Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 9, 1993 TAG: 9310090211
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Long
As a junior, he had two more interceptions.
In his final game Friday against Radford, Burroughs had a career night with - count them - one, two, three, four interceptions to help the Indians down the Bobcats 13-7 in what might well be the final football game between the two old rivals.
Burroughs' assignment in the New River District game was to shadow Radford's talented C.C. Chapman.
"He's such a great receiver, the only way we could play with him was to put our fastest guy on him," said Blacksburg coach Dave Crist of Chapman.
"The coaches told me to cover him. I just played the corner and kept up with him. He can't outrun me," said Burroughs. "I just ran under the ball each time."
Burroughs snuffed out three of the Bobcats' last four possessions with interceptions, including one on the final play of the game. "It looked like it was thrown to me," said Burroughs. "I knew it would be thrown long, so I was just going to get it."
Until this past week, Burroughs had been a linebacker. Friday, he was a cornerback. So is Crist the coach of the year for that move?
"Nope," said the veteran coach. "It makes [Blacksburg assistant] Vaughn Phipps the defensive coordinator of the year [for the idea to change Burroughs]."
'`They did a great job of taking C.C. away from us," said disappointed Radford coach Norm Lineburg. "They did a great job on us defensively. All year we have played so well on offense."
Thanks to Burroughs, Radford quarterback Casey Underwood was held to one completion in 10 attempts - a 3-yarder to Chuck Hubbard. The Bobcats' running game couldn't take the load and produced only 129 yards.
Burroughs was also part of the Blacksburg aerial circus that propelled the Indians (3-3 overall, 1-0 in the New River) offensively. He caught three of the 14 pass completions by Indians quarterback Greg Shockley.
He wasn't the leading receiver. That honor went to Shane Beamer with six receptions for 52 yards. The junior made two key catches on the Indians' winning drive. The march consumed most of the fourth quarter and ended when Terry Simpson scored from the 5 with 51 seconds left to snap a 7-7 tie.
Beamer had two third-down receptions for first downs that kept the drive going as Blacksburg went back to a short passing game. On the series before, the Indians had reached the Radford 27 and tried to go for the touchdown, only to fail. That march ended on a botched field-goal attempt when a high snap kept the Indians' Tim Schnecker from even attempting a 40-yarder.
"It wasn't in the game plan to call short passes," said Beamer. "But Radford was playing us tight and we thought we could get them on little outs. We didn't beat them short a couple of times and that's when we tried to beat them deep."
The winning march started on the Indians' 35 after Burroughs' third interception. It consisted of 13 plays and left Radford with little hopes of a comeback even after the Bobcats blocked Schnecker's extra-point attempt.
"They controlled the ball on us," said Lineburg. "We couldn't move it running or passing tonight. I take the blame because I don't feel like I did a good job of preparation."
"Our defensive kids played their hearts out except for that punt return," Crist countered.
Early in the game, Radford (2-4, 1-1) had its chances. The Bobcats didn't score offensively, but the special teams got some points early. If Chapman couldn't catch a pass, he could return punts. He caught the first Indian kick on the Bobcat 46, headed right and raced in front of the Blacksburg stands on a 54-yard scoring return to stake Radford to a 7-0 lead.
Todd Pontius recovered an Indian fumble on the Bobcats' 43 early in the second quarter, but Radford couldn't move. After an exchange of punts, Radford picked up a first down to the Blacksburg 42, but the drive ended when Larnelle Lewis failed to pick up a first down on fourth-and-1 at the 33.
By the half, the score was tied as the Bobcats went on a 67-yard drive. Shockley mixed up the running and passing game, with the key play being a 19-yard toss to Burroughs that gave the Indians a first down on the Radford 14. Two plays later, Shockley found Todd Perdue in the corner of the end zone to leave the score tied at 7 at the half.
Realizing this might be the last time he stands on the field after a game against Radford if the Bobcats' school board doesn't permit Radford to play Group AA teams in the future, Crist summed up the feelings of many people in both communities.
"I hope not. It shouldn't be. This series ought to continue. It's been so great," he said. \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB