THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 5, 1995 TAG: 9511050229
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
Thursday night on ESPN, commentator Craig James predicted Syracuse would beat Virginia Tech because Orangemen quarterback Donovan McNabb was ``far better'' than Hokie counterpart Jim Druckenmiller.
``I said `You're kidding,' '' Druckenmiller said Saturday evening. ``I was really fired up to play at that time.''
Druckenmiller and the Hokies fired up the frigid fans enough that the goal post in the south end zone was pulled down after Tech's 31-7 win. Tech fell behind early in its home finale, then scored 31 unanswered points for its seventh consecutive win before 51,239 fans at soldout Lane Stadium.
Tech (7-2, 5-1) moved into sole possession of first place in the Big East ahead of No. 20 Syracuse (6-2, 3-1). The Hokies can clinch at least a tie for the conference championship next week with a win against Temple at RFK Stadium.
James was right about one thing - the difference between the quarterbacks was stark.
Druckenmiller was 16 of 27 for 224 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions;
McNabb - the nation's second-rated passer coming into the game - was 12 of 24 for a season-low 113 yards, no touchdowns and carried the ball 12 times for minus 13 yards. He was sacked three times by Tech defensive end Cornell Brown.
Virginia Tech's defense - ranked first nationally against the run, third in scoring and ninth in total defense coming in - continued its mastery.
The Hokies held the top-scoring offense in the Big East to a lone first-quarter touchdown and 167 total yards, compared to Tech's 448. The Orangemen had 65 yards rushing on 10 carries in the first quarter.
They finished with 54 yards rushing on 28 attempts.
``It wasn't an adjustment we had to make,'' Tech defensive tackle J.C. Price said, ``other than tightening our chin straps.''
Despite the win and the likelihood Tech will beat lowly Temple next week to claim at least a share of the title, the Hokies did not tighten their grip on a major bowl bid. They just did not let one slip away, which would have been the case had Syracuse won.
The scenarios are mind-numbing, but basically Tech is going to either the Sugar, Gator or Carquest bowls. The Orange Bowl could be a possibility as well.
But if Tech is co-champion in the Big East with either higher-profile Syracuse or Miami, the Hokies could get passed over by the bowl alliance despite having beaten both. After Temple, the Hokies end the season at Virginia Nov. 18.
``I know everybody is talking about TV markets,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said. ``I think we've got to win out. If we do, we're going to be a highly ranked football team that's very a good football team that does a lot of things well.
``If I was a bowl, I'd be wanting this football team. If we win the next two, then I believe there's going to be a heck of a lot of bowls that would like to have Virginia Tech. I may be out in centerfield somewhere.''
Syracuse and McNabb looked good early, but Tech scored two touchdowns late in the first half to take a 17-7 lead and control of the game.
Tech took its first lead with 3:22 left in the first half on a 25-yard shovel pass from Druckenmiller to Brian Edmonds, who went in untouched. The extra point gave the Hokies a 10-7 lead.
Syracuse went three-and-out, and the Hokies got the ball back at their 45 with 2:13 to play. Tech converted a fourth-and-1 at the Orangemen 31, and on the next play Druckenmiller pump-faked and hooked up with Jermaine Holmes, who got behind Syracuse defenders Mike Brown and Donovin Darius. The 29-yard pass play came with 34 seconds left in the half.
``We talked a lot at halftime about coming out and making something positive happen to start the second half,'' Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni said.
It didn't happen. Hokie kicker Atle Larsen's second-half kickoff got caught up in the wind, and Syracuse's Kyle McIntosh slipped as he tried to field it at the 21. Tech's Jomo Nelson and Loren Johnson recovered at Syracuse's 25.
Druckenmiller hit Dwayne Thomas for a 25-yard screen pass seven plays later for a 24-7 Hokie lead.
The way Tech's defense was playing, that was more than enough. After their first-quarter touchdown, the Orangemen got inside Tech's 35 once, when they turned the ball over at the Hokie 19.
``We knew we were the better team, but we expected it to be a better game,'' Edmonds said. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS COLOR PHOTOS
Virginia Tech's Brian Edmonds pulls away from Syracuse defenders
Donovin Darius, right, and Darrell Parker for a 25-yard touchdown on
a shovel pass from quarterback Jim Druckenmiller.
by CNB