ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 23, 1996 TAG: 9611260023
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
A SELLOUT CROWD could see a defensive standoff as Big East rivals play for a major bowl bid.
It's two down and two to go for Virginia Tech's football team.
After clearing the first two hurdles - East Carolina and Miami - on its tough four-game stretch drive, Tech faces another potential barrier today when West Virginia comes calling at Lane Stadium.
"It sure doesn't get any easier, does it?'' noted Frank Beamer, Hokies coach. "East Carolina, Miami, and now comes the best defense I think we've ever played against. Talk about a tough order.''
In a game that will have a huge impact on where each goes bowling, 17th-ranked Tech (8-1 overall, 5-1 Big East) and No.21 West Virginia (8-2, 4-2) start knocking heads at noon in front of a sellout crowd of 50,000 and ESPN2 audience.
Tech, a 41/2-point favorite, needs a victory to retain any hope at claiming at least a share of the Big East title and a possible spot in the bowl alliance.
If the Hokies win, they will finish 6-1 in the Big East. Their hopes of tying for the league crown would then rest on Miami winning next Saturday at conference-leading Syracuse.
"Believe me,'' said Beamer, "Miami is plenty talented enough to beat Syracuse. So I think that makes this game even bigger.''
Meanwhile, the Mountaineers won't exactly be playing for peanuts. In addition to seeking revenge for 31-6 and 27-0 losses to Tech the past two seasons, Don Nehlen's club needs a victory to enhance its hopes at landing in a warm-weather bowl.
If WVU loses, its postseason destination figures to be Memphis, Tenn., where it would meet Conference USA champion Houston in the Liberty Bowl.
If the Mountaineers want to even consider adding sunbathing lotion to their December shopping lists, they'd best tan some hides today in Blacksburg.
"It's a difference between going to Florida and somewhere like Memphis,'' said Canute Curtis, WVU's Butkus Award candidate linebacker.
"Do you want to play in the warm or the cold? That says enough.''
The Hokies, who close the regular season with archrival Virginia on Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Lane, expect the Mountaineers to roll into town in an ornery mood. Tech has bludgeoned its biggest Big East rival two years in succession.
"I know they haven't forgotten,'' said Jim Druckenmiller, Tech quarterback. "So I think they're going to come in here with their guns fully loaded.
"It's definitely going to be rough. I think it's the toughest defense that we've faced all year.''
Going by numbers, it's hard to argue that point. WVU leads the nation in rushing defense (55 yards per game), total defense (202.7 ypg) and ranks fifth in scoring defense (10.5 points per game).
It presents a stiff challenge for a Tech offense that ranks 13th in the country in rushing (240.1 ypg), 24th in total yards (423.2 ypg) and 19th in scoring (32.4 ppg).
"I think it's all going to come down to the big boys up front,'' said Druckenmiller, who doesn't have to reminded of WVU's Big East-leading 52 sacks and 15 interceptions in 10 games.
"Every week it comes down to the trenches, I think. The play starts up front and basically we just follow. The big boys have been doing a great job this season. Hopefully, they can maintain it.''
Nehlen's biggest worry is scoring points. The Mountaineers were held to seven points in both of their losses to Miami and Syracuse.
In Tech's 27-0 victory in Morgantown last year, WVU had 138 yards total offense, including 15 rushing.
"We've got to score some points,'' Nehlen said. "We can't do go down there and play like Andy Capp on offense and expect to win.''
WVU's offense is led by freshman tailback sensation Amos Zereoue, who has rushed for 888 yards in nine games.
"He's a dangerous player,'' Beamer said. "He gives them all the ingredients. Their quarterback, Chad Johnston, can throw it, too, and they've got all kinds of receivers.''
Johnston, who played his sophomore year of high school at Craig County High School in New Castle and was recruited by Tech, doesn't have to be reminded it's his last shot at the Hokies.
"This is one game we've really pointed to,'' said Johnston, a senior whose 5,548 passing yards ranks second on WVU's career list behind Oliver Luck (6,282).
"I'm looking forward to this one. They embarrassed us last year and we definitely owe them.''
Nehlen, when asked the mindset of his team after two straight whippings by Tech, said: "We won't forfeit.''
Beamer's biggest task this week has been keeping his club focused on the task at hand. Coming off a monumental victory at Miami, and with Virginia ahead, Tech certainly could be caught in an emotional sandwich.
"Last week was big, but this is bigger,'' Beamer said. "I think the Miami win will be a great win if we win this week. I think if you lose the next one it takes away from the one you just won.
"It was an emotional time for our players right after the Miami game. I told them we need to enjoy it but our minds need to go right to West Virginia.
"We'll see. I think it's tough. But if there's been one thing this team has been good at doing is rising up when it has to. So now we're going to call on them to do it one more time.''
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