ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, October 6, 1996 TAG: 9610070166
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: METRO
Sophomore Aaron Brooks, who drove Virginia into Georgia Tech territory on its last two possessions, would not have been in the game if not for an injury to starting quarterback Tim Sherman.
Brooks, who has played in every game, made his first appearance with 3:52 remaining in the third quarter and was in the game for two series before Sherman returned in the fourth quarter.
Sherman lasted only one possession, however, before he hit his right hand on a helmet and suffered a sprained thumb on what turned out to be his last attempt, an interception by Jimmy Clements with 9:19 remaining.
``The second time Sherm went in, I was going to leave him in all the way,'' UVa head coach George Welsh said, ``but he had a thumb problem. I was told it was a sprain and he couldn't throw the football. So, there wasn't any choice.''
NO SUPPORT
One of Sherman's interceptions came on a pass that bounced off the hands of wide receiver Terrence Wilkins and UVa receivers and backs dropped at least five balls during the afternoon.
The Cavaliers had just cut a 13-0 deficit to 13-7 when Sherman went long to junior Derick Byrd in the second quarter. Two Yellow Jacket defenders collided at the Tech 35-yard line, but Byrd dropped the ball.
MORE PICKOFFS
Virginia defensive back Ronde Barber had his third interception of the season and now has 15 for his three-year career - two short of the ACC record held by ex-Cavalier defensive back Keith McMeans and four others.
UVa safety Stephen Phelan also had his third interception of the season as the Cavaliers extended their Division I-A record of games with at least one interception to 34.
Phelan, a walk-on in his fourth game as a starter, also had a touchdown-saving, shoestring tackle on a 50-yard run by C.J. Williams. The Yellow Jackets had to settle for a field goal, which would have been crucial if UVa had scored a second touchdown.
BY THE NUMBERS
Williams, whose 50-yard run was the longest of his college career, had 29 yards on his other 27 carries. Williams' second-longest rushing attempt was for 4 yards.
* Dave Frakes' 53-yard first-quarter field goal was the longest by a Georgia Tech player in 10 years. Frakes previously was 0-for-3 beyond 30 yards this season, with a long of 26.
* Tiki Barber's 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was his ninth of the season and the 26th of his career. That puts him in third place on UVa's all-time list behind Frank Quayle and Shawn Moore with 28, and John Papit with 27.
NEXT OPPONENT
The Cavaliers (4-1, 4-1 ACC) will have an open date before playing host to North Carolina State on Oct.19. The Wolfpack (1-3, 1-2) defeated Maryland 34-8 on Saturday and will entertain Alabama next week.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 linesby CNB