ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 24, 1996 TAG: 9611260035
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
It was a scene a sellout crowd didn't see Saturday. Still, it told the story as much as any play at Lane Stadium.
As the fourth quarter of the 42nd football meeting between West Virginia and Virginia Tech began, Mountaineers athletic director Ed Pastilong huddled in the pressbox with scouts from the Carquest and Liberty bowls.
The Hokies had dominated their rivals pre-dating Big East days, but still, there was an 'Eerie feeling in the place, particularly after WVU trimmed Tech's lead to 10 points with 11:40 to play.
"I couldn't even look at the clock,'' said Rickey Bustle, Tech's offensive coordinator. "It didn't seem like it was moving.''
His offense did, however, against the nation's top-ranked defense. In a 31-14 victory, 17th-ranked Tech produced a scoreboard season-high against the Mountaineers, and more.
For the first time in 91 years, Tech is 9-1 during a football season. And if the Hokies still can't quite be sure of their own bowl destination, they did clinch a postseason berth for their next opponent.
The Hokies are sure of a Gator Bowl bid - probably against North Carolina (9-2) - even if Miami doesn't upset Syracuse at the Carrier Dome next Saturday, pushing the Big East title into a three-way tie and Tech into a likely Orange Bowl date.
While coach Frank Beamer's fourth straight bowl team played its way out of the Carquest, it played Virginia into a Dec. 27 date at Pro Player Stadium, likely against the Hurricanes.
"It's an attractive game,'' said Carquest representative Keyna Cory, who was scouting Tech-WVU.
Georgia Tech (5-5) did its part to boost the Cavaliers' stock for the ACC's No. 4 berth by losing to Navy. Cory said UVa (7-3) could be extended a bid within a few days, even before it visits Tech on Friday in a game that isn't about bowls, but rather first dibs on the new Commonwealth Cup.
After a 7-0 start, West Virginia lost three of its final four games and appears Liberty-bound against Houston. The Mountaineers entered the game allowing only 202 yards. Tech got 365, the most against WVU this season.
"We got 31 points, but it was a grudging 31,'' said Bustle, whose offense is averaging 32 points per game in his three years as Tech's coordinator. "I told Billy Hite [Tech's assistant head coach] that it was the toughest 31 points we've ever gotten.''
The Hokies knew that the Mountaineers weren't going to simply outscore them. While WVU entered the game No. 1 in division I-A in defense, it was 82nd in offense.
"We didn't make any big changes,'' Bustle said of Tech's attack, which had topped WVU's per-game defensive allowance by halftime. "We just told the players what kind of game it was going to be.
"They were No. 1 in defense for great reasons. They're good. We told our guys just to run the offense and don't get impatient. What we're looking for will be there.
"We weren't going to get 10-15 yards a clip. There would be a chance to pop something in there. I thought we could run it better than we did. We protected well, too.''
Bustle's preaching paid off, and Tech took advantage of its opportunities, producing 11 plays of more than 12 yards, including two of the Hokies' touchdowns.
"We've been in those situations before, where it's close enough to make you sweat a little,'' Bustle said. "We've handled that. This team has that kind of experience.''
WVU's sack-happy defense got to Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller only twice. A two-minute drill that took only 1:11 to get a touchdown in the final seconds of the first half was a crusher for the Mountaineers.
It was the Hokies' 19th victory in 20 games, 36th in four seasons, and sixth straight over a ranked opponent.
Against No. 19 UVa, Tech will be playing for its first 10-win regular season in history. It also will be the fourth straight year the Hokies and Cavaliers will meet as ranked rivals.
Let the hype begin.
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM\Staff. Virginia Tech defender Cornell Brown isby CNBtripped up by WVU receiver Rahsaan Vanterpool after intercepting a
pitchout in the third quarter of Tech's 31-14 victory Saturday in
Blacksburg. KEYWORDS: 2DA