ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, September 15, 1996 TAG: 9609170042
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
When defensive tackle Tony Dingle said earlier this week that he would do a back flip if he ever scored a touchdown, little did he suspect the opportunity would come so quickly.
Dingle scored Virginia's first touchdown Saturday on an 8-yard interception return, but was quickly knocked to the ground by jubilant teammates.
``I probably let a couple of people down,'' Dingle said. ``But, before I got the chance to sprint across the end zone, there were guys all over top of me. We came close to [a penalty] when they were dog paddling me in the end zone.''
Teammates say they have seen Dingle, listed at 6 feet 3 and 282 pounds, do back flips on the practice field. And, he said he was willing to risk a celebration penalty by doing one Saturday.
``Oh, yes,'' he said, ``most definitely. I was going to take the 15-yard penalty, even if Coach Welsh fussed me out. Why not? That was my first college touchdown.''
It was the first interception and touchdown return by a Virginia defensive lineman since Billy Williams in 1972, also against Maryland. Remarkably, assistant Jerry Petercuskie had put the defensive linemen through an interception drill Thursday in practice.
BY NUMBERS
Virginia's five pass completions were the fewest by the Cavaliers since 1989, when they completed three passes in a 20-9 victory over 18th-ranked North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C.
*Virginia tailback Tiki Barber pushed his career rushing total to 2,290 yards and moved into sixth place on the Cavaliers' all-time list, ahead of Barry Word (2,257) and Marcus Wilson (2,219).
*Ronde Barber, UVa's other twin from Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, notched the 13th interception of his three-year college career and took over sole possession of fourth on UVa's all-time list.
INJURY REPORT
Walk-on Steven Phelan played the whole game at free safety in place of first-game starter Joe Williams, who suffered a pulled groin muscle against Central Michigan.
Jeremy Raley, a starter at left guard for the previous 27 games, moved to center as Tom Locklin was hobbled by a torn knee ligament. Locklin played in the second half, moving Raley back to guard in place of first-time starter Noel Lamontagne, a redshirt freshman.
*Maryland officials fear that quarterback Brian Cummings suffered a dislocated shoulder on the first-quarter hit by Dillon Taylor and Co. that also left a cut requiring five stitches to his chin. Cummings was to be X-rayed when the team returned to College Park.
NEXT WEEK
The Cavaliers (2-0 overall, 1-0 ACC) will be going for their 13th straight victory over Wake Forest when they visit the Deacons at noon. It is the longest winning streak of one ACC team over another.
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines KEYWORDS: FOOTBALLby CNB