THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 19, 1994 TAG: 9411190578
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLIE DENN, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
After taking last week off, William and Mary resumes its playoff quest today when it closes the regular season at Richmond.
Few people figure the sputtering Spiders (3-7), losers of six straight, will give the Tribe (7-3) much of a battle.
Of more concern to William and Mary is its standing among the Division I-AA playoff selection committee. Chaired by Richmond athletic director Chuck Boone, the panel will announce the 16-team playoff field Sunday.
``I feel if we win, we'll go,'' coach Jimmye Laycock said.
But Laycock admitted he was looking at the picture from a one-sided point of view.
``It's a tough call so far as making that (playoff field) choice,'' he said.
The Tribe appears to have an outside shot at best of being included in the field. So all the team can do is win and wait.
``We'll give it our best shot,'' linebacker Greg Applewhite said.
The Spiders don't seem to present much of a challenge. Their undersized defense is vulnerable to the run, although Richmond does lead the Yankee Conference in pass defense.
The obvious conclusion, then, is why pass on the Spiders if you can pile up big yardage running?
But Laycock thinks the Richmond defense is not that much of a soft touch.
``I see them really playing hard on defense,'' he said.
Offensively the Spiders have been inconsistent. Quarterbacks Joe Elrod and Jason Gabrels have battled all year for playing time, and neither has established himself as the clear-cut starter.
Running back Uly Scott, meanwhile, who became the school's all-time rushing leader earlier this fall, has been Richmond's most consistent weapon. Scott has rushed for 627 yards.
``They're a dropped pass here or a penalty there away from making big plays,'' Laycock said. ``But they have definitely not thrown in the towel on the season.''
In other games involving state I-AA teams today, James Madison hosts Northeastern, Liberty is at home to Charleston Southern and VMI visits Appalachian State.
JMU, ranked fifth in the nation this week, can claim the automatic playoff berth awarded to the Yankee Conference champion. To do that the 9-1 Dukes have to beat the 1-9 Huskies and hope Boston University can defeat New Hampshire.
Both the Terriers and the Wildcats are 9-1.
But even if the Dukes don't win the conference, they're a lock to make the playoffs. The chances appear good that JMU will host a first-round game as well. by CNB