THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 29, 1995 TAG: 9510290267
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
The scoreboard indicated a big win. The final statistics showed a record-setting performance by receiver James Roe.
But all was not sunny for the Norfolk State Spartans in Saturday's 55-14 homecoming game victory over Johnson C. Smith.
Senior quarterback Aaron Sparrow, who entered as Division II's leader in total offense, left the game with a slight separation of his left shoulder just over seven minutes in.
The injury occurred when Bulls defensive lineman Tyrone Dimery drove Sparrow's shoulder into Foreman Field's artificial turf at the end of a scrambling 9-yard gain.
Sparrow said he had done something he'll never do again.
``The play before that, when I came to the line of scrimmage, I grinned at him,'' Sparrow said. ``I don't think he liked that.''
At the time, Sparrow had a lot to smile about. He was 9 for 9 passing for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
Sparrow left the game 4 yards short of 3,000 passing for the season. His status as Division II's total yardage leader was also placed in jeopardy.
Sparrow had entered the game averaging 337.1 total offensive yards per game. He left averaging 318.7. Valdosta State's Lance Funderburk had entered Saturday's action averaging 330.4 yards.
Sparrow's status for next Saturday's season ender at North Carolina Central is questionable.
``Right now it's doubtful he'll play, and we're not going to jeopardize his health,'' Norfolk State coach Darnell Moore said. ``Fortunately, it's not his throwing shoulder, and we play out of the shotgun a lot. So if he plays, he won't have to take the shock of taking a lot of snaps.
``But it will be an added pressure on the offensive line to protect him.''
Sparrow, a righthander, separated his throwing shoulder in the opening game of his senior year of high school, and this injury brought back bad memories.
``I missed three games with that one,'' he said. ``Hopefully, with a little rehabilitation and a lot of prayer, I'll be able to play next week.''
With Sparrow out, Robert Morris came on in reserve and completed 16 of 30 pass attempts for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Morris also scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak in the fourth quarter.
``This was a real confidence builder for Morris,'' Moore said.
Whether it was Sparrow or Morris throwing it, Roe was a terror. He began the afternoon with a 54-yard touchdown pass on the Spartans' first possession, caught a 14-yard scoring pass in the second quarter and finished with 11 catches for 228 yards. He left the game after Norfolk State's opening possession in the fourth quarter.
``James Roe did some things today that I've never seen,'' Moore said. ``The move he made on that first touchdown was amazing.''
After running a 10-yard curl route, Roe turned upfield and picked up an early block from Darius Blount, then cut and streaked through three Bulls defensive backs.
Not bad for a guy who has hobbled on a bad ankle for the last four games.
``I was close to 99 percent today,'' Roe said. ``I just wish Aaron wouldn't have gotten hurt.''
The performance vaulted Roe into a tie with Wyoming's Ryan Yarborough for most career games with a touchdown reception (27) at any NCAA level. It was also his 15th consecutive game with a scoring catch, breaking the Division II mark previously held by South Dakota State's Jeff Tiefenthaler.
Roe leaped past five players in career reception yardage in all divisions and now has 4,363, the highest in Division II history. Only Jerry Rice - who played for Division I-AA Mississippi Valley State (1981-84, 4,693 yards) - has more on any NCAA level. ILLUSTRATION: CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/The Virginian-Pilot photos
James Roe brings in one of his 11 receptions Saturday. Roe's two
touchdown catches left him with 46 in his career, fourth place in
all divisions.
Aaron Sparrow nurses his shoulder on the sidelines. The Spartans
don't know yet whether he will play next week.
by CNB