THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 1995 TAG: 9510080158
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ANNAPOLIS, MD. LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster stood outside Virginia Tech's locker room, slapping defensive players on the back as they came off the field.
``Hell of a job,'' Foster said to linebacker George DelRicco.
``Goose egg, baby,'' a smiling DelRicco replied.
The Hokies defense turned in what Foster called the most dominant performance he's been associated with at Tech in blanking Navy 14-0 Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Midshipmen only sailed inside Tech's 30-yard line once, and that trip stalled at the 28. Navy's option offense was held to 126 yards rushing, less than half of the 273.5 it averaged coming in.
``The kids up front really did a great job controlling the line of scrimmage,'' Foster said. ``I don't think (Navy) had played anybody yet with the speed coming off the corners we have. We were running them down from behind.''
Tech recorded 11 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks, and might have had more if its offense could have put Navy in the position of having to overcome a big deficit. Tech led by just a touchdown until the final 1:55.
``That was a pretty awesome performance by our defense against an offense you don't see very often,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said.
The Hokies, 10th in the nation in scoring defense coming in, are allowing just 11.8 points per game.
``Virginia Tech was as good defensively as anyone we have played this year,'' Navy coach Charlie Weatherbie said.
PAYING THE PRICE: J.C. Price wore a cast on his left arm to protect an elbow he hyperextended in practice last week, but he still had two sacks and eight tackles and was chosen Tech's defensive player of the game.
``My shoulder's dead,'' said Price, lamenting the weight of the cast. ``I grew up 20 minutes from Navy. There's nothing that was going to keep me out of it.''
STILL HURTING: Tech receiver Bryan Still, who separated his left shoulder on the second-half kickoff return in the season opener, reinjured it again Saturday. He caught a 9-yard pass early in the fourth quarter, and shortly thereafter had his shoulder pads off and was being tended to on the sidelines. He was also hurting last week after the game at Pittsburgh.
``It's just sore,'' team doctor Duane Lagan said.
Still, the Hokies best receiver, missed one game and has been unable to return kickoffs since returning to action.
``He's going to have to be able to play with a sore shoulder,'' Beamer said.
Offensive lineman T.J. Washington injured his left knee Saturday, but Lagan said after the game he did not know how serious it was.
QUICK HITS: Defensive tackle Jeff Holland of Chesapeake got his first start of the season in place of injured Jim Baron. He had one tackle. . . . Virginia Tech failed to block a kick for the first time this season, ending a streak of four consecutive games with a block. . . . The Hokies had more than 6,000 fans among the crowd of 31,114 at Navy. . . . The last time Navy was shut out at home was a 40-0 loss to Rutgers in 1992. . . . The Hokies had 79 yards on eight punt returns through their first four games. Saturday, Larry Green returned seven punts for 41 yards. . . . Tech returns home next week against Akron at 1 p.m. by CNB