ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 24, 1996 TAG: 9611260038
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-6 EDITION: METRO
One of the allegations coming out of West Virginia this past week was that Virginia Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller had been delinquent about using his mouthpiece.
There was some thought that, by not using the mouthpiece, Druckenmiller could be heard more clearly when calling - or changing plays - from Tech's shotgun formation.
``I have one and I wore it all day,'' said Druckenmiller, who passed for 238 yards Saturday in the Hokies' 31-14 victory over West Virginia. ``I've had one all season, but I put it on my helmet when I go out and maybe, for a series or two, I forget to use it
``All through the week, they're over there making sure I have a mouthpiece and making sure we're not holding [on the offensive line]. Maybe they should concentrate on playing a game and doing things you can do.''
THE FAKE PUNT
The Hokies, after seeing West Virginia cut the deficit to 24-14 early in the fourth quarter, scored their last touchdown after WVU's Brian West tossed an incompletion on a fake punt.
``I should have done it the time before,'' West Virginia coach Don Nehlen said. ``I had it called and got talked out of it. And then the last time was stupid, but I've been known to do stupid things, I guess. That last touchdown was on me.''
MILESTONES
West Virginia sophomore wide receiver David Saunders had nine receptions for 87 yards, giving him 67 receptions for the season and breaking the record of 64 set by Mark Rauch in 1991.
Virginia Tech junior Ken Oxendine, who carried 19 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns, tied a school record shared by Tommy Francisco and James Barber with his 13th rushing touchdown of the season.
Druckenmiller had not been intercepted in five games before he was picked off by West Virginia cornerback Mike Logan in the second quarter. Druckenmiller's streak had reached 106 attempts without an interception.
INJURY REPORT
Two of West Virginia's marquee players, outside linebacker Canute Curtis and tailback Amos Zereoue, were helped from the field but returned to finish the game.
In fact, Curtis missed only one play, but it was a big one, a third-and-goal that Tech converted into a touchdown when Druckenmiller found Cornelius White in the back of the end zone.
A wobbly Zereoue left the game with 2:07 left in the third quarter, although Alvin Swoope picked up the slack and scored on a 16-yard run that cut the deficit to 24-14 with 11:40 left.
Zereoue missed two series before re-entering the game with 8:35 remaining. He went 14 yards on his first carry, which was his longest gain of the afternoon.
NEXT OPPONENT
The Hokies (9-1) will entertain 19th-ranked Virginia (7-3) at 2:30 p.m. Friday in a game that will be televised by WDBJ (Channel 7). The Cavaliers,
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines KEYWORDS: 2DA FOOTBALLby CNB