ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 8, 1996 TAG: 9612100034
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: DIVISION I-AA FOOTBALL
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
Matt Waller kicked his third field goal of the game, a 32-yarder with 2:13 left, to give Northern Iowa a 38-35 victory over William and Mary in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs Saturday night at Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Third-seeded Northern Iowa (12-1), which won after blowing a 27-0 halftime lead, will visit second-seeded Marshall in the semifinals next Saturday.
Eighth-seeded William and Mary (10-3) had rallied to a tie at 35-35 on Mike Cook's five touchdown passes, the last an 8-yarder to Josh Whipple with 5:40 left. William and Mary then forced a punt, but Darren Sharper fumbled the kick and Terrance Malone recovered for Northern Iowa at the Tribe 30.
Waller, who earlier kicked first-half field goals of 29 and 27 yards, connected on his game-winner five plays later.
William and Mary's last chance ended when Cook overthrew Dave Conklin on fourth down from his own 48.
Northern Iowa, reaching the semifinals for the fourth time, had dominated the game early behind Dedric Ward, who caught 11 passes for a school-playoff record 245 yards and two touchdowns.
Cook was sacked only once in the second half and finished 30-of-44 for 381 yards. He was 13-of-15 for 220 yards in the third quarter alone after William and Mary had managed only 67 total yards in the first half.
In other I-AA quarterfinal games played Saturday:
Marshall 54, Furman 0: At Huntington, W.Va., Eric Thomas rushed for 178 yards and Marshall's defense recorded seven sacks to rout Furman (9-4).
The win puts Marshall (13-0) in the Division I-AA semifinals for the sixth straight year. The Herd will play Northern Iowa game next Saturday. Marshall freshman receiver Randy Moss caught two touchdown passes.
Saturday's loss was the worst in Furman history. The previous worst defeat was 57-7 to Carson-Newman in 1972.
Montana 44, East Tennessee State 14: In Missoula, Mon., the Grizzlies exploded for 30 straight points in just over a quarter of play to beat the Buccaneers.
Brian Ah Yat passed for 404 yards and two touchdowns and Brian Gales ran for two more scores to lead the defending national champion Grizzlies (13-0) to their 26th straight win at home. Big Sky Conference champion Montana plays host to Troy State next Saturday.
Ah Yat had 372 yards passing in the first half.
Troy St. 31, Murray St. 3: At Troy, Ala., Liron Thomas and Cliff Shamburger had two interceptions each to help the Trojans (12-1) beat Murray State (11-2).
LENGTH: Medium: 53 linesby CNB