DATE: Tuesday, October 21, 1997             TAG: 9710210420

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE:    - ED MILLER

                                            LENGTH:   47 lines

'NOVA BRINGS TOP RANKING INTO ITS GAME WITH TRIBE

The top-ranked team in Division I-AA will be in Williamsburg on Saturday when Villanova takes on William and Mary at Zable Stadium.

The Wildcats rose to the top spot Monday, jumping two places after losses by Youngstown State and Montana.

``I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth,'' Villanova coach Andy Talley said. ``I think it's great. For us and the Atlantic 10.''

The Wildcats (6-0) sit atop the A-10's Mid-Atlantic division with a 5-0 conference mark. The 14th-ranked Tribe (5-2, 3-2) is two games back. The Tribe last played a No. 1 team in 1987, losing 40-7 at Holy Cross.

Porch, Rosier honored

Tribe tailback Alvin Porch was named the A-10's co-offensive player of the week after rushing for 201 yards on 35 carries in a 38-17 win over Connecticut on Saturday.

Porch had 22 carries at halftime, and coach Jimmye Laycock worried about the wear and tear on the 198-pound senior. ``We tried to give him a break, but he wanted the ball,'' Laycock said.

Receiver Chris Rosier, a redshirt freshman, was named conference rookie of the week. Rosier had nine catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns. All nine of his catches went for first downs.

Conklin out; Cook ailing

Rosier should be busy again Saturday. Dave Conklin, the team's top receiver with 42 catches for 741 yards, suffered a knee injury against UConn and is expected to miss the Villanova game. Conklin was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday.

Quarterback Mike Cook, who has missed four games while recovering from knee surgery, dressed for the UConn game but did not play. He likely won't be ready for Villanova, Laycock said.

``We're more or less trying to get him back into the rhythm of what's going on,'' Laycock said. ``But he's not ready to go at all yet.''

Cook's replacement, Steve Fill, threw for 299 yards against UConn after throwing for 300 the week before against James Madison.

Quick start helped

The Tribe jumped up 10-0 on UConn, the first time all season William and Mary has scored first. The win clinches a sixth straight winning season for the Tribe, tying a school record set from 1944-49.

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