THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 23, 1996 TAG: 9609230130
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 98 lines
VIRGINIA TECH 30 RUTGERS 14
Roll over Rutgers; Syracuse will put Tech to the test
We take 'em one game at a time. We don't overlook anybody. We never look ahead to the next game.
Such was the party line from the players in maroon Saturday after Virginia Tech's Hokies sleep-walked their way past Rutgers 30-14. They looked impressively motivated in taking a 14-0 first-quarter lead, then their eyes glazed over, and they struggled through the next two quarters before putting away the Scarlet Knights.
You can hardly blame them for looking past Rutgers - a 1-3 team that will battle Temple and Pitt for last in the Big East.
In spite of their protests, the Hokies probably were looking ahead to this week. They travel to the Carrier Dome to take on Syracuse, the preseason Big East favorite, in a nationally televised game.
No matter that Syracuse is 0-2. This is one of two major obstacles - Miami being the other - that stands between the Hokies and a second consecutive Big East title. Following Nebraska's fall at Arizona State, the Hokies have the nation's longest winning streak at 13, and that will focus more media attention on Tech.
Yep, it's a big game.
Oddly enough, Tech's lackluster performance against Rutgers may help the Hokies against the Orangemen. Nothing motivates a player more than hearing about all of his mistakes from a coach.
``The Rutgers tape will be an ideal learning tool,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said. ``It will show how little things here and there can turn a game around.''
- HARRY MINIUM
VIRGINIA 42 WAKE FOREST 7
Shaky defense and passing aside, Cavs know how to kick
George Welsh says his defense may be for real, but all we know for sure is that it can shut down offenses with weak-blocking lines or an inexperienced quarterback.
Welsh feels a little better about his passing game after Saturday's 42-7 victory over Wake Forest, but his quarterbacks are still making mistakes that might be fatal against a really good team, such as Texas, this Saturday's opponent.
But there is one part of their game Welsh can feel really good about. Nobody has a better kicking game than the Cavaliers.
Rafael Garcia consistently booms kickoffs in or beyond the end zone and Will Brice excites NFL scouts with long and high punts.
The options such an outstanding kicking game creates were apparent in a situation early in the second half against Wake Forest.
Virginia had the ball, third and 3, at the Deacons' 35. Welsh could let Garcia attempt a 49-yard field goal, which is in his range, or have Brice put the Deacs in a hole. With a safe lead, Welsh turned to Brice, who put a punt on the Deacons' 2-yard line.
Wake Forest punted three downs later from the shadows of its goal.
Virginia, picking up 12 yards on the exchange of punts, had to go only 27 yards for a touchdown.
How the defense and the passing game will fare against stronger opposition remains to be seen.
But when it comes down to putting ball to foot, nobody is doing it better than the Cavaliers.
- FRANK VEHORN
NORFOLK STATE 41 BETHUNE-COOKMAN 29
Hodges, NSU's new weapon, runs over Bethune-Cookman
The Norfolk State Spartans added a wrinkle to their offense Saturday night that added significantly to their face value.
That wrinkle answers to ``Dink.''
For three weeks, fullback Deangelo ``Dink'' Hodges had been used as a decoy and blocking back. Against Bethune-Cookman College in the 43rd Annual Gateway Classic at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Hodges' role expanded, as did the Spartans' offensive output.
Hodges, who played at Norfolk's Lake Taylor High, touched the ball 11 times on offense and turned those touches into 119 yards.
Hodges rushed eight times for 68 yards and caught three swing passes out of the backfield for 51 yards. His sudden presence in the Spartans' gameplan helped take pressure off tailback John Quinerly, who ran for 109 yards, and gave quarterback Robert Morris an extra outlet when passing.
For Quinerly, that's four 100-plus games in four tries. But Saturday night's might not have happened without Hodges' exploits.
``When Deangelo started popping through there and picking up big yards, their linebackers couldn't just shoot the gap anymore,'' NSU head coach Darnell Moore said. ``They couldn't leave Deangelo unaccounted for.''
When Bethune-Cookman did, it cost the Wildcats severely.
With the Spartans leading 28-14 in the third quarter, Hodges turned a swing pass into a 22-yard gain (10 of which were negated by a holding penalty) to start what would be a 62-yard, four-play drive. He then burst off tackle for a 20-yard pickup.
Quinerly then ran back-to-back draw plays for a 7-yard gain and a 23-yard touchdown as Hodges returned to the role of decoy, this time with more success.
After winning three straight to improve to 3-1 - NSU prevailed 41-29 over Bethune-Cookman - it seems the Spartans beauty grows with every wrinkle.
- RICH RADFORD by CNB