Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9510020121
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
After giving up the first score of the game, ending their streak of no touchdowns allowed in eight quarters, the Tribe went wild, stifling VMI's star running back, Thomas Haskins, and throwing the rest of the Keydets attack off its game.
"They held what I thought was a pretty good offense to 221 yards," VMI coach Bill Stewart said.
That was a terrible sign when you consider VMI's punter, Howie Lowden, tacked up 265 on his six boots.
In a sequence frighteningly similar to the season-opening loss at Richmond, the Keydets (2-3) scored first, going 71 yards on seven plays in the first 2:47 of the game. Haskins ran three times for 58 yards on a drive capped by quarterback Al Lester's 1-yard touchdown run.
"You could say we were caught napping," Tribe linebacker Jason Miller said.
Unfortunately for Haskins, he gained just 40 more on 15 carries the rest of the way to finish with 98 yards rushing. His string of 100-yard games ended at three. "Their eyes were open after that," he said.
William and Mary end Luke Cullinane opened his wide later in the game when he sacked Lester twice. VMI had gone two games and nine total quarters without allowing a sack, but Cullinane's first in the second quarter won't be forgotten soon.
"He about got decapitated," Stewart said of Lester. "Then the guys got jumpy."
Lester agreed, saying, "It went downhill after that."
A trio of deep jumpballs that ended up in big Tribe pass plays helped the slide. On William and Mary's first drive, with second-and-seven from the VMI 49, Byrne got hit as he released a pass and the ball fluttered downfield. Tim Williams, still serving double duty as a defensive back, looked to be in good position for an interception, but Tribe wideout Terry Hammons pulled it away. He fell at the 8 to set up William and Mary's first touchdown.
"We both went for the ball, but he had better position," Williams explained. "He's a big-play maker and he made one on that play right there."
The Tribe (3-2) enjoyed similar success with a 45-yard pass making it 14-7 and a 29-yarder setting up its final touchdown.
"They gave us a tremendous cushion [on pass coverage]," William and Mary coach Jimmye Laycock said. "We could have thrown the ball out there a lot."
Byrne finished with 11 completions in 14 attempts for 223 yards and the one touchdown. William and Mary made the second half a quick one by handing off to its roly-poly running backs, Troy Keen and Derek Fitzgerald, on almost every play.
Keen racked up 141 yards on 24 carries, and Fitzgerald had 129 on 29 attempts.
"I've got to thank Jimmye Laycock," Stewart said. "At the end, he could have got him seven more. That was nice of him."
VMI, which came into the game averaging 34.8 points per outing, never could put it together against one of the best Tribe defensive units in years. William and Mary finished the game with 505 yards total offense, but kicked only two field goals in the second half.
"We've got got to go back to the drawing board and do the things we did in the first couple of games," Haskins said.
NOTES: Linebacker Kelly Cook, VMI's leading tackler, started and played despite the flu and a dislocated shoulder. Lowden's incomplete pass on a fake punt in the third quarter was his first miss this year. He was 3-for-3 coming in. ... William and Mary has won three straight road games for the first time since 1967. ... The Tribe has won the past nine meetings with the Keydets. ... VMI will hold its men's basketball Midnight Madness after the UT-Chattanooga game Oct. 14 at Cameron Hall. A night golf tournament is expected to precede the hoop festivities.
see microfilm for box score
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB