THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 1995 TAG: 9509100232
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
The North Carolina State linebackers looked as if they had seen a ghost when Tiki Barber blasted by them for a 17-yard gain to set up Virginia's winning touchdown Saturday.
The Cavaliers had thrown seven straight passes in the final drive before Barber got the ball on a tailback draw out of the shotgun formation and took it inside the 1-yard line.
The Wolfpack no doubt was expecting another pass.
But as surprised as they were, they couldn't say they hadn't seen that play before.
``That was the exact play on which I had that 84-yard touchdown run against Michigan in the first game,'' Barber said.
Barber finished with 130 yards on 24 carries and Kevin Brooks, who started at tailback, contributed 92 yards on 11 carries.
MISSED IT: Senior defensive back Percy Ellsworth was all smiles after getting his first win against N.C. State, but he never saw the exciting final drive.
``I couldn't watch,'' Ellsworth said. ``I was over on the sidelines praying.''
Ellsworth said he was confident his team was going to pull out the victory.
``I didn't have to watch to know we were going to win,'' he said.
DEE-FENSE: North Carolina State gouged out 176 yards rushing against a Virginia defense that had yielded only 127 yards in its first two games.
But the Cavaliers employed a softer defense that prevented the Wolfpack from breaking the big plays they used in last year's victory.
State's longest ground gain was a 28-yard run by fullback Rod Brown, and quarterback Terry Harvey's longest completion was a 32-yarder to Jimmy Grissett.
INJURY UPDATE: Virginia linebacker Jamie Sharper left the game in the second period with what coach George Welsh described as a strained knee.
Welsh said he would wait for examinations to determine if Sharper will miss next Saturday's game against Georgia Tech.
Tight end Bobby Neely missed his second straight game because of a sprained ankle, and center Dave Gethman (knee) did not dress.
STAYING POSITIVE: N.C. State coach Mike O'Cain said his team was disappointed by losing its first ACC game of the season, but he was encouraged with the Wolfpack's second-half play.
``We lost a critical game, but it is not the end of our season,'' he said. ``If we play the rest of our games the way we played the second half, we will be a very good team.''
Next up for the Wolfpack is Florida State. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
N.C. State's Tremayne Stephens pulls away from Virginia's Percy
Ellsworth on a 9-yard scoring run.
by CNB