THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 26, 1994 TAG: 9409260135
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Ed Miller
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
Aaron Sparrow can throw for 300 yards every week - a real possibility, given the way he's been playing. James Roe can break every receiving record in the book.
But until Norfolk State can establish a running game, and stop the run, the Spartans will remain dangerous, but vulnerable.
Saturday night, in a 27-26 loss to Elizabeth City State, the Spartans gave up 372 yards rushing, and managed just 74 themselves.
Elizabeth City's Aaron Murchison became just the latest tailback to run wild on Norfolk State, piling up 159 yards on 24 carries.
The week before is was Fayetteville State's Clifton Davis (24 carries, 142 yards). Two weeks before that it was Robert Morgan of Virginia State (26 for 158).
Meanwhile, four games into the season, no Norfolk State runner has cracked the 60-yard mark. Tailback John Quinerly has managed 55 twice, and reserve Gerrod Mayo picked up 58 on five carries late in a blowout win over Fayetteville.
Quinerly was pressed into a starting role after Jeff Henderson suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice prior to the Fayetteville game. Henderson, who led the Spartans in rushing in 1992, was expected to give them the breakaway threat.
If there's good news on the running game front, it's that Norfolk State has shown slow, but steady improvement. The Spartans had minus 9 yards against Virginia State. That improved to 24 yards against N.C. Central, 67 against Fayetteville and 74 against Elizabeth City. Still, you can be sure that finding a running back with home run potential will be one of coach Darnell Moore's recruiting priorties.
So will finding some larger defensive lineman. With lineman LaRon White out with an injury, the Spartans average just 240 pounds across the front. Linebacker James Walton, at 255 pounds, is their biggest defensive player. Sometimes - as Elizabeth City showed Saturday night - that's not big enough. by CNB