ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, October 20, 1996 TAG: 9610220022
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
It was a punt that Virginia freshman Antwan Harris didn't block that set the stage for the first touchdown of his college career.
``It touched my fingertips,'' said Harris, whose deflection resulted in a 31-yard punt by N.C. State's Jason Dukes in the second quarter Saturday at Scott Stadium.
``The next time they had to punt, I went and talked to [Art Markos] and said, `Coach, I think I can get it.' And, he said, `Try for it.'''
The Wolfpack had changed punters, but it made no difference to Harris, who blocked Jason Biggs' effort, picked up the loose ball inside the State 10 and completed a 34-yard touchdown return.
``I was concerned with picking the ball up first,'' said Harris, who looked like an infielder as he fielded the ball on a short hop. ``Then, I almost tripped before I got to the end zone.''
Running the ball should have come naturally to Harris, a 5-foot-10, 178-pounder who rushed for 5,627 yards and scored 61 touchdowns in his career at Ravenscroft High School in Raleigh, N.C.
``It's a big rivalry for me because I know some of the State players and I live only 10 minutes from the State campus,'' Harris said. ``They tried to recruit me, but, I had all the fun when I came here.''
Harris received extensive playing time in the secondary Saturday after moving up to second-team strong safety behind Stephen Phelan. Joe Williams, previously the starter, has moved to cornerback after an injury.
KIDDIE CORPS
Harris is one of three 1996 recruits who played Saturday and will not be redshirted, joining running back Thomas Jones and wide receiver Demetrius Dotson.
Dotson, targeted for increased playing time, celebrated his first college reception on a 27-yard pass from Aaron Brooks that was UVa's first play of the fourth quarter and last pass attempt of the game.
It kept alive a 12-play, 61-yard drive that culminated in a 5-yard touchdown run by Jones that made it 62-7 with 10:04 left.
MILESTONES
Sophomore free safety Anthony Poindexter became the sixth Virginia player to intercept three passes in a game and the first since Keith McMeans in 1987.
BY THE NUMBERS
In the past three years, opposing running backs have rushed for 100 yards or more against Virginia four times. N.C. State's Tremayne Stephens has done it twice, but managed only 54 yards on 14 carries Saturday.
NEXT OPPONENT
The Cavaliers (5-1 overall, 3-1 ACC) visit No.3-ranked Florida State (5-0, 4-0) at 3:30 p.m. in Tallahassee, Fla., next Saturday. The Seminoles, who were off this past week, are 35-1 in 41/2 seasons of ACC play. The only loss was to Virginia, 33-28, last year in Charlottesville.
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines KEYWORDS: FOOTBALLby CNB