Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 9, 1995 TAG: 9509110079
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAMES C. BLACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Boston College had a successful formula working at Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium on Thursday night.
An on-target quarterback, Mark Hartsell, throwing to his clutch receiver, Steve Everson, resulted in 10 receptions for 142 yards.
And the outcome of Hartsell and Everson's constant collaboration was a 20-14 victory over Big East foe Virginia Tech in the Hokies' season-opener.
Hartsell completed 24 of 38 passes for 273 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions as the Eagles (1-1) knocked off the 20th-ranked Hokies.
"Our receivers did a great job getting open," Hartsell said.
While Hartsell and Everson picked on the Hokies' defense all night, Tech players had to be asking themselves, "Who are these guys and where did they come from?"
Against the Hokies (0-1) last season, Hartsell completed only three passes in 11 attempts before dislocating the ring finger on his right (throwing) hand. Everson didn't do much better, having just one catch for 10 yards.
"We were so upset about last year's game," Hartsell said in reference to BC's 12-7 loss at home. "I have thought about it for a whole year. I wanted to show them I belong."
The junior signal-caller waited all of three minutes to show the Hokies he deserves to be on a college football field.
Hartsell was 5-of-5 on the Eagles' (1-1) first possession, including an 11-yard touchdown completion to tight end Todd Pollack for the game's first score.
The drive, in which BC drove 80 yards in eight plays, was probably a response to the team's first game, a 38-6 defeat to Ohio State in the Kickoff Classic two weeks ago.
Hartsell was 17-of-31 for 187 yards with two interceptions against the Buckeyes. Nearly a third of those yards came on a 53-yard pass to Everson.
"Against Ohio State, we had a few turnovers," Everson said. "We didn't convert in the red zone like we should have.
"In tonight's [Thursday] game, we were able to control the football and give our defense a rest."
The Eagles tried to balance their attack with a running game but running back Justice Smith was stopped for short or negative yardage several times in the first half. He finished with 23 carries for 47 yards.
"They put us in the situation where we couldn't run," Hartsell said.
One of the keys for BC was third-down conversions in the second half. The Eagles were six out of 11 on third-down plays, a statistic which coincidentally didn't overwhelm coach Dan Henning afterward.
"It's never good enough," the former NFL coach of the Atlanta Falcons and San Diego Chargers said. "I like to hit them all."
On one possession, his team converted on all four of its third-down opportunities in a third-quarter drive.
On third-and-nine from BC's 46-yard line, Hartsell hit Harding for a 12-yard reception. Three plays later, Omari Walker ran for 2 yards to Tech's 31 on third-and-short. And on third-and-10, Hartsell connected with Everson for a 28-yard catch down to Tech's 3-yard line. Michael Hemmert scored on the next play to give the Eagles a 20-7 lead.
"As a wide receiver, my job is to make the big play," said Everson, who had four catches for 46 yards all of last season. "Mark was able to throw me the ball and I was able to catch most of the balls he threw me."
by CNB