ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 30, 1996 TAG: 9612020097
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
Virginia football coach George Welsh has been eager for the Cavaliers' NCAA-record interception streak to end. He just wanted it to end in a victory.
The Cavaliers had intercepted passes in 39 consecutive games, a streak that dated to October 1993, before Virginia Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller attempted 22 passes without a pickoff Saturday.
``So, we go out and the next game and start intercepting passes again,'' UVa defensive coordinator Rick Lantz said. ``The only streak that bothers me is, the last two times down here we won and today we lost.
``How many consecutive games we've had interceptions has never been an issue for me, but we've never had an interception that helped us lose us a game. We've had some that helped us win. We needed one today.''
JOB MARKET
Lantz, whose defense held opponents under 300 yards per game, said he would talk to SMU athletic director Jim Copeland about the Mustangs' opening. Copeland previously was the AD at Virginia. Virginia assistant Danny Wilmer also has attracted some Division I-A interest.
BY THE NUMBERS
Tiki Barber's 162 rushing yards were the most against Virginia Tech this season. The only player to go over the 100-yard mark against the Hokies before Saturday was Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb.
* The 17-point margin marked the most lopsided loss for Virginia since the opening game of the 1994 season, when the Cavaliers fell to Florida State 41-17. The ``worst'' of UVa's nine subsequent losses was to Clemson, 24-16, three weeks ago.
* Rafael Garcia's three field goals for Virginia gave him 21 for the season, breaking the school record of 20 he set last season. Garcia also holds the UVa record for career field goals with 58.
INJURY REPORT
The Cavaliers felt the absence of ``boundary'' cornerback Joe Rowe, who suffered a sprained ankle against North Carolina and was not in uniform.
Rowe was replaced in the starting lineup by Sam McKiver, who was victimized on a 72-yard pass to Cornelius White that set up the touchdown that put Tech ahead 20-9.
* Shannon Taylor, a redshirt freshman from Roanoke, got his first start at outside linebacker. Jamie Sharper moved to the middle in place of the injured Wali Rainer, although Rainer did play.
* Another first-time starter was junior Charles Kirby at fullback. Regular Darrell Medley, who also injured an ankle against North Carolina, dressed for the game but did not see action.
THE BOWL GAME
Virginia, expected to play the loser of today's Miami-Syracuse game in the Carquest Bowl, could be in a different situation if the Orangemen lose. Carquest executive director Brian Flajole said West Virginia would be a more likely opponent if Syracuse loses.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines KEYWORDS: FOOTBALLby CNB