THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 12, 1996 TAG: 9610120561
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: GREENVILLE, N.C. LENGTH: 62 lines
ESPN, make that ``The Deuce,'' was in town and the spotlight was on East Carolina quarterback Marcus Crandell.
The Pirates played earlier in the season on CBS against West Virginia, but lost the game on a last-minute, failed two-point conversion attempt. But that was just a regional telecast. Plus, this Thursday's night game was on prime time.
But once the contest started, an inexperienced opposing sophomore pushed Crandell out of the focus.
Lee Roberts came into Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium before a near-sellout crowd of 34,480 and had a career day in Southern Mississippi's 28-7 victory. The victory was the Golden Eagles' (5-1) ninth win in 11 tries in Greenville.
``He has been our most consistent performer,'' Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower said, ``and that's why he started.''
Based on what? Roberts was making his first college start. In fact, the third-string signal-caller had only thrown two passes in the Eagles' first five games - both incompletions.
Yet, Bower saw something in practice between the Eagles' last game on Sept. 28 and Thursday that forced previous starter Heath Graham to the bench. And much to the chagrin of everyone wearing purple and gold in the stadium, Roberts made good of his opportunity.
ECU's defense, ranked 12th in scoring defense and 13th in total defense going in, stopped Roberts on Southern Miss' first possession. Roberts missed on his first attempt and then was sacked for a 7-yard loss two plays later. However, he would not throw another incompletion until the fourth quarter.
The 6-foot-1 Roberts broke a school single-game record with 13 consecutive completions, eclipsing a 25-year mark held by Rick Donegan.
``I came out expecting to throw the ball,'' said Roberts, who finished 14 for 16 with 229 yards, one touchdown and an interception. ``I got great protection all night.''
On some plays, Roberts sat in the pocket like a poised veteran and found the open receiver for 9- and 13-yard chunks. On other plays, he took a three-step drop and fired the ball to a receiver just past the line of scrimmage. Such a play in the first quarter went for a 59-yard touchdown reception by Kendrick Lee and a 14-0 lead.
``Their offensive line whipped our defensive seven,'' said ECU coach Steve Logan, whose team dropped to 3-2. ``With that much time, it's easy to complete a lot of passes.''
Roberts' lone mistake was an interception by Matt Semanza early in the fourth quarter, which set up ECU's lone score.
As for Crandell, how did his evening go?
He was 28 of 46 with 254 yards - his second highest yardage total of the season - and one touchdown. However, his three interceptions generated the most attention.
``Just situations where the ball got away from me,'' Crandell said. ``I was just trying to throw the ball too hard.''
Also lost in Roberts' performance was Pirates wide receiver Mitchell Galloway's record-setting night. Galloway surpassed Luke Fisher's career record of 102 catches with a 7-yard reception midway in the fourth quarter.
Maybe on another night with a different outcome, Crandell and Galloway would have gotten their due. But Thursday night - and the spotlight - belonged to Roberts. by CNB