. Rainer, victimized in Sharper's absence against North Carolina State, intercepted a pass and had a tackle for loss against the Yellow Jackets.
WHO'S HE? Walk-on defensive end Patrick Kerney became the fifth true freshman to play for the Cavaliers when he got on the field for 21 snaps Saturday. Kerney, a 6-5, 236-pounder from Yardley, Pa., originally was recruited by UVa to play lacrosse.
Kerney, who went to the Taft (Conn.) School, was a state championship wrestler and had impressive football credentials before he was injured as a senior. He received a partial lacrosse scholarship until he played in a football game, at which point NCAA rules required that he count against the Cavaliers' football-scholarship limit.
THE RANKINGS: The Cavaliers have risen as high as their current No.11 ranking in only two other seasons - 1990, when they were No.1 for three weeks; and 1992, when they jumped to 10th after a 5-0 start. UVa has been been ranked 15th or higher at some point in six of the past seven seasons.
ON THE HOKIES: Welsh questioned whether he was too flippant Saturday with his comments on the Virginia Tech-Cincinnati game. When asked his reaction to the Bearcats' 16-0 victory at Lane Stadium, Welsh said, ``Never schedule Cincinnati.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB