THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 1995 TAG: 9510080192
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
It's been a winning combination for William and Mary all season: Derek Fitzgerald rushes for over 100 yards. Troy Keen rushes for over 100 yards. William and Mary wins.
The combination clicked again Saturday as the Tribe defeated Rhode Island 23-14.
Fitzgerald and Keen have streaked past the 100-yard barrier in three of the last four games, all wins for the Tribe (4-2 overall, 3-1 Yankee Conference).
The two spell each other on alternating drives, allowing both to see plenty of playing time and stay fresh. Saturday, the dual attack racked up nearly 300 yards - Fitzgerald rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries, and Keen pounded out 158 yards on 25 carries.
The Tribe gained 318 rushing yards on 67 carries and held Rhode Island to 90 on 27 tries.
Both backs claim they enjoy starring in alternating series.
``The way we play now is probably best, it gives us an advantage,'' Keen said. ``While we're still both on the field a lot, we also are able to give each other a break.''
The two-back strategy forces a defense to alter with each series, with neither back getting keyed on.
``It's rare that you see that in Division I-AA,'' Fitzgerald said of the dual-100 yard games. ``When you do that, you take pride in it. It's like a 1-2 punch.''
The efforts of Keen and Fitzgerald, combined with the four interceptions thrown by Rhode Island quarterback Chris Hixson, were too much for the Rams. William and Mary took a 10-0 first-quarter lead on a 7-yard scoring run by Fitzgerald and an 18-yard field goal by Brian Shallcross.
Rhode Island struck back with a 6-yard run by Shyron Sanford, but Tribe quarterback Matt Byrne completed a 26-yard pass to Josh Whipple for a 17-7 lead late in the half.
A Hixson-to-Bobby Apgar 2-yard pass cut the deficit to 17-14 with 8:27 remaining in the game, but the Tribe responded with a four-play, 65-yard drive capped by Fitzgerald's 18-yard run.
``They're fine football players,'' William and Mary coach Jimmye Laycock said of Keen and Fitzgerald. ``I think that was one of the keys in the first half - (Rhode Island's) defense was on the field for a long time.''
Another key was the Tribe's ability to pick off Hixson. Laycock said he had no special plan to haunt the Rhode Island quarterback.
``We've been consistently good on defense,'' Laycock said. ``We played basic coverages, just read the routes and reacted to them. I thought we did a nice job . . . We haven't gotten into getting a scheme up for this week and a scheme up for next week. We just play basic defense and react to what they are doing.''
Hixson completed 12 of 27 passes for 119 yards with the touchdown and four interceptions, while William and Mary's Byrne was 12 of 23 for 174 yards, with the touchdown to Whipple and two interceptions. by CNB