Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 24, 1993 TAG: 9310240146
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Instead, he is out for the season after breaking his right ankle on a second-quarter tackle during which he said teammate Antonio Banks accidentally rolled over his right leg.
Drakeford said it was a hairline fracture and talked about returning for the Virginia game Nov. 20, but he admitted that was "wishful thinking." Team surgeon Marc Siegel dashed even that hope, saying "at the very least" Drakeford's ankle needs to heal for four weeks before he can resume playing.
That means the senior's career is over - unless Tech makes its first bowl appearance since 1986. The Hokies kept themselves in postseason contention by beating Rutgers 49-42 on Saturday. Tech had a chance to move into fourth place in the Big East Conference with a Miami victory over Syracuse on Saturday night. The top three teams in the eight-team league receive automatic bowl invitations.
"It's kind of disappointing to go out like this," Drakeford said. "But this game also encourages me to get back to be able to be with the team if they do go to a bowl."
Drakeford, a first-team All-Big East cornerback in 1992 and an All-America candidate this year, has 16 interceptions, second to Gene Bunn (18 from 1976-78) in the Hokies' record book. He is considered an NFL prospect.
"Drakeford was a kid who could get up in the face of receivers and go one-on-one and do some damage," said Frank Beamer, Tech's coach.
Freshman Larry Green will replace Drakeford as the "field" cornerback, playing on whichever side has more ground to cover. Fifth-year senior and former walk-on Scott Jones likely will play the "boundary" corner, where he can use the sideline.
\ A LONG CLIMB: William Ferrell has been a quarterback, flanker, split end and holder for Virginia Tech. Now, the walk-on junior from Blacksburg is on the scoring list of one of the most prolific teams in Hokies history.
Ferrell, the son of Tech trainer Eddie Ferrell, returned a blocked punt by Marcus McClung for a touchdown Saturday.
"It was weird," said the Blacksburg High School graduate. "I thought I was going to be the one to block it. Me and [Cornelius White] had the best chance to block it. Somebody pushed me at the last second. I didn't see it; I just heard it."
It's the second blocked punt for McClung, a fifth-year senior, and the second for Tech this year. Freshman Willie Wilkins blocked one at Miami that resulted in a safety for Tech.
\ PASS AND CATCH: Receiver Antonio Freeman had two touchdown catches, tying him with Sidney Snell (1980) for the Tech single-season record with eight. Maurice DeShazo's three touchdown passes gave him 17 this year, the second-best single-season total in Tech history (Will Furrer had 19 in 1990). DeShazo has 29 career touchdown passes, tied for second all-time at Tech with Don Strock and Steve Casey. Furrer had 43.
\ RECORDS: The 91 combined points in Tech's 49-42 victory are the most ever at Lane Stadium, surpassing a 4-week-old record. Tech and Maryland combined for 83 in the Hokies' 55-28 victory on Sept. 25. . . . Rutgers running back Terrell Willis set the school's single-season freshman rushing record. His 155 yards Saturday gave him 904 this year. . . . Tech has scored 270 points this year, tying the seventh-best total in school history. The Hokies need 38 points to set the all-time scoring record; they are averaging 38.5 per game.
\ ETC: Rutgers had given up three sacks this season. Tech had two, both by linebackers - DeWayne Knight and George DelRicco. . . . Ken Brown had 10 tackles, the fifth consecutive game he has reached double figures. . . . Rutgers defensive back Tim Geckeler, who was thought to be unavailable because he suffered a broken leg earlier this season, played and had two tackles. . . . Rutgers had 193 rushing yards, 87 below its average.
\ NEXT WEEK: Tech ends a three-game home stretch with a 1 p.m. game against East Carolina. The Pirates (2-5) dropped a 24-16 decision to Southern Mississippi on Saturday night.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB