THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511190470
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
VMI ended a streak and rusher Thomas Haskins set some records.
But Georgia Southern spoiled any kind of sustained celebration, downing the Keydets 31-13 in the 49th Oyster Bowl in Foreman Field on a chilly Saturday.
``I feel good about where we are, but I'm not satisfied,'' said VMI second-year coach Bill Stewart, giddy with enthusiasm over the Keydets' 4-7 final record. ``We've been in the rain long enough. We've finally broke through with some sunshine.''
The Keydets, 1-10 each of the last two years, had been outscored 106-0 in their previous two meetings with the Eagles, who came entered ranked No. 17 in Division I-AA. But after Georgia Southern took a 3-0 lead on a 37-yard Eric Meng field goal, VMI quarterback Al Lester combined with Marlon Anderson for a 13-yard touchdown.
Streak erased, giving the 8,414 faithful, many of them Shriners donning tasseled red hats, reason to cheer.
``I just wanted to get some points on the board,'' said Lester, who completed 7 of 17 passes for 101 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. ``I was going for Marlon all the way.''
Anderson, who played on Bethel High's 1991 district-winning 10-0 team and plays both ways for VMI, knew nothing about the scoreless streak.
``Al made a great call, the line did a great job blocking, and we were able to squeeze in a little post,'' he said.
Haskins, who finished fourth in the country in rushing last year with a 137.2 average, holds four of the top five rushing games in VMI history. With his 87-yard effort against Georgia Southern, he became the Keydets' all-time leading rusher - 3,640 yards - surpassing Floyd Allen's career mark of 3,559. The 5-foot-8 junior from Highland Springs High in suburban Richmond broke his own single-season mark (1,509 yards) established last year. His 1,548 total yards are the best by any back in the state.
Clutching his game ball, he couldn't help but smile.
``This one will go up on the shelf,'' he said.
Most of the day belonged to the Eagles, whose wishbone offense wore down a VMI team thinned by injuries. With VMI up 7-3, the Eagles used a series of option runs and took back the lead when Dexter Dawson scored from three yards out with 6:05 remaining in the second quarter.
The Eagles then dominated the third quarter, scoring every time they got the ball.
Georgia Southern opened the second half with a six-play, 64-yard drive capped by Charles Bostick's 30-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Bing. The Eagles added rushing touchdowns by Bostick and Jevon Sullivan against a weary VMI defense.
VMI added its final points with its second-teamers when Greg Ellen hit Marcus Griffin with a 38-yard bomb in the end zone. Griffin, a freshman, made a great catch over the hands of Francis Williams.
``We've got to get better,'' Stewart said. ``That's growing pains. We haven't had a great year. We've had a growing year.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MOTOYA NAKAMURA/The Virginian-Pilot
With 1,548 yards this year, junior Thomas Haskins became VMI's
career rushing leader (3,640).
by CNB