THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 19, 1995 TAG: 9510190485
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
It may appear otherwise, but the James Madison Dukes are not trying to set an NCAA record for consecutive last-minute comebacks, coach Alex Wood says.
First of all, the NCAA doesn't keep such records. And even if it did, no coach would intentionally put himself through such anguish.
``It's not conscious,'' Wood said. ``We're just trying to continue to win ballgames if we can.''
For the third week in a row, the Dukes won a game with under a minute left Saturday. Mike Cawley's 17-yard pass to Jay Jones with 10 seconds remaining lifted JMU over New Hampshire, 23-19.
The week before, Cawley found Macey Brooks with 40 seconds left to beat Boston University, 38-31. A week before that, Cawley hit Brooks with 37 seconds left to beat Maine, 21-17.
``It's a sign of character,'' Wood said.
But it's also a sign of trouble for JMU's defense, he added.
``What it means is we're giving up scores in the fourth quarter,'' Wood said. ``We've been ahead in all those ballgames, and they've scored on us late.''
The Dukes are hoping they won't have to test their last-minute luck again Saturday, when they take on Delaware in a game that could decide the Yankee Conference title. Delaware is 6-0, 4-0 in the Yankee, and ranked 7th in the nation. JMU is 6-1, 4-0, and ranked 10th.
The Blue Hens have not beaten James Madison since 1984, but are off to their best start in 21 years. Delaware is getting nearly 34 points per game from its option offense. The Blue Hens are riding a 12-game regular season winning streak, the longest in Division I-AA.
TRIBE THIEVERY: William and Mary leads Division I-AA in interceptions, with 17 in seven games. The Tribe is tied with Division I-A San Diego State for the most in the nation in all divisions.
Nine of those interceptions have come in the past two weeks. The Tribe picked off four against Rhode Island Oct. 7 and five last week in a 48-34 win over Penn.
``Their defensive backs are the best we've faced all year,'' Penn quarterback Mark DeRosa said.
Tribe free safety Darren Sharper leads the team, and the Yankee Conference, with six interceptions. Sharper has picked off 13 passes in his last 17 starts.
QUICK HITTERS: It was a big week for the state's top two running backs, William and Mary's Derek Fitzgerald and VMI's Thomas Haskins.
With his running mate, Troy Keen, sidelined with an ankle injury, Fitzgerald carried a school-record 37 times Saturday, and piled up a career-high 219 yards. Fitzgerald needs just 124 yards to pass Robert Green and become William and Mary's all-time leading rusher.
Haskins carried 29 times for a school-record 266 yards, giving him 1,043 on the season. He's on pace to break his own school-record of 1,509 yards rushing, set last season.
Haskins also needs just 423 yards to pass Floyd Allen and become VMI's all-time career rusher. by CNB