Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 29, 1995 TAG: 9510310025
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Well, the tables have been turned on the Hokies the past two weeks.
For the second consecutive game, Tech saw one of its punts blocked Saturday. West Virginia's Shawn Foreman blew through the line unchecked and smothered the ball off the foot of Hokies punter John I. Thomas midway through the first quarter.
``It's something that concerns me,'' said Frank Beamer, Tech's coach.
``Our time [from the snap to getting off the punt] is not a great time, but it's not a bad time. On that one, the snap was good and, I thought, the operation. We just had a breakdown in protection.
``We worked on it some this week in practice. We're going to have to get it straightened out.''
ROAD SUCCESS
Tech, never a great road team in the past, is 4-0 on enemy turf this season. The Hokies have outscored their four road foes by a combined 112-33. Both of Tech's shutouts have come away from home.
``It kind of amazes me,'' said Jim Druckenmiller, Tech's quarterback. ``More than half of our wins have come on the road. We've played very well on the road to this point.''
Tech's 4-0 road record marks the first it has won its first four contests away from home since 1967. The fourth road victory in '67 also was at WVU.
DOMINATING `D'
Tech did nothing to hurt its defensive numbers in the national rankings.
The shutout lowered the Hokies' average points yield to 12.9 per game. Tech ranked fifth in the nation in that category entering Saturday (14.7 points per game).
WVU's 15 yards net rushing lowered Tech's rushing defense yield to a 76.9 yards per game. Entering Saturday, the Hokies were fourth in the country in that category at 85.7 yards per game.
Tech's total defensive yield of 298.9 yards per game, No.15 in the nation before Saturday, dropped to 279.7 after WVU's putrid 138-yard effort.
QUICK HITS
Tech has outscored the opposition 64-14 in the fourth quarter this season. ... The Hokies' defense and special teams have combined for 12 touchdowns in the past 23 games. ... WVU had minus-13 yards total offense in the first quarter. ... Saturday marked the second time a Tech defense has held a Big East opponent without a touchdown. The first time also came at the expense of WVU, which mustered only two field goals in a 34-6 loss in Blacksburg last year.
NEXT OPPONENT
The Hokies entertain Big East Conference leader Syracuse at 3:30 p.m. Nov.4 at Lane Stadium. The game will be televised regionally by ABC (WSET Channel 13). The Orangemen (6-1 overall, 3-0 Big East) have won five consecutive games. Syracuse was idle Saturday.
by CNB