THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9510010200
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DOVER, DEL. LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
If James Roe has been anything other than spectacular the last four years, the Norfolk State wide receiver has been durable.
Up until Saturday's 20-14 loss to Delaware State, Roe had missed only the closing minutes of a game in his junior season with a bruised shoulder.
He missed the last 52 minutes on Saturday, however, and watching from the sidelines appeared to be as painful as his aching right ankle. After catching a pass across the middle from Aaron Sparrow, Roe was taken down by two Delaware State defensive backs and rolled over his ankle awkwardly.
His afternoon was done, although he hopes to recover in time for next Saturday's game with Bethune-Cookman at Foreman Field.
``I thought, the way things were going from the beginning, that it was going to be a very big day,'' said Roe, who caught a 73-yard touchdown pass and returned a punt 56 yards prior to the injury.
Alumni Stadium has seen its share of quality wide receivers, but usually they are wearing red and sky blue.
Two former Hornets receivers are currently playing in the pros, San Francisco's John Taylor and Curtis Thomas of the CFL's Baltimore Stallions.
``Roe's a special talent, and he really got us our heels early,'' said Delaware State coach Bill Collick. ``John Taylor went in the third round of the NFL draft. There's no telling how high Roe could go.''
Prior to the injury, Roe kept his most telling streak alive: He's caught at least one touchdown pass in 11 consecutive games.
SACK ATTACK: Norfolk State's front line had done an exceptional job in protecting quarterback Aaron Sparrow in the Spartans' previous two games. But Sparrow was sacked eight times for minus 64 yards Saturday.
``A couple times we missed some blocking assignments,'' Norfolk State coach Darnell Moore said. ``Other times, they sent an extra guy on play-action and caught us.''
There were times, however, when the Spartans made Delaware State pay for its penchant to blitz. Tight end Ronald Boone, peeling off into open zones when he recognized a blitz, caught a career-high eight passes for 133 yards.
``Ronald did a good job of getting open when the linebackers were coming,'' Sparrow said.
Overall, however, Collick liked the trade-off.
``We were trying to put some pressure on Sparrow and not let him set his feet,'' Collick said. ``He's very dangerous when he sets up.''
NOTES: Since the Spartans have only seven games scheduled against CIAA opponents, the Delaware State game counted as the Spartans' eighth CIAA conference game and left the Spartans with two CIAA losses. . . . Sparrow entered the game as Division II's leader in total offense with 333.8 yards per game. His 350 total yards upped that average to 337 yards per game. Heading into Saturday's action, Grady Benton of West Texas A&M was second with 308.3 yards per game. . . . The Spartans, while passing for 406 yards, were held to 10 net yards rushing. by CNB