DATE: Saturday, November 15, 1997           TAG: 9711150415

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: RALEIGH                           LENGTH:   68 lines

U.VA. HOPES TO COOL OFF HOT RECEIVER N.C. STATE'S HOLT LEADS THE ACC IN RECEIVING YARDS, TD RECEPTIONS, AND POINTS.

A month ago, the only award North Carolina State receiver Torry Holt was in contention to win was for being the ACC's most underrated player.

He was having a good season, but hardly anyone noticed because his team was struggling to break even.

In all-star balloting, Holt, a 6-foot-2 junior, seemed destined to finish behind more celebrated receivers E.G. Green and Peter Warrick of Florida State, Tony Horne of Clemson and Germane Crowell of Virginia.

But no one is underestimating Holt anymore. Performances in his last three games have made everyone, including NFL agents, take notice.

Not only does he seem like a shoo-in for All-ACC honors, he is a legitimate player-of-the-year candidate.

Virginia just hopes Holt doesn't add to his resume today when the Cavaliers play State in a game crucial to each team's bowl hopes.

Virginia (6-3, 5-2 ACC) needs one win to qualify for a bowl bid. But it can clinch third place in the league and a probable Peach Bowl bid with a victory.

N.C. State (4-5, 2-5) has to win its remaining two games to have any chance for a bowl bid.

``Torry Holt is certainly someone we have to contain,'' says Virginia safety Anthony Poindexter. ``You have to respect anyone who has done what he's done.''

Holt exploded into superstar status two weeks ago with five touchdown catches against Florida State.

That was five more TDs than North Carolina could score a week later against the Seminoles.

``I can't remember a receiver ever playing that good against us,'' FSU coach Bobby Bowden said.

``The only performance I can remember that was close was when we played Oklahoma in the Gator Bowl in 1964 and Fred Biletnikoff had five touchdowns against us but one got called back.''

Holt leads the ACC in receiving yards, 906; touchdown receptions, 12; and points, 74. His biggest games have been against State's toughest opponents.

In five games against AP-ranked opponents, he has 34 receptions for 598 yards and nine touchdowns.

``I don't even remember him from last season,'' said Virginia coach George Welsh. ``I wouldn't say he's come out nowhere, but he's come on the last few weeks to do a really good job.''

N.C. State coach Mike O'Cain says he's not surprised by Holt's rise to stardom.

``A lot of people were not aware of him because he missed the last five games last season because of injuries,'' O'Cain said. ``But he's always had tremendous ability. He has great hands, very good speed, and runs his routes very well.''

With Holt in mind, Virginia spent much of the practice week patching up a defense that was shelled for 337 yards last week by Georgia Tech's Joe Hamilton.

``We've got to stop the long passes and find a way to score touchdowns ourselves,'' Welsh said.

Virginia will be without starting fullback Charles Kirby, who is attending his father's funeral.

Anthony Southern, who has been alternating between fullback and tailback, is expected to replace Kirby.

Welsh said freshman tailback Antwoine Womack, who has missed the last five games with a knee injury, practiced this week and may see limited playing time. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Torry Holt had 5 TD catches vs. Florida State. In 5 games against

ranked foes, he has 34 receptions for 598 yards and 9 TDs.

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