ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 19, 1996 TAG: 9610210111
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
CAVALIER COACH George Welsh knows a lot is riding on this game.
As Virginia's football season enters its seventh weekend, coach George Welsh finally has realized the significance of the Cavaliers' game today with North Carolina State.
``There's always a game early in the season, a game in the middle of the season and a game late in the season that will say a lot about what kind of year you have,'' Welsh said. ``This is the game in the middle of the season.''
Welsh may not have felt that way before the season, but a 13-7 loss at Georgia Tech has given a sense of urgency to a game 20th-ranked Virginia is favored to win by 19 points.
The last time N.C. State came to Scott Stadium, the Cavaliers were favored by 14 1/2 points and thinking of a possible $3-million payday in the Fiesta Bowl before they were upset 30-27 in 1994.
That Wolfpack team went 9-3, including a victory over Mississippi State in the Peach Bowl. This Wolfpack team is 1-4, but has shown signs of progress in the last two weeks.
First, it was a 34-8 victory at Maryland. Then, the Wolfpack scared No. 8 Alabama before falling 24-19.
``That's a different [State] football team,'' Welsh said earlier this week. ``It's a transformation unlike anything I've ever seen, in a lot of ways.''
The Wolfpack, ranked last in the ACC in total defense after three games, held Maryland to 196 yards. Against Alabama, ranked No.2 in Division I-A in total defense, State gained 418 yards.
Moreover, the Wolfpack did it with a quarterback, redshirt freshman Jamie Barnette, who was making the first start of his college career. The regular, sophomore Jose Laureano, was suspended for one game for academic reasons.
Barnette, who completed 14 of 25 passes for 260 yards, will start again today.
``I think our quarterback situation is in good shape,'' State coach Mike O'Cain said. ``It's in a lot better shape than it was in August. We had one quarterback [Laureano] who had started one game before this year. Now, we have two quarterbacks who can compete and win at this level.
``If one's not getting the job done, we have the luxury of bringing another guy in. But, there is no controversy. There is no concern. We have a quarterback right now and his name is Jamie Barnette.''
The Wolfpack also has a tailback, Tremayne Stephens, who overcame a shoulder injury to rush for a season-high 105 yards against Alabama. Two years ago, Stephens rushed for 133 yards against a Virginia defense that finished No.1 in Division I-A against the run.
The Cavaliers (4-1 overall, 2-1 ACC) have been equally stout this year, ranking fifth nationally in rushing defense and 13th in total defense.
``I think, in some places, Alabama may have a little better athlete,'' O'Cain said. ``But, as a football team, Virginia is better than Alabama. They have an offense that puts a lot more pressure on you in terms of running and throwing the football - their scheme.''
Virginia's offense may be diverse, but the Cavaliers weren't particularly effective against Georgia Tech. All-ACC tailback Tiki Barber registered his fifth consecutive 100-yard rushing game, but quarterbacks Tim Sherman and Aaron Brooks were intercepted four times.
``We can't have another game like that or we won't win Saturday,'' said Welsh, who has indicated Sherman will start despite a sprained right thumb that caused him to miss practice time during an off week Oct.6-12.
While Virginia Tech enjoys its second open date in three weeks, the state's two winless teams, VMI and Ferrum, continue their victory quest. VMI (0-6 overall, 0-4 Southern) visits Tennessee-Chattanooga (2-3, 1-1) at 1 p.m., and Ferrum (0-5) entertains Chowan (1-4) at 1:30.
The Panthers, who have never been 0-6, have beaten Chowan three straight years and are 4-0 against the Braves since 1984. VMI has beaten Tennessee-Chattanooga three times during the 1990s but has not beaten the Moccasins in Chattanooga since 1972.
In Lexington, Washington and Lee (1-4 overall, 0-2 ODAC) plays host to Hampden-Sydney (2-3, 1-2) at 1:30 p.m. in hopes of consecutive victories over the Tigers for the first time since 1980-81. A loss would ruin W&L's plans for a third consecutive winning season.
LENGTH: Medium: 79 linesby CNB