DATE: Friday, November 21, 1997             TAG: 9711210921

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER

                                            LENGTH:   79 lines

DOUBLE TROUBLE FROM U.VA. FORMER CAVALIERS HAVE HELPED CARRY THE GIANTS INTO FIRST PLACE IN NFC EAST

Charles Way and Tiki Barber are turning the New York Giants into Virginia's Team.

Not Virginia the state. Virginia, The University, as they say in Charlottesville.

Way, a 247-pound third-year fullback, and Barber, a 205-pound rookie tailback, are second and third, respectively, in rushing yardage with 446 and 256. They're also second and third in New York's receiving stats, with 26 and 20 catches and averages just under 10 yards.

The Giants define ``big plays'' as any run of 10 or more yards and any completion of 20 or more yards. Heading into Sunday night's critical NFC East showdown with the Washington Redskins, Way and Barber have combined for 15 of New York's top 25 rushes, four of their top 25 pass plays.

That's 19 of 50, amazing considering there were questions about each's ability to be an offensive force.

``I knew Charles could play and I knew Tiki could play,'' says Redskins defensive tackle Ryan Kuehl, friends with both during their days at Virginia. ``But I never figured I'd see the two guys in the same backfield.''

Way had just 24 carries combined in his first two seasons. The best thing the '97 Giants' media guide could say about him is, ``He's established himself as one of the premier blocking backs in the NFL.''

``Charles is a class act all the way,'' Kuehl said. ``He works extremely hard, he's incredibly tough, whether he's blocking, catching the ball or rushing.''

Barber, who stands 5-foot-10, wasn't considered big enough by most experts to be a second-round pick. They viewed him as a Dave Meggett-type third-down back the Giants could have obtained later in the draft.

But he opened with a 20-carry, 88-yard day in New York's first-game upset of the Philadelphia Eagles. And although he has been sidelined with injuries to his jaw and a right knee ligament he has torn twice, Giants coach Jim Fassel says Barber's future is so shiny you need sunglasses to view it.

``He gives us a little bit of a spark and a change,'' Fassel said earlier this week. ``He's got an incredibly bright future. He's a very good athlete, very smart. When he gets his hands on the ball, he makes plays.''

Were it not for Fassel's arrival last offseason, chances are neither Way nor Barber would be instrumental to New York's scheme. Under coach Dan Reeves, Way would have remained a blocker; Barber might not have been picked.

``The first day I met him, coach told me he wanted me to run the ball more,'' said Way, who is anything but talkative. ``But I knew in training camp, I had to prove to them I deserved to touch the ball more than I had.''

Last week, Way gained 42 of his team-high 114 yards on a quick opener, something that never would have been called his first two seasons.

``Sometimes, you can uncover a heckuva player just by saying to them, `I think you can do this, now go show me,' '' Fassel said. ``That's what I told Charles, and he has.''

Barber had heard the stories about Reeves and the players' unrest in New York. He wasn't thrilled when drafted by the Giants - until he got there.

``My first time here, I had a feeling that things were different from what I'd heard,'' Barber said. ``And that excited me.''

Fassel spoke to Barber much the same way he spoke to Way, telling him that he refused to stereotype him as a third-down back, that there were carries available if he could handle it.

``I felt comfortable from the first game,'' Barber says. ``I had a good game, made some plays against the Eagles. I knew then it wouldn't be much different from what I was used to.''

After the win against Philadelphia, the Giants lost three straight games and appeared to be living down to people's expectations. Since then, they have won six of seven games and could open a two-game lead in the division with four to go if they beat the Redskins and Green Bay beats Dallas on Sunday.

``This reminds me of my junior year at Virginia,'' Barber said. ``We took some bad shots that year - losing to both Michigan and Texas on the last play. But we came back and had a great season. It feels the same here.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color ASSOCIATED PRESS/file photo

Charles Way, a 247-pound fullback, ran for a team-high 114 yards

Sunday against Arizona. His 446 yards this season rank second on the

team.

Tiki Barber opened eyes with an 88-yard game against the Eagles.

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