THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 14, 1994 TAG: 9409140622
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Atle Larsen brought Virginia Tech football into the 1990s Saturday.
Larsen, a soccer-style kicker, replaced injured Hokie straight-on kicker Ryan Williams in the second quarter of Tech's victory at Southern Mississippi. Williams will be out three weeks with a separated shoulder, which he suffered while attempting to throw a pass after the ball squirted away from his holder on a field goal try.
When Larsen kicked an extra point in the second quarter and a field goal in the fourth quarter, he became the first soccer-style kicker to convert a placement for the Hokies since Tom Taricani in 1985. Larsen's first PAT try ended a string of 263 straight-on Hokie extra point attempts, and his 42-yard field goal halted a string of 102 field goal booted by a conventional kicker at Tech.
``It's sort of weird in this day and age,'' Larsen said. ``Before I'd heard of Ryan, I didn't know there were any straight-on kickers left in college.''
The last one in Division I-A besides Williams was Southern Mississippi's Jim Taylor in 1991, according to the NCAA. Prior to Williams, Tech had conventional kickers Chris Kinzer and Mickey Thomas.
Larsen, a junior, is a native of Norway who came to America as a high school exchange student in Larue County, Ky. He grew up playing soccer and his parents have never seen him play football.
He transferred to Tech from Division I-AA Morehead State because the Eagles were no longer offering scholarships, and because the school did not have an engineering major. Larsen also thought he'd have a chance to kick at Virginia Tech.
Saturday at Boston College (TV: noon on WTKR), he gets the chance. What if he has a potential game-winning kick on television?
``I think I'll make it ... or, I know I'll make it,'' Larsen said.
SEMONES STARS: Virginia Tech linebacker Brandon Semones recorded 13 tackles against Southern Miss, including two tackles-for-loss, and three quarterback hurries. Semones is a first-time starter at weakside linebacker, called the ``whip'' linebacker by Tech.
``He played really hard,'' Hokies defensive coordinator Phil Elmassian said.
``I'm feeling more confident as the season goes along and feeling more comfortable in this defense,'' Semones said. ``Just getting more repetitions in practice helps.''
LINE DANCING: The Hokies are holding some auditions in practice this week for starting positions along the offensive line, which has been spotty in the first two games.
``We're going to have some good competition here this week in the offensive line and then the best five will start on Saturday,'' coach Frank Beamer said. ``We'll see who those people are.''
According to sophomore center Billy Conaty, redshirt freshman Todd Washington has been elevated to co-No. 1 on the depth chart at center, and sophomore T.J. Washington - Todd's older brother - is challenging for right tackle Mike Bianchin's starting job.
``Todd and T.J. both did very well against Southern Miss,'' Beamer said. ``They're going to play more. We'll see how it goes this week.''
TOUCHDOWN TOMMY: Tech backup tailback Tommy Edwards, a sophomore, scored the 12th touchdown of his 13-game college career Saturday at Mississippi State.
QUICK HITS: The Hokies will be trying to win consecutive road games for the first time since 1986 and to open the season 3-0 for the first time since 1981 Saturday. ... Tech has won five consecutive games and eight out of its last nine, with the lone loss coming at Boston College in November. ... Tech has held back-to-back opponents to fewer than 10 first downs for the first time since 1980. ... Quarterback Maurice DeShazo became the fourth Hokie to surpass 4,000 career passing yards Saturday. ... Virginia Tech is second nationally in total defense with 160.5 yards allowed per game. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Brandon Semones
13 tackles last Saturday
by CNB