THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 1, 1996 TAG: 9601010115
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
Virginia's Pete Allen had penetrated the crease in Georgia's kickoff defense and had turned on the jets when teammate Skeet Jones, watching from the sidelines, realized that the Cavaliers were not going be victims of yet another heartbreaking defeat in Saturday night's Peach Bowl.
Jones was following Allen's run on the large screen in the Georgia Dome, where Georgia had just tied the score at 27 with 69 seconds left, when he broke into a victory grin.
``I saw Pete put his head back, and when he does that, no one is going to catch him,'' Jones said. ``It was over.''
Indeed, no one laid a hand on the 5-foot-10, 148-pound Allen as he raced 83 yards to the end zone to give Virginia a 34-27 victory.
``Pete was due,'' Jones said. ``He had been so close several times this season to breaking one like that.''
It was the final game in a Virginia uniform for Allen and Jones, both seniors and former South Hampton Roads prep stars, and they agreed it could hardly have been a more perfect ending to a season of nail-biting finishes.
The Cavaliers won three games and lost three others in the in the final minute while compiling a 9-4 record.
Jones, a linebacker from Virginia Beach's Green Run High School, was named U.Va.'s most valuable defensive player after collecting 11 tackles and setting up the Cavaliers' first touchdown with an interception.
Ballots for offensive MVP already had been collected before Allen made his game-winning run, and that award went to teammate Tiki Barber, who rushed for 103 yards and one touchdown.
But Allen didn't complain.
``I couldn't have written a better script,'' said Allen, a graduate of Norfolk's Granby High. ``How many opportunities do you have to make a play like that to win the game? I'm still in shock. It hasn't hit me yet.''
It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown of Allen's career, and earlier in the game he had provided Virginia a 24-6 lead with the longest touchdown reception of his career, an 83-yarder.
But Allen also fumbled on a kickoff return late in the second quarter that resulted in a Georgia field goal.
``The coaches told me not to worry about that because I'd have the chance to make up for it,'' Allen recalled. ``It was still on my mind when I took that last kickoff. I made sure I had a good hold on the ball, and my first thought was to just get the ball far enough downfield for us to win the game on a field goal.''
Allen said he had only a quick, passing thought he might take the kickoff all the way back for a touchdown.
``I thought that for a split second, you know, but I didn't really think it would happen.''
Allen had a more serious second thought that he could do it when 5-foot-9 teammate Terry Wilkins opened some running room with a crushing helmet block.
``He was the smallest guy out there, and he got me started with that big block,'' Allen said. ``There were other great blocks, too, and I really have to credit my teammates. They did the hard part and made my job easy.''
Allen broke stride only once during the run, to maintain balance while coming close to stepping out of bounds on the left sideline. He then put his head back and ran away from Alandus Sims, the only Bulldog close to him.
``I didn't know I was that close to the sidelines until I saw the replay,'' Allen said. ``But I knew I hadn't stepped out of bounds.''
The Cavaliers, leading 27-20, seemed to have the victory in hand when they stopped Georgia on downs at their 13-yard line with 2:08 remaining. But tight end Walt Derey fumbled after catching a short pass from U.Va. quarterback Mike Groh, and Georgia tackle Jason Ferguson scooped up the ball and returned it 10 yards for the tying touchdown.
``We never thought we were going to lose, though,'' Jones said. ``It wasn't like the losses at Michigan and Texas, where they beat us on the last play of the game. We still had time left to go out there and win it.''
Jones had said during the week that he want to make a final impression, and he felt he accomplished that.
``I thought I had to have a big game for us to win,'' he said, ``and I am glad I was able to contribute like I did. This was a big win for this program, and for the seniors who want ever put the pads on again.''
Jones hopes his football days aren't over.
``Maybe someone who saw this game will realize I can play at the next level and give me a chance,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Associated Press color photo
Granby grad Pete Allen celebrated with his teammates moments after
his 83-yard kickoff return defeated Georgia 34-27 Saturday night.
File photo
Georgia flanker Chris McCranie, right, is separated from the ball by
U.Va.'s Ronde Barber. The Cavaliers' 7-point margin of victory was
the largest in the Peach Bowl since 1983.
by CNB