ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 10, 1996 TAG: 9611120015
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-8 EDITION: METRO
Virginia did not use back-up quarterback Aaron Brooks until what seemed to be the most critical moment Saturday against Clemson.
Brooks, who had watched his playing time decline despite seeing action in UVa's first eight games, had not even taken off his warmups before regular Tim Sherman was injured with 9:53 left.
The Cavaliers, trailing 17-6, faced a third-and-five before Sherman scrambled 17 yards to the Clemson 12. Rather than slide, he met a Tigers' tackler head-on and paid for the hit with a bruised shoulder.
Brooks, who tossed a few warmup passes while the training staff attended to Sherman, overthrew Germane Crowell in the end zone before the Cavaliers settled for a 30-yard field goal by Rafael Garcia.
Sherman returned to the game on the next series and led the Cavaliers on an 82-yard drive that resulted in their lone touchdown. Sherman ran 4 yards for the touchdown, but a goal-line collision required more medical attention.
There was no word after the game on Sherman's status for the Cavaliers' game next Saturday with North Carolina.
HOLLOW RECORD
Sherman, who had never passed for 200 yards in a college game before last week, tied Mike Groh's 1-year-old school record when he passed for 346 yards Saturday.
``It's hard to think about it right now,'' said Sherman, who was 18-of-29, setting a personal high for completions. ``Right now, I'd rather have had a poor game and won.''
LATE 'PICK'
For the third week in a row, Virginia had a single interception to preserve its NCAA-record 38-game streak and, for the second straight week, it came in the fourth quarter.
Clemson quarterback Nealon Greene attempted only four passes in the second half, the last of which was intercepted by UVa cornerback Joe Rowe with 11:59 remaining. It was Rowe's second interception of the season.
The Cavaliers, scoreless in the second half until that point, subsequently drove 78 yards for the field goal that made it 17-9. However, coach George Welsh said he had urged his players not to think or talk about the streak.
``Y'all must have bugged our locker room,'' said UVa co-captain Todd White when asked about Welsh's ultimatum.
``Last week, when it was 27-0 [against Duke], we were thinking interception, '' White said. ``This week, an interception for the purpose of the streak was the last thing on our minds. We were just trying to make something happen.''
NEXT OPPONENT
Virginia (6-3 overall, 4-3 ACC) will entertain North Carolina (8-1, 5-1) at Scott Stadium in a game that will be televised regionally by ABC starting at 3:30 p.m next Saturday. The Tar Heels, 28-10 winners Saturday over Louisville, have not beaten Virginia in Charlottesville since 1981.
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines KEYWORDS: FOOTBALLby CNB