THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 8, 1994 TAG: 9410080427
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
It is a game worth revisiting.
Oct. 9, 1993: Norfolk State, down four touchdowns in the fourth quarter, scores 20 points in four minutes to cut Winston-Salem State's lead to seven. The Spartans then give up another touchdown, but rally again, scoring 14 points in the final four minutes. A two-point conversion run by quarterback Kermit Buggs ties the game at 54 with three seconds left. A Winston-Salem crowd of 18,000 is stunned silent. The point total of 108 is a new CIAA record.
Definitely a game worth revisiting.
But not worth repeating.
``No way,'' said Norfolk State coach Darnell Moore. ``I wouldn't mind having 54. I sure don't want them to have 54.''
Winston-Salem coach Kermit Blount, who brings his team to Foreman Field today to face Norfolk State (1:30 p.m.), is in complete agreement.
``We talked about that,'' Blount said. ``I wouldn't mind either if we had 54 and they had something else.''
Don't look for 108 points today, but don't look for a defensive struggle, either. Most of the offensive stars who contributed to last year's festival of first downs are back this year.
Tailback Richard Huntley, who carried a CIAA record 45 times for 305 yards last year, again leads Winston-Salem's rushing game. Huntley, a senior, warmed up for today's game by running for 190 yards against Fayetteville State last week.
``If they're going to run, he's going to carry the ball,'' Moore said.
Make no mistake, the Rams (2-3, 2-1 CIAA) are going to run. Winston-Salem is second in the CIAA in rushing, with an average of 197 yards per game.
Those are ominous numbers for Norfolk State (2-2, 2-2), which is yielding 216 yards per game on the ground, second-worst in the league.
``We've had difficulty against the run, period,'' Moore said. ``Who knows? Maybe this is the time we'll turn it around against a good running back.''
Also back for Winston is receiver Oronde Gadsden, who had six catches for 208 yards and 5 touchdowns in last year's game.
Still, the air advantage lies with Norfolk State. The Spartans lead the conference in passing, behind the arm of quarterback Aaron Sparrow and the hands of receiver James Roe.
``Sparrow's one of the better quarterbacks not only in the conference but in the nation,'' Blount said. ``We have to try to prevent the big plays.''
Norfolk State's defense needs to do the same. With last Saturday off, the Spartans have had an extra week to prepare. Poor tackling did them in a 27-26 loss to Elizabeth City State Sept. 24.
``Atrocious tackling,'' Moore said. ``But we probably will play one of our better defensive games this week, if practice is any indication.''
The Spartans should benefit from the return of linebacker Tim Hall and lineman Laron White, both returning after missing two games with injuries.
``Hall's going to help a heckuva lot. He gives us quickness and range,'' Moore said.
Winston-Salem is coming off a 39-26 loss to Fayetteville State, its first loss to the Broncos in 19 years. ILLUSTRATION: CIAA AT A GLANCE
[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB