THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 2, 1994 TAG: 9410020180
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
William and Mary departed Scott Stadium on Saturday firmly convinced that reports of Virginia's offensive woes have been greatly exaggerated.
And it didn't take long for the Tribe to get that feeling on a sunny autumn afternoon.
The Cavaliers treated a homecoming crowd estimated at 38,300 with scores on their first five possessions and coasted to a 37-3 victory.
Quarterback Symmion Willis, who had not taken the Cavaliers to a touchdown previously this season, sparked the offensive fireworks.
The 6-foot-4 junior passed for a pair of touchdowns and ran for another to give the Tribe, ranked eighth in Division I-AA, its worst defeat since losing to Georgia, 59-24, in 1988.
Willis completed his first five passes and finished with 236 yards passing and 48 yards rushing.
Meanwhile, the Tribe played most of the game without its brilliant quarterback, Shawn Knight, who
twisted his right ankle early in the second period.
Knight, a senior from Norfolk, suffered the injury during a drive that ended with Brian Shallcross's 36-yard field goal that trimmed Virginia's lead to 6-3.
With Knight on the sidelines, the Cavaliers blew the game open and led, 23-3, at intermission.
``The game changed a lot when (Knight) went out,'' Virginia tackle Ryan Kuehl admitted.
``They had receivers open a few times and with Knight they could have gotten the ball to them. With the other guy (junior Matt Byrne), they didn't do it.''
Tribe coach Jimmye Laycock said he didn't have to make a decision to hold Knight out of the game.
``The doctors looked at the ankle and tried to ice it and tape it so he could play,'' Laycock said. ``He still couldn't go, so I never had to make a decision.''
Laycock took the Tribe's first loss philosophically, although he admitted he had anticipated a closer score.
``We are 4-1 and there is nothing wrong with that,'' Laycock said. ``There aren't many teams that can say that.''
Virginia improved to 3-1 and completed its second consecutive game without yielding a touchdown.
The most encouraging factor for the Cavaliers, though, was the play of Willis, who has struggled to regain his form of last season, when he passed for 19 touchdowns.
Willis didn't come out a ball of fire, but he held his composure after Virginia had to settle for field goals on its first two drives.
Willis finally produced his first touchdown of the season with a 55-yard pass play to wide receiver Tyrone Davis early in the second period.
``It felt really good to put some touchdowns on the board again,'' Willis said. ``That looked like the old Virginia offense, and it worked out for us.''
The ``old'' Virginia offense?
Willis explained he was referring to last year when he often scrambled out of the pocket instead of hanging back and forcing throws.
``A lot of people have told me I needed to go back to playing that style,'' said Willis, who set up Virginia's third-quarter touchdown with a 35-yard sprint.
Willis, upstaged by backup Mike Groh in the first four games, said he did not get discouraged after settling for three points on each of the first two drives.
``I'd rather have had touchdowns, but I knew if we settled down and kept pounding them the touchdowns would come,'' he said.
``This was a great game for us. We needed to prove we could get the ball in the end zone. I feel like I have gotten my confidence back.''
Virginia coach George Welsh said he slightly retooled the offense during last week's open date to help make Willis more effective.
``I think Willis played better, and it wasn't just because of whom we were playing,'' Welsh said.
``He can help us a lot with his running when we get him on the outside.
``But I know some weeks we are not going to be able to do that.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In a rare defensive triumph, William and Mary defensive end Jim
Simpkins wraps up Virginia quarterback Symmion Willis on Saturday.
by CNB