DATE: Sunday, October 5, 1997               TAG: 9710050212

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE                   LENGTH:   72 lines

BROOKS' BIG PLAYS HELP U.VA. OVERCOME WAKE

Aaron Brooks came of age as the Virginia quarterback Saturday.

Brooks, who has taken the bulk of the criticism for the Cavaliers' slow start, made the big plays on a hot afternoon in Scott Stadium to defeat gutty Wake Forest, 21-13.

It was the first ACC win of the season for Virginia (2-2, 1-1) and its first Division I-A triumph since Nov. 16, 1996.

``That was a helluva win,'' Virginia coach George Welsh said. ``We were down and had to make some big plays to win it.''

The biggest play was Brooks' heads-up 25-yard sprint into the end zone with 5:29 left in the fourth period to give Virginia its first lead, 14-13.

Two big defensive plays followed as the Cavaliers wrapped up their 14th straight win over the Deacons (2-3, 1-2).

Senior cornerback Joe Williams of Chesapeake intercepted a Brian Kuklich pass and returned it 32 yards for a 21-13 lead with 24 seconds left.

The Deacons had enough time left to give Virginia fans a final scare before safety Anthony Poindexter ended the game with an interception in the end zone.

Earlier in the week, Poindexter, a co-captain, had rankled Welsh by saying if the Cavaliers lost to Wake Forest they might not win another game.

Poindexter said he did not regret making the statement.

``This is a young team. We would have been in trouble if we had lost this game. I told the guys we had to have this one.''

It wasn't easy, though, and the best performance by Brooks as a Cavalier was needed to make it happen.

Brooks, who completed only seven passes for 44 yards in last week's loss to North Carolina, was close to being perfect.

He completed 17 of 20 attempts for 183 yards and had no interceptions or lost fumbles.

Brooks' 13-yard pass to Crowell Germane gave Virginia its first touchdown after the Deacons had taken a 7-0 first-period lead.

``He (Brooks) has got to make plays if we are going to win and I think he knows that now,'' Welsh said. ``He can't just hand the ball to the tailback.''

The Deacons limited Virginia to 128 yards rushing - a game-high 54 by freshman Antwoine Womack, but they couldn't stop Brooks in the clutch.

The Cavaliers began the go-ahead drive on their 13 with 7:45 remaining.

After Thomas Jones' 5-yard run, Brooks connected on three straight passes to get the ball to midfield.

Womack, leaping and running over defenders, crashed his way to the 27 and two plays later Brooks faded back, looking for Crowell.

He saw Crowell in a crowd but only wide open space in front of him. He took off, got a key block from Crowell, and danced his way into the end zone.

``I am glad he finally took off. We've been telling him to do that all year,'' Welsh said.

``You could see his speed on that play. He really turned it on.''

Brooks said he knew time was running out and he had to make something happen in the final period.

``We had to put a drive together (at that point) or the game was going to get away from us,'' he said.

``We executed the best we could. We threw the ball, ran the ball, and caught the ball. Those things get you places.''

As for his critics, Brooks said he didn't know if his performance would hush them or not.

``Some people are never satisfied. I am just glad we got the victory. It's going to be a confidence booster for all of us.''

Kuklich gave the Deacons a 7-0 lead with a 13-yard pass to Desmond Clark midway through the first period.

He completed 27 of 40 passes for 264 yards but a three-man rush designed by Virginia defensive coordinator Rick Lantz seemed effective.

``I think it helped us win,'' Lantz said. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS photo

Wake Forest's Morgan Kane, right, is stopped with the help of

Virginia defensive end Shannon Taylor, left, on Saturday in

Charlottesville.

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