ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, October 20, 1996 TAG: 9610220016
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-7 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: EMORY
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
EMORY & HENRY keeps its home win streak intact with a 24-point comeback.
First, the fans tailgated with their toddies on what has always been a dry campus.
Then, the football team replaced coach Lou Wacker's pre-game marching music with rock and roll.
``We were tired of hearing that confederate music,'' joked Emory & Henry wide receiver Jimmie Clark.
But when you're on a roll like the Wasps, sporting a Division III-best 25-game home win streak, you don't change anything. It can come back to haunt you.
It almost did Saturday at Fullerton Field, where visiting Randolph-Macon got out to a 20-point lead in the first quarter. Emory & Henry, however, turned up its defense as the Yellow Jackets sustained a big loss in theirs. The Wasps escaped with a 24-20 victory in a game most thought would decide the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship.
``We felt like this was going to be the biggest game in the ODAC this year,'' said Wasps senior linebacker Andy Dewease, a William Byrd graduate.
The crowd of 7,617 (not including the tailgaters who didn't make it in) had a big shock early as Randolph-Macon scored 20 points in the first 13:01. The Wasps couldn't stop the Yellow Jackets' unique formations, and they also couldn't get a first down.
It took less than a quarter for Randolph-Macon to roll up 100 yards rushing, something no Wasps opponent had done in its past 14 regular-season games.
``They kind of threw things at us we weren't expecting," said Dewease.
Wacker said every play and formation Randolph-Macon ran was new. Perhaps that was why the Yellow Jackets (4-2 overall, 1-1 ODAC) averaged more than seven yards a play in the first 15 minutes.
Randolph-Macon's defense helped, too. The second touchdown was set up when Cave Spring graduate Dusty Beekman caused a fumble. The third came after the Yellow Jackets stopped Emory & Henry (5-1, 3-0) four times within their own 5-yard line.
``We felt like we could do whatever we wanted,'' said Randolph-Macon quarterback Sidney Chappell.
That confidence waned in the second-half, however, when the Yellow Jackets took the field without their head coach. Joe Riccio, who also calls Randolph-Macon's defenses, went to Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon at halftime with an irregular heartbeat and shortness of breath. Stand-in head coach Gregg Waters said Riccio has a history of those symptoms.
``He got a little pumped up before today's game,'' Waters explained. Waters later said from the hospital that Riccio was resting comfortably and would spend Saturday night in the hospital for observation.
Beekman said when Riccio left, the defense deflated. ``I think it had an effect,'' said Beekman, a sophomore cornerback. ``When he's not there, the defense hurts. He's coached against them for years. He knows them better than anyone else.''
Beekman got to know the Wasps' wide receivers well. Despite an amazing performance last week at Washington and Lee that earned him defensive player of the week honors, Emory & Henry quarterback Aaron Brand threw his way all game.
Beekman made an interception with 9:39 to go in the fourth quarter that seemed to jeopardize the Wasps' comeback hopes and also had four pass break-ups, something he says is his specialty.
Unfortunately, it was not enough to stop Jimmie Clark, who shocked himself as much as anyone else with three catches for 133 yards and a touchdown.
``I've always been like the bring-the-play-in guy,'' said Clark, a senior. ``The old decoy.''
One press box observer noted after Clark caught a 57-yarder in the first half, ``Wow, usually his hands are so bad they couldn't catch a cold.''
``He has average hands, although I certainly wouldn't say they're even good,'' said Wacker.
Then it must have been the way Brand was throwing. Brand, who came in after starter Barry Wolfe struggled on his first four possessions, threw for 181 yards and two touchdowns. Running back J.D. Davis also accumulated 65 yards on a halfback option pass. Emory & Henry entered the game last in the ODAC in passing offense at 80 yards per game.
``We made some good adjustments on the run today," said Dewease.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 83 linesby CNB