THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 5, 1994 TAG: 9409050182
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Norfolk State on Sunday had a little injury added to Saturday night's insulting loss to Virginia State, when it was learned that tight end Ronald Boone will miss the rest of the season with a broken right arm.
The play of Boone, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound sophomore, was one of the few bright spots in the season- opening 54-6 loss. Boone caught three passes for 29 yards, but left the stadium on a stretcher in the third quarter.
``He figured a lot in what we planned on doing,'' Moore said. ``We thought he could take a lot of pressure off (wide receiver James Roe), and give us that inside threat.''
Boone, who played for Moore at Wilson High, was also expected to help an inexperienced offensive line with his blocking.
Moore said Jerome Freeman, a junior, and Aaron Hawkins, a sophomore, will fill in at tight end.
MEANINGLESS STAT DEPT.: You'd never know it by the score, but Norfolk State had the ball only 56 seconds less than Virginia State. What's more, the Spartans ran 18 more plays than the Trojans.
``We moved the ball down the field, but then we'd get down there and start backing up,'' Moore said.
Norfolk State spent plenty of time inside the Virginia State 30, but lost an astounding seven fumbles.
``The first thing you look at is: `Did we make mistakes based on things we didn't prepare for?' That wasn't the case,'' Moore said. ``Everything we do in practice with our receivers and backs, we do with a ball.
``At some point it had to be a lack of concentration. Those are things I think can be corrected.''
Moore also said he thinks that with a few adjustments, the problems in the offensive and defensive lines can be corrected.
``There's a lot that can be salvaged,'' he said. ``We just have to get on the stick and work.
``I guarantee we'll be better next week, because we can't get any worse.''
QB UPDATE: Quarterback Aaron Sparrow took more than his share of punishment Saturday night, as he was sacked three times and flushed out of the pocket on many more occasions. He left the game early in the fourth quarter feeling a little woozy, but said afterward that he felt fine.
``I got a little dizzy,'' he said. ``To tell you the truth, I was seeing double for a while.''
Ryan Weiss came in for Sparrow and was sacked twice himself.
MORE STAT STUFF: Senior Brian Rountree returned six kicks for 168 yards, a 28-yard average.
``It's good to get that kind of field position,'' Moore said. ``But that also means the other team is kicking off a lot.''
With Spartan running backs rushing for just 40 yards and Spartan quarterbacks losing 49, Norfolk State netted -9 yards on the ground. . . .The loss was the worst opening day defeat since a 56-6 loss to Tennessee State in 1972. by CNB