ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604220068
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
JIM DRUCKENMILLER leads the Maroon over the White 28-7 behind 142 yards passing and three touchdowns.
Jim Druckenmiller has problems. None are on the football field, however.
One week after being arrested and charged with malicious wounding by Blacksburg police, Druckenmiller provided substantial evidence Saturday at Lane Stadium that his mind hasn't wandered too far from the field.
Looking like the same guy who led Tech to a school-best 10-2 record in 1995, Druckenmiller completed 14 of 24 passes for 142 yards and three touchdowns as the Maroon beat the White 28-7 in Tech's annual spring game.
On a day some figured he may run and hide, Druckenmiller was, as usual, a stand-up guy. After his play spoke up on the field, the 23-year-old rising senior addressed his current off-the-field woes, which are serious.
For his part in a March 21 fight outside a Blacksburg bar, Druckenmiller faces a felony charge punishable from five up to 20 years in jail.
Druckenmiller, currently free on a $5,000 secured bond, confessed there have been better times than the past week.
``It started out as something that happened and it really did bug me,'' Druckenmiller said. ``It's going to bug anybody ... getting arrested and getting charged, you're getting five to 20 years in the joint.
``I have enough friends and family around here who know me, who know what happened, and everyone believes in me. Someone will come up to me everyday. They feel for me, they understand, and they're still pushing, and it helps a lot.
``Everything happened, the initial shock came over, it's done. My life is back to normal right now.''
Which, of course, means making the Tech offense go. As usual, Druckenmiller wasn't dazzling, just effective. He led the Maroon to touchdowns on four of its first six possessions against Tech's first-team defense, and was named the top offensive performer of the game.
Druckenmiller, who hooked up with Shawn Scales on scoring passes of 8 and 40 yards, and found Michael Stuewe for a 4-yard TD, said the Hokies' offense needs to hit another gear this fall.
``It's time for the offense to step up and take some of the burden off the defense,'' he said. "I'm not going to say we're going to carry the team, but we need to carry more of the burden.''
Scales, one of many candidates for the wideout jobs left vacant by graduated Bryan Still and Jermaine Holmes, helped his chances by catching four passes for 65 yards. The four receptions are one more than Scales' career total.
``I'm trying to get myself going,'' said Scales, a redshirt junior whose play was limited entirely to special teams last year.
``Everything [wideout jobs] is open. I feel like my time is coming.''
Maybe Frank Beamer thinks so, too. The Tech coach called Scales' performance ``a pleasant sight.''
Besides Druckenmiller and Scales, there wasn't a whole lot happening offensively. Fullback Brian Edmonds did run over a few defenders on a 15-yard touchdown run for the Maroon.
Defensively, Beamer voiced some concern over how the first-team offense scored on the first-team defenders.
Besides the play of linebacker Myron Newsome, whom he called ``the best player on the field,'' Beamer didn't seem to be thrilled. The defense did play without All-America end Cornell Brown and starters Waverly Jackson and Brandon Semones. Not to mention the fact that guys like J.C. Price, Jim Baron, Hank Coleman and George DelRicco are gone.
``We've got hope but it's going to be determined by what we can [do] from here to next fall,'' Beamer said.
``I don't think we're good enough to be Big East champions right now or contend for it. But maybe if we can get the chemistry right and get this thing together next fall we would have a shot. But right now I don't think we make enough plays, I don't think defensively we're as strong as we need to be.''
TECH TIDBITS: The game was delayed for 15 minutes in the first quarter when a monsoon belted Lane, forcing both teams to retreat to the comfort of the stadium dressing rooms. ``Just a little rain,'' Druckenmiller said with a snort. ``I can't believe they made us go inside. This is football.'' ... No.2 quarterback Al Clark completed 10 of 19 passes for 106 yards. He was intercepted twice. ... Former Salem standout Marcus Parker, who is seriously pushing Ken Oxendine at tailback, had a game-high 40 yards rushing on five carries. Oxendine had 37 on eight totes. ... Sophomore James Crawford scored the lone White touchdown on a 20-yard pass from Clark. ... The game was witnessed by an estimated crowd of 3,000.
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff. Tech running back Ken Oxendine getsby CNBtackled by Tony Morrison during Saturday's Maroon-White game.