THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 12, 1994 TAG: 9409120147
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Ken McDaniel, considered Norfolk State's best offensive lineman, will be out at least six weeks with a knee injury, and could miss the rest of the season, coach Darnell Moore said.
McDaniel, a 6-foot-5, 314-pound tackle, sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee Saturday night in the Spartans' 26-24 win over North Carolina Central.
``That's a big loss,'' Moore said. ``We're thinking about getting a medical redshirt for him, but we have time to decide on that.''
McDaniel, a junior, limped off the field in the third quarter, and did not return.
The offensive line was one of the team's biggest question marks heading into the season. Although the line was improved Saturday, the Spartans still managed just 24 yards rushing, and quarterback Aaron Sparrow was sacked four times.
After Sparrow was pressured several times early in the fourth quarter, Norfolk State went to the shotgun formation to buy him more time. Sparrow hit Darius Blunt and James Roe on consecutive possessions to set up a Norfolk State touchdown.
ROE'S RECORD: It took Roe, a junior, just 23 games to become Norfolk State's all-time leading receiver. Roe's seven catches Saturday give him 108 for his career, two more than Jeff Gunn, who caught 106 passes in 40 games from 1979 to 1982.
``I wasn't even worried about it,'' Roe said. ``I'm just glad we were able to win.''
Roe, however, is a source of worry for opposing defenses. A two-time All-CIAA selection, Roe usually draws double coverage. But Sparrow said that the emergence of Darius Blount, who caught five passes for 67 yards Saturday, is taking pressure off Roe.
``If they double-team Roe, we can go to Blount,'' Sparrow said.
Roe had better than 100 all-purpose yards before the game was three minutes old Saturday. He caught a 72-yard touchdown pass 51 seconds into the game. Five plays later, he returned a punt 30 yards to set up another Norfolk State touchdown.
STICKY SECONDARY: The Spartans' secondary picked off three passes Saturday, including two in the fourth quarter that snuffed North Carolina Central drives.
Cornerback Robert Stokes, who had one of the interceptions, said the team's defensive backs were finally ``on the same page'' after some confusion in last week's opener.
``Last week, some people heard one call, and some another,'' Stokes said.
Ironically, it was a blown coverage that led to Stokes' diving interception in the second quarter.
Central's Shelton Slade broke down the field uncovered, until Stokes saw him and gave chase. Quarterback Brad McAdams lobbed the ball and Stokes dove to take it away from Slade. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Tackle Ken McDaniel sprained the medial collateral ligament in his
right knee Saturday.
by CNB