Evening star., 1954-11-28
Statistics

had hoped to win by more than
that to impress the bowl commit
tee, gave Virginia its scoring
chances by fumbling away the
ball In their own territory.
The victory gave the Noun
taineers a record of eight wins
and one defeat-a loss by three
points to Pittsburgh. Virginia
was losing it's fifth straight to
wind UP a N3-6 season.
The narrow squeak failed to
dampep the Mountaineers' burn
ing hopes they'll receive a post
season bowl bid.
Hopes for Gator Bowl.
Almost any old bowl bid any,
body has to offer would be well
coined by Coach Art Lewis, but
right now he's thinking mainly
in terms of the Gator Bowl at
Jacksonville, Fla.
Lewis had hoped. most of all,
for an invitation to the Cotton
Bowl at Dallas. But West Vir-
ginia's chances for a trip in that
direction vanished tonight when
Georgia Tech drew the coveted
bid to oppose Arkansas.
Nov all we can do is sit and
wait" Lewis said.
The Cavaliers went ahead with
a touchdown in the first period
and, after West Virginia matched
it with an interception run-back
in the second, went ahead again
with a 17-yard field goal in the
third.
NOrman'S Dash Decisive.
What proved West Virginia's
winning margin came on a "a
yard scoring run by Halfback
Carl Norman later in the third
period.
The Mountaineers were busy
after that stopping fourth-quar-
ter Virginia threats. The Cava-
liers worked their way into West
Virginia territory only once,
early in the fourth period, going
to the Is before being tossed
back. But twice thereafter. they
again took West Virginia fumbles
inside the 20 but were unable
to do anything with them.
Fumbles plagued the Noun
taineers all afternoon. Not only
did they give the ball away in
their own territory five times,
but they bobbled away a scoring
chance in the first period after
putting on a 60-yard drive to
Virginia's 10.
The crowd Of 10000 that dwin-
died away as the cold, wet day
progressed, sensed a possible
upset when the Mountaineers
started fumbling. The Cavaliers
got nowhere with the first bobble
when West Virginia intercepted
a pass. But another tumble gave
the Cavaliers a second chance on
which they scored. The tally
came before the game was four
minutes old as Virginia's Quar-
terback Rives Bailey tossed a
short pass over the line to End
Fred Meyer and Meyer completed
a 35-yard run into the end zone.
The Mountaineers, led by Half
back Carl Norman and Harry
Sweeney, then drove to Vir-
ginia's 10 before a stiff tackle
by End Jesse Hagy of Virginia
made Quarterback Freddy Wyant
tumble, with Hagy also recov-
ering.
It was early in the second,
exactly Is minutes after Vir-
ginia's opening score, that West
Virginia pulled even. Tackle Sam
HUFF intercepted a pass by Vir-
ginia's Bill Clarke and lateraled
to Center Chuck Donaldson, who
numbered 81 yards for the touch
down.
Field Goal Try Fails.
The Mountaineers managed
not to tumble the rest of the
second period, and got to within
shooting distance on a 51-yard
pass from Wyant to End John
Kernic. Running plays were
tossed back. however, and a field
goal try by Donaldson was short
and wide from the 30 on the last
play of the half.
Wyant bobbled again on the
third play Of the second half,
giving the Cavaliers a chance to
go in front again. Halfback Tom
Berry picked up the loose ball
on the Al, and Halfbacks Herb
Hartwell and Joe Niedbala worked
their way to the 8 before getting
tossed back. On fourth down,
Specialist Sam Knowles gave the
Cavaliers their 1877 lead with
a perfect field goal from the II.
Thereafter the Mountaineers
again put on the pressure. A A.
yard run by Sweeney spanked
one invasion that was stopped
with an end-zone interception
by Berry. But Halfback Dick
Nicholson put them In position
to score with a punt rtInback tn