ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 24, 1996 TAG: 9611260037
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BOONE, N.C.
SOURCE: FROM STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
THE VMI TAILBACK rushes for 241 yards to finish as the most prolific runner in Division I-AA history.
Thomas Haskins' football career at VMI ended Saturday with a whimper and a bang.
The senior became the all-time leading rusher in NCAA Division I-AA, but his Keydets dropped a 26-14 decision to Appalachian State in a Southern Conference game at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
The record fell in typical Haskins fashion when he broke loose for a 48-yard run in the third quarter. The tailback from Richmond, Va., finished the game with 241 yards on a school-record 39 carries. Haskins completes his career with 5,349 yards, 16 more than Frank Hawkins, who played at Nevada from 1977-80.
``The record hasn't hit me yet,'' Haskins said. ``It was a real emotional day. We got out of the gates strong, but couldn't finish it off.''
The Keydets (3-8 overall, 2-6 Southern) led 7-0 when quarterback Al Lester scored on a 1-yard run with 5:28 to play in the first quarter and Mike Harris kicked the extra point.
Appalachian State (7-4, 5-3) tied it 57 seconds later on a 1-yard touchdown run by Damon Scott and Jay Sutton's conversion kick. Sutton's 27-yard field goal with 5:02 to play in the first half made it 10-7.
Haskins' 56-yard touchdown run 2:16 into the second half and Harris' kick put VMI in front 14-10, but again the lead was short-lived.
This time, Bake Baker connected with Otis Smith on a 65-yard touchdown pass. The extra-point kick put the Mountaineers in front to stay, 17-14.
Appalachian State added a 2-yard touchdown run by Scott and a safety when Lester was called for intentional grounding from the Keydets' end zone.
Scott finished with 133 yards on the ground, and Baker threw for 330 yards to lead the Mountaineers.
``I was very disappointed that we didn't get that win,'' said Bill Stewart, VMI's coach. ``We play to win. I'm very sad for our [seniors], who didn't get a chance to go out with a win.''
Haskins also had trouble forgetting the loss.
``The record was not on my mind,'' he said after his third consecutive 200-yard-plus game and fourth in five games. ``I was thinking about scoring. I didn't know until after the game about the record. It will mean a lot later on, but at the time I was thinking about the task at hand and winning a football game.''
Haskins also broke his own school record for rushing yards in a season, with 1,788 yards. He set the old mark of 1,548 last year.
During Haskins' four years, the Keydets were 9-35. This year, VMI opened with six consecutive losses as its offensive line of freshmen and sophomores gained experience.
``Tommy had a wonderful day,'' Stewart said. ``He's done everything we've asked and more, and he did it behind three redshirt freshmen [linemen]. He was a real godsend to VMI. He's the greatest player I've ever coached.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines KEYWORDS: MGR 2DA FOOTBALLby CNB