THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 22, 1995 TAG: 9510220194
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: AUSTIN LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
George Welsh says his Virginia Cavaliers are not snake-bit.
But he was having a difficult time convincing his team of that Saturday after a heart-jerking, last-second 17-16 defeat to Texas.
Like the season-opening loss to Michigan, it was a one-point game won on the final play.
The 16th-ranked Longhorns (5-1-1) pried the victory away with a 50-yard field goal into a brisk wind by sophomore kicker Phil Dawson.
No. 14 Virginia (6-3) had taken a 16-14 lead on Raphael Garcia's 56-yard field goal with 1:51 remaining.
The Longhorns, booed earlier in the game by their fans, came back on a desperation drive in which they twice converted on fourth downs.
Quarterback James Brown scrambled 11 yards to Virginia's 33 with three seconds remaining.
Still, Virginia felt confident when Dawson trotted onto the field to attempt a game-winning field goal. He had missed wind-aided attempts from 52 and 57 yards.
But, with the game on the line, he put it through.
``It looked like it was going to the right and the wind pushed it back, and it made it by just a couple of feet,'' said Virginia tailback Tiki Barber, who watched from the sidelines. ``I thought we had it won before that.''
Welsh thought the odds were awfully good, too, that this one was in the bag. But he wasn't as sure as his players.
``I figured (Texas coach John Mackovic) must have thought the kid had a shot to make it, or he'd have had them throw a pass into the end zone,'' Welsh said.
``Still, he had missed those two earlier with the wind, and I didn't think he was going to make it. I guess he just summoned something from somewhere.''
Dawson admitted as much.
``Instead of blocking out the pressure, I took the noise from the crowd and the emotion from teammates and put it into my right leg,'' he said.
It was the longest field goal of his career, and also the first time Texas ever had won a last-second game on a kick.
Still, Welsh argued his team - that fell to Michigan after leading 17-0 - is not jinxed.
``I really don't think so,'' Welsh said, forcing a smile and shaking his head.
``I told them in the lockerroom not to feel like that. Maybe the next time we win one like this, and it's a conference game. That is the attitude they have to take.''
The Cavaliers have a week off to get over their latest disappointment before playing top-ranked Florida State in Charlottesville Nov. 2.
``It really does hurt a lot,'' defensive tackle Todd White said., ``It is so much worse to lose on the last play of the game.
``That's like sticking a knife in someone and turning it. And to have it happen twice in one year is just too much to take.''
There were other factors in the loss that made the pain more unbearable.
Texas got the benefit of two controversial calls by Southwest Conference officials that may have cost the Cavaliers 10 crucial points.
The most disputed was a 33-yard field goal attempt by Garcia early in the fourth period that was ruled unsuccessful.
Garcia, initially congratulated by teammates on the kick, said he was positive the kick was good. Television replays seemed to support him, too.
``I don't know how the official who made that call can sleep tonight,'' Garcia said. ``There is no doubt in my mind it was good.''
Texas fans in the end zone apparently thought it was good, too.
They sat silently for a couple of seconds following the kick until breaking into cheers when the official signalled it was not good.
The other controversial call came in the second period on a pass from quarterback Mike Groh to wide receiver Patrick Jeffers in the end zone.
Jeffers appeared to grasp the ball, getting both feet down before falling out of bounds.
The official signaled he made the catch out of the end zone, but television replays indicated the catch was inbounds.
``I certainly felt I made the catch in the end zone,'' Jeffers said.
That drive wasn't fruitless, though, as Garcia kicked a 27-yard field goal on the next play to cut the Texas lead to 7-3.
The Cavaliers took a 13-7 advantage in the final 1:35 of the first half, on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Groh to Walt Derey and a 45-yard field goal by Garcia as time expired.
Texas regained the lead 14-13 at 5:03 in the fourth period with an 80-yard drive ended on a 1-yard plunge by freshman tailback Ricky Williams.
The Cavaliers reclaimed the lead on Garcia's school-record-tying 56-yard boot.
``I am proud of this team,'' Welsh said. ``I thought we played a helluva game.
Looking forward to a bye week, he said: ``It has been a long and difficult season for us, and it is good we are finally going to get a break in the schedule.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Texas kicker Phil Dawson, in back center, celebrates with teammates
after his 50-yard field goal beat the 14th-ranked Cavaliers.
by CNB