THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 12, 1995 TAG: 9511120247
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Virginia Tech's two touchdowns by defensive tackles 48 seconds apart Saturday came with a price.
Fatigue.
The Hokies defense was on the field almost 8 1/2 consecutive minutes in the second quarter as tackles Jim Baron and J.C. Price scored touchdowns on consecutive Temple possessions. After the two touchdowns, the Owls' mounted a scoring drive that produced a field goal.
During the three drives, Temple's offense ran 20 consecutive plays, plus two others that were called back because of penalties.
``The bad part about it was we had to keep going on the field,'' Price said. ``After someone scores like that, you sprint to the end zone and then you sprint to the sidelines. But then you have to go back out on the field. By the end of the second quarter, I was exhausted.''
Tech's defense has scored five touchdowns this season, the most since 1950, which is as far back as the Hokies' records go on that stat. Price's interception return for a touchdown was a first for a Tech defensive tackle since Sammy Bria did it in 1970.
Meanwhile, Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller had to warm up on the sidelines shortly before coming back into the game after standing on the sidelines for 8 minutes, 27 seconds on the game clock, probably almost 30 minutes in actual time.
``I got a little cold there,'' Druckenmiller said. ``Me and coach (offensive coordinator Rickey) Bustle were talking and he asked me if I thought we'd ever get back on the field.''
BEAMER MILESTONE: Coach Frank Beamer's 100th game as the Hokies' coach brought his record at Tech to the .500 mark for the first time. Beamer started 0-2 in 1987, and in nine seasons in Blacksburg has never been .500 or above until now.
Over the last three seasons, the Hokies have gone 25-9 to bring Beamer's record at Tech to 49-49-2.
With about two minutes left Saturday, Beamer got the obligatory shower with the contents of the Gatorade bucket. Senior defensive tackle J.C. Price and senior offensive tackle Mike Bianchin did the deed.
SEASON LONG: Temple's 77-yard third quarter pass play from Henry Burris to Troy Kersey was the longest from scrimmage this season against the Hokies. Tech cornerback Larry Green tipped the ball around midfield, but could not pick it off. The play went to Tech's 13, but Temple failed to get any points on the drive.
QUICK HITS: Temple players Jon Clark, an offensive guard, and fullback Corey Green got into a fistfight on the sidelines in the third quarter and had to be separated by teammates. . . . Virginia Tech has now won five games away from home this season for the first time since 1966. . . . Temple is now 1-30 against Big East foes. by CNB