THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 11, 1996 TAG: 9611110147
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: 118 lines
November Madness doesn't have the ring of March Madness, but Virginia Tech's football team got a rousing start to its personal version of the Final Four Saturday.
The Hokies seemed to be playing down to the level of the competition this season in struggling against inferior opponents. Questions abounded about whether Tech could beat a quality opponent. They answered resoundingly with a 35-14 victory over East Carolina in their first of four consecutive games against top-notch opponents.
Next on the tournament trail for Tech is a date with Miami.
``I feel real good about going down to the Orange Bowl,'' Tech flanker Shawn Scales said.
The 7-1 Hokies, who jumped four spots to No. 21 in the Associated Press poll, will no longer be dogged by the criticism that they haven't beaten a good team.
``I think we proved a point tonight,'' said quarterback Jim Druckenmiller. ``There's a lot of Top 25 teams who haven't played a lot of great teams. I think we proved to everybody tonight that we belong in the Top 25.''
Tech dominated both lines of scrimmage, best illustrated by a 323-47 advantage in net rushing yards. Druckenmiller had his season-best performance (15 of 23 for 268 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and 45 yards rushing). He has eight TD tosses and no interceptions during the Hokies' four-game winning streak. The offense rolled to a season-high 591 yards.
And the Hokies defense was effective and got a boost from a trio of players who have been second-teamers most of the season: defensive ends sophomore Jason Berish and redshirt freshman John Engelberger started, and true freshman cornerback Anthony Midget replaced an injured Antonio Banks in the second quarter. The threesome combined for 17 tackles, three sacks and a Midget interception.
Collectively, the Hokies did what they had said would be needed on the heels of a week of grand jury indictments and ensuing suspensions of seven players, including All-American defensive end Cornell Brown: the other players stepped up.
``I don't know when I've ever been more proud of a bunch of people,'' said coach Frank Beamer, who earned his 100th coaching victory. ``East Carolina is an awfully good football team. I think it says something about our football team, I think we're good, too. For the most part this year when we've had to really play, we've reached down to find a little something. That's a great quality to have.''
Next game: Nov. 16 at Miami, 3:30 p.m.
- STEVE CARLSON For NSU, Hampton not the place to be headed in a swoon
A three-game losing streak is no way to end a season, particularly one that is the springboard in a pending move from Division II to Division I-AA.
But that's what the Norfolk State Spartans are facing as they prepare for their season finale with Hampton University.
After losing two straight for the first time in Darnell Moore's three-year tenure as head coach, the Spartans meet their arch-rival in a game that will be televised nationally by ESPN2.
And if they play in the manner they've played the last three weeks, including a 14-7 victory over Elizabeth City State in which the Spartans survived a flat performance against an inferior team, there is a chance for embarrassment.
The Spartans have averaged less than 12 points per game in their last three games, and it's not as if the competition has been that sharp. Winston-Salem State won Saturday night behind a freshman quarterback who completed 2 of 14 pass attempts.
Even the Spartans' improved defense this season hasn't been enough to salvage the last two games.
Heading into Hampton, the streaks are not in the Spartans' favor. Besides their current two-game skid, NSU has lost four straight to the Hampton Pirates. This is no way to conduct a rivalry, even one in which you hold a 20-12-1 edge.
Maybe the Spartans have become too predictable offensively. They are 12 of 33 in third-down conversions (36 percent) in their last two games, including a 42-14 loss at Howard last week.
Usually on those third downs, quarterback Robert Morris has been flushed from the pocket and throwing on the run.
The win over Elizabeth City guaranteed a winning season for the Spartans. But a 6-5 finish will be seen as a November swoon.
When the Spartans and Pirates face off in ``The Battle of the Bay,'' more than local pride will be on the line. When one team loses five straight to an opponent, it becomes tougher to sell the public on a so-called rivalry.
Then it threatens to be a lopsided mismatch. Then winning the head-to-head recruiting battles becomes that much more difficult.
Next week: at Hampton University, 1 p.m. (ESPN2).
- RICH RADFORD With its world tumbling, U.Va. gets 1 last chance
This is the week for Virginia fans to roll out all of the old cliches.
You know, the Cavaliers have their backs against the wall.
Or, it is time to put up or shut up.
Like autumn leaves, this team's goals are tumbling to the ground.
The dream of an unbeaten season died in the upset loss at Georgia Tech.
The dream of winning a share of the ACC title went down the drain with the loss at Florida State.
The hopes of becoming the second Virginia team to win 10 games bit the dust, or the icy mud, Saturday in another upset loss to Clemson.
Now there is one remaining leaf, and it is in danger of falling Saturday when Virginia plays a superior North Carolina team.
Lose this one and the Cavaliers probably will not get a bowl invitation except in an emergency situation, created by another conference not having enough bowl-eligible teams to meet its obligation.
Oh-boy. Is this ever a do-or-die situation.
How did the Cavaliers paint themselves in this corner?
That, says coach George Welsh, is the $64 million question.
He speculates the team might not have the mental toughness to win big games in November.
He wonders if the team has just been overrated and did not deserve to be a 17-point favorite over Clemson.
Whatever, the Cavs must welcome this golden opportunity to redeem themselves against high-ranking North Carolina.
Win this one and they will be back in the good graces of the bowls.
But, what are the chances of this happening?
Fortunately for the Cavaliers, this is a game in which you can throw out the records.
Anything can happen.
Next week: vs. North Carolina, 3:30 p.m.
- FRANK VEHORN by CNB