From: saqx@vax5.cit.cornell.edu
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Syracuse harasses the Hokies 28-9
Date: 9 Nov 92 01:15:18 EST
Distribution: rec
Organization: Cornell University

Dirty but good

Syracuse 28    Virginia Tech 9

I tried to get tickets to this one last week, but it was sold out.  Like all
but one game so far, though, it was on TV in some form.  What happened this 
game?  Well, the offense was a bit less spectacular than expected, and the
defense was a bit better than expected.  Here are some numbers:

             Syracuse  VTech
First downs     25      17
Total plays     65      72
Possession     29:19   30:41
Rushing       43/231   37/109
Passing:   Graves 13/20/198/2/2   Hokies 16/35/219/1/1
Net Yards      441      328
Sacks by        5        3

What didn't I like about this game?  SU's defense held the Hokies on the
first series, but on Tech's second possession they marched all the way down
the field.  True, they were held to a field goal, but the drive was *long*
and ate up basically the whole first quarter.  The pressure on Tech QB
Maurice Deshazo was relentless, but Deshazo's scrambling ability helped him
avoid what seemed to be some sure sacks and convert third downs in the
process.  At the end of the first quarter, SU was driving again, but the
score was only 7-3 and I was quite worried.  By halftime it was only 14-3
and several household objects had already been hurled against the wall.  The
second half started with a good SU drive which nevertheless stalled on the
Tech 34.  SU lined up for a 51-yard field goal, since Biskup had nailed a
50-yarder last week with plenty of distance.  But it was a ruse;
Biskup got the direct snap and pooch-punted it to the Tech 1, where it was
downed.  A three-and-out series by Tech gave SU the ball on the Tech 29.
Then Graves hooked up with WR Antonio Johnson on a TD bomb, 21-3 SU.  Tech's
next possession resulted in a TD, a 62-yard pass and run to tailback Tony
Kennedy.  Terry Wooden got burned on the coverage; the ball dropped in an
inch above his outstretched hand, Kennedy took off, and SU's only safety in
the area was "shielded" by a Tech receiver to prevent him from making the
tackle.  Tech tried for 2 and failed, 21-9.  This seemed to give Tech
momentum, but the game went back and forth for a while, until about halfway
through the fourth quarter Graves hooked up with Johnson again to seal the
victory, 28-9.  

I'm still concerned that the defense yielded 300+ yards.  Take away that one
big fluke play, and I'd feel more secure about the total.  Single-digit
scoring by the opponent is nice, especially since Tech had just come off
that 49-point performance against Rutgers.  The best defensive stat from the
game has to be the pressure on the Hokie quarterbacks.  Deshazo had twice as
many rushing attempts as any other single Tech runner, and was sacked five
times.  The porous pass defense from the beginning of the season appears to
have learned a thing or two about coverage, giving Mitchell and Hawkins the
few seconds that they need to get to opposing QB's.  After three games
against lesser competition, it's good to see that the defense played
solidly, but I'm anxious to see how they perform this weekend against Boston
College, if they can "step it up another notch".  

The offense played conservatively, trying no trick plays for the first time
that I can remember.  No halfback option passes, no reverses, no
flea-flickers.  And I haven't once seen the tight end out of the hole play
this year, maybe because they're saving it up for BC and Miami.  It was good
to see Antonio Johnson get in on the act, and haul in his first two TD's of
the season.  His end zone dances are still intact, and SU fans can only
hope that we see more of them in these last three games.  Overall, this was
a "business" win, and we'll see some emotion next weekend, in Massachusetts.
After getting embarrassed by Notre Damn (much to my regret), Boston College
will probably be "as mad as a hornet", to borrow Keith Jackson's words.
I can't wait to see this one.  BC has a good team this year, but SU is ready
for an explosion against a good team, and should win.  It'll be interesting
to see what the line is.  
-- 
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#                                                            #
#  RNJX@vax5.cit.cornell.edu                                 #             
#  Jeff Wilson                                               #
#  Cornell University                                        #
#  Department of Chemistry                                   #
#  Adirondack 46er                                           #
#  --SF author in the making--                               #
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#  Is what you're living for worth dying for?                #
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Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college