THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 20, 1994 TAG: 9410200515
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLIE DENN, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
Heading into its biggest game of the season, William and Mary is not healthy.
The 14th-ranked Tribe (5-2, 3-1 Yankee) plays at No. 12 James Madison (5-1, 3-1) Saturday in a game that has major postseason implications for both teams.
Yet the Tribe likely will be without starting tailback Troy Keen, the team's leading rusher, and probably will get limited playing time from quarterback Shawn Knight.
``Troy is very doubtful for Saturday,'' W&M coach Jimmye Laycock said.
Keen was carried off the field last week in the Tribe's 23-14 loss to Massachusetts. He suffered a knee sprain that did not require surgery. ``We don't know when he'll be back,'' Laycock said.
Keen's spot will be filled by Derek Fitzgerald, W&M's leading rusher last year. Fitzgerald has gained 184 yards in 42 carries this fall.
Fitzgerald had off-season surgery on his knee and has been slow to recover. His ability to cut and pick his holes has improved greatly since the beginning of the season, however.
Knight's status as he continues to recover from a sprained ankle is day-to-day. Asked to assess Knight's chances of playing Saturday, Laycock said they were ``about 50-50 right now.''
Last week, backup quarterback Matt Byrne started his second consecutive game. He was ineffective, however, completing just 10 of 21 passes for 80 yards with two interceptions.
Knight came in for eight snaps in the fourth quarter. He did not complete a pass in four tries.
``Shawn played about as much as he could have last week,'' Laycock said.
So how does James Madision prepare for the Tribe?
``We're going on the assumption that we will see Knight at his best,'' said Dukes coach Rip Scherer.
The Tribe defense will get a boost with the return of linebacker Jude Waddey. Waddey missed the U.Mass game with a bad shoulder but is expected to start against the Dukes.
STILL WAITING: Although his team is 5-1 and ranked 12th in Division I-AA, Scherer says the Dukes haven't put together a complete game yet.
``Defensively we've played pretty well,'' Scherer said, ``and the kicking game has been pretty consistent. But offensively we've dodged some bullets.''
Scherer said the Dukes have had three turnovers in each of the last three games, all victories.
``Sooner or later, that's going to catch up with you,'' he said.
COACH OK: Last week against Delaware, Richmond head coach Jim Marshall fainted on the sidelines. He was taken to a local hospital for observation but was released later that evening.
Marshall was diagnosed with low blood sugar. He has resumed his regular work schedule as the Spiders (3-4 and losers of three in a row) prepare to take on Boston University (5-1) in Boston on Saturday.
Jason Gabrels is expected to start for Richmond at quarterback. Last week, Gabrels completed 12 of 22 passes for 106 yards but couldn't get the Spiders into the end zone.
The Spiders' biggest need, however, is to find a way to shut down the running game. Richmond allowed 307 yards on the ground last week against Delaware.
BALANCE: The emergence of tailback Lawrence Worthington has given Liberty's offense some diversity. Worthington rushed for 101 yards last week as the Flames (2-4) ended a four-game losing streak by beating Southwest Missouri State.
With star runner J.T. Morris likely to miss this week's game against Catawba (1-6), Worthington continues to be a key to relieve pressure on quarterback Antwan Chiles. Chiles has thrown for 1,627 yards thus far this year.
TRAVELING MAN: Former First Colonial standout Greg Marafka is on the traveling squad for Hofstra, which is 6-0 and ranked 22nd in I-AA. Coach Joe Gardi said the 6-foot-3, 305-pound Marafka ``has good size but needs to improve his feet and speed'' to become a starter.
CALL TO DEFENSE: VMI, which plays The Citadel in the Oyster Bowl on Nov. 12, can trace its 0-6 start directly to defense. The Keydets have been outscored, 192-28, in their last four games and are allowing opponents an average of nearly 6 yards per rushing play.
The Keydets host Furman (1-5) on Saturday in what appears to be their best chance to win a game this year. After Furman, VMI plays Western Carolina, James Madison, The Citadel and Appalachian State. Those teams are a combined 16-9. by CNB