THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 23, 1995 TAG: 9510230108
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
As strange as it may be, Virginia still must decide in the final three games if this is going to be a great, good, or bad season.
After nine weeks, we still don't know which way it will go, either.
The Cavaliers enter a badly-needed week off with a 6-3 record overall and a 5-1 ACC record.
The three losses combined have been by a total of only seven points - one point to each Michigan and Texas and five points to North Carolina, all on the road.
It can be argued Virginia is only those seven points short of being one of the top three teams in the nation.
Even with three losses, if the Cavaliers win their three remaining games, they would still capture the ACC championship and go to a major bowl. That, of course, requires beating top-ranked Florida State in Charlottesville on Nov. 2., and definitely would be a great season.
A good season would be losing to Florida State and coming back to beat Maryland and Virginia Tech, finish second in the ACC and go to a decent bowl.
The Cavaliers probably could still go bowling by winning one of the last three games, but they would not be in a festive mood and fans hardly could be excited by a team losing four of its final six.
A bad season, though, would be if Virginia falls absolutely flat and fails to win another game to even qualify for a bowl.
Maybe no one expects that, but there is no easy touch in the final three games. And, if we've learned anything so far, it is that Virginia does have a problem nailing down what appears to be a sure thing.
FRANK VEHORN Hokies going strong into season's fourth quarter
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Virginia Tech is finishing games strong, and looking to finish the season the same way.
The past two seasons the Hokies outscored their opponents in every quarter but the fourth, in which Tech was topped 82-66 in 1993 and 86-47 last year's 11 regular-season games. Tech also hit a tailspin in last season's fourth quarter, losing three of its last four plus the Gator Bowl after a 7-1 start.
The Hokies are tougher down the stretch on Saturdays this year, but it remains to be seen how tough they are for the season's stretch run. Tech has the scoring advantage in every quarter, but it is most pronounced with a 61-14 edge in the final 15 minutes.
``Look at how you play in the fourth quarter and that tells you a lot about a football team,'' Tech coach Frank Beamer said.
The most telling weeks yet are ahead for the Hokies (5-2, 3-1 Big East). They won their fifth consecutive game at Rutgers to take into sole possession of second place in the league behind Syracuse (6-1, 3-0).
Next week at West Virginia (3-4, 2-1) and the following week at home against the Orangemen will determine whether Tech can finish the season strong. If the Hokies win both and beat Temple, they will at least tie for the Big East title.
Improved play in the final period is a positive stat for Tech, but what happens during the season's fourth quarter is what really matters.
STEVE CARLSON Soften 'em up with pass, then run; it works for NSU
When pass-happy Norfolk State opened its attack with eight consecutive pass attempts against Virginia Union, running back John Quinerly started wondering if he was going to touch the ball Saturday.
Then the ``Q'' factor came into play. The Panthers' defensive backs started giving up such a cushion off the line of scrimmage that the Spartans had no choice but to run.
Not that Quinerly ran often. Eleven rushing attempts is a meager number for a starting running back who plays primarily in a one-back formation.
But he made those 11 attempts count, rushing for 115 yards. It was Quinerly's second 100-yard game this season.
``Their defensive backs were shooting out and thinking pass every time,'' said Norfolk State quarterback Aaron Sparrow. ``We know we can use the pass to open up the run.''
That approach is the reverse of what many teams try - establish a running game to open up the passing attack - but it's working.
The first time the Spartans set up in a power-I formation with two backs, Quinerly blew through an opening and went 53 yards for a touchdown that gave NSU a 26-3 lead on the way to a 58-32 victory.
Who says the Spartans can't run?
RICH RADFORD by CNB