THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: Friday, September 23, 1994 TAG: 9409230700 SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
Virginia Tech's defense stole the show as the Hokies made the most of their first regular season national television appearance in four years Thursday night against West Virginia.
The 14th-ranked Hokies manhandled the Mountaineers, winning 34-6 before an enthusiastic Lane Stadium crowd of 49,679 and an ESPN audience. West Virginia failed to find the end zone, the first time Tech held an opponent without a touchdown since Georgia Tech had a pair of field goals in 1990.
The Hokies (4-0, 2-0 Big East) have allowed just seven points in the second half of four games. Tech has won eight in a row dating back to last season, while West Virginia fell to 1-4, 0-2.
``Everyone wants to go out every game and tattoo the opposing running back and quarterback, whatever it may be,'' Hokies defensive end Cornell Brown said.
``I think it's just attitude,'' said Tech linebacker George DelRicco, who had a game-high 13 tackles. ``We want to be one of the better defenses in the nation.''
There were sobering sides to the victory for Tech, which lost junior tailback Dwayne Thomas to a sprained left ankle early in the fourth quarter. Thomas, a 1,000-yard rusher last season, had to be carried off the field by teammates and did not return.
And Virginia Tech quarterback Maurice DeShazo, hampered all week by a sprained ankle as well, continued his early season travails.
But for the fourth time in four games, defense made up for offensive shortcomings.
DeShazo's first pass of the game was an interception, and his first quarter consisted of 2-for-8 passing, two interceptions and a fumble. He tossed another interception in the second half, and three other DeShazo passes on the night were dropped by West Virginia defender.
DeShazo finished 12-for-32 for 185 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions - the last of which produced a smattering of boos from the crowd. Through four games he has thrown more interceptions (six) than touchdowns (five) and his completion percentage has slipped to 51 percent.
``I'm getting mad at myself, and I need to do something about it,'' DeShazo said. ``Right now I'm wondering about myself a time or two, but I know it's going to come. It can't get no worse.''
DeShazo didn't really look sharp until the final drive of the first half, when he moved the Hokies 63 yards in the final 2:28 for a Ryan Williams field goal. Thirty yards of that drive was produced by Thomas runs (18 carries for 94 yards on the night).
It didn't last for DeShazo, who botched a third-quarter scoring opportunity following a 61-yard Antonio Freeman punt return to West Virginia's 7. DeShazo floated a pass into the end zone that was intercepted by Aaron Beasley, his third pickoff of the game.
The Hokies' first touchdown came on a 33-yard dash up the middle by fullback Brian Edmonds. Edmonds ran up the gut, was almost felled by a referee and broke outside. He beat West Virginia cornerback Harold Kidd on a foot race to the corner and 7-3 Tech lead with 7:54 left in the first quarter.
Following a Brandon Semones interception, Tech was in the end zone again 22 seconds later. DeShazo threw a screen pass to senior wide receiver Antonio Freeman, who followed three blockers down the left sideline for a 29-yard touchdown play with 7:32 to play in the first quarter for a 14-3 lead. It was the first touchdown catch of the season for Freeman, who had nine last year.
The two touchdowns in 22 seconds were reminiscent of the Hokies' last appearance on ESPN, when they put 14 points on the board in the final 23 seconds of the first half of their Independence Bowl victory over Indiana.
Williams, back in action after missing one game with a separated shoulder, added first-half field goals of 39 and 33 yards to give the Hokies a 20-6 halftime lead.
Tech's final scores came on a pair of garbage-time touchdowns - a 35-yard DeShazo to Bryan Still pass early in the fourth quarter, and a 53-yard burst up the middle by freshman tailback Ken Oxendine with 4:33 to play.
``It feels good to be 4-0 and know we haven't played our best football,'' coach Frank Beamer said.
The Hokies sacked West Virginia's quarterbacks eight times - three by Cornell Brown - for minus-63 yards, allowed just 239 yards and 16 first downs, including just four in the first half.
NOTES: Freeman's touchdown catch was the 18th of his career, tying the Virginia Tech record Ricky Scales set from 1972-74. ... DeShazo moved into third place Thursday on Tech's career passing charts. He now has 4,379 yards, trailing only Don Strock (6,009) and Will Furrer (5,915). ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
Brian Edmonds shook off four would-be tacklers on his way to a
33-yard scoring run up the middle midway through the first quarter.
Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
West Virginia quarterback Eric Boykin, who threw two first-quarter
interceptions, is pressured by Virginia Tech's Cornell Brown.
by CNB