09/08/96 - 2:49AM ET - Click reload often for latest version
NCAAF FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL --- --- --- --- ----- VIRGINIA TECH (15) 0 8 13 0 21 AKRON 8 0 3 7 18 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QTR: AKRN - TD, TYRONE RYAN 1 YD RUN (PAT FAILED), 4:05 AKRN - SAFETY, WARREN FORD TACKLED BY JASON TAYLOR IN END ZONE, 7:05 2ND QTR: VTCH - TD, SHYRONE STITH 1 YD RUN (ANGELO HARRISON RECEPTION FOR TWO-POINT CONVERSION), 14:38 3RD QTR: AKRN - FG, JAMES STIDHAM 31 YD, 4:07 VTCH - TD, MICHAEL STUEWE 9 YD PASS FROM JIM DRUCKENMILLER (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK), 7:20 VTCH - TD, SHYRONE STITH 2 YD RUN (PAT FAILED), 13:22 4TH QTR: AKRN - TD, CARL WHITT 8 YD PASS FROM MIKE JUNKO (JAMES STIDHAM KICK), 14:46
NCAAF 1 2 3 4 F - - - - -- Virginia Tech (15) 0 8 13 0 21 Akron 8 0 3 7 18 FINAL
AKRN Ryan 1 run (kick failed) AKRN Safety, Ford tackled in end zone VTCH Stith 1 run (Harrison reception for two-point conversion) AKRN FG Stidham 31 VTCH Stuewe 9 pass from Druckenmiller (Graham kick) VTCH Stith 2 run (kick failed) AKRN C Whitt 8 pass from Junko (Stidham kick) A 12993
VTCH AKRN First downs 23 14 Rushed-yards 54-216 34-30 Passing yards 81 197 Sacked-yards lost 5-28 3-19 Return yards 115 44 Passes 11-22-0 18-38-0 Punts 7-37.5 9-46.3 Fumbles-lost 4-3 1-0 Penalties-yards 4-54 8-67 Time of possession 28:42 31:18
Individual Statistics RUSHING Virginia Tech-Stith 21-119, Oxendine 11-65, Gildersleeve 8-22, Ellison 3-14, Hawkins 2-9, Druckenmiller 7-1, Clark 1-0, Thomas 1-minus 14. Akron-Ryan 7-39, Reader 6-7, Reeder 10-2, Rooney 1-minus 1, Scott 1-minus 4, Junko 3-minus 5, Spencer 6-minus 8.
PASSING Virginia Tech-Druckenmiller 11-22-0-81. Akron-Spencer 4-12-0-38, Junko 14-26-0-159.
RECEIVING Virginia Tech-Scales 2-19, Jennings 2-19, Gildersleeve 2-12, C White 2-10, Harrison 1-10, Stuewe 1-9, Stith 1-2. Akron-Scott 9-99, Francis 3-50, Reader 3-19, Reeder 1-14, C Whitt 1-8, Thiry 1-7.
GAME RECAPFreshman Shyrone Stith ran for two touchdowns and Jim Druckenmiller threw for another as 15th-ranked Virginia Tech struggled past Akron, 21-18, in a non-conference game.
The Hokies (1-0), who improved to 4-0 all-time against Akron, defeated the Zips 77-27 last season. Virginia Tech was held off the scoreboard until Stith scored from one yard out with 22 seconds left in the first half. Angelo Harrison caught a two-point conversion pass to forge an 8-8 halftime tie.
Akron (0-2), which opened its season with a 30-point loss at Ohio, took back the lead on a 31-yard field goal by Jason Stidham.
But the Hokies responded with an nine-play, 74-yard drive, capped by a nine-yard pass from Druckenmiller to Michael Steuwe for a 15-11 lead with 7:40 left in the third quarter.
"We're disappointed in the loss," Zips coach Lee Owens said. "We thought we had the opportunities to win the game. We've still got to get over that hump and realize that it's not an accident that we're in a position to win the game."
Stith, a 5-foot-9, 180-pounder from Chesapeake, Virginia, added a two-yard run run with 1:38 remaining in the third quarter to make it 21-11. Akron closed the scoring on an eight-yard pass from Mike Junko to Carl Whitt with 14 seconds to play. The Zips tried an onside kick that Tech recovered.
"Give Akron credit, we had terrible foul-ups, but don't take anything away from Akron," said Hokies coach Frank Beamer. "Reporters write about lopsided games, take it back."
"It was a wonderful lesson on life for the team. They hung together as a football team. Stith had a good run, but he's too young to be playing. Akron's defense played hard and well. Virginia Tech's defense had its moments."
The Hokies, who beat Texas in the Sugar Bowl last season, have won 11 consecutive games and eight in a row away from home. Tech improved to 71-31-1 all-time in openers.
The Zips opened the scoring on a one-yard run with Tyrone Ryan 4:05 into the contest. The point-after conversion failed, but Akron extended the lead to 8-0 three minutes later when defensive end Jason Taylor tackled Tech scatback Warren Ford in the end zone.
Druckenmiller completed 11-of-21 passes for 81 yards without an interception. Stith carried 21 times for 119 yards for the Hokies, who rolled up 216 yards on the ground. Tailback Ken Oxendine added 65 yards on 11 carries.
Junko replaced an ineffective Willie Spencer, who completed only 4-of-12 passes for 38 yards and was sacked three times. Junko completed 14-of-26 passes for 159 yards. Split end Devon Scott caught nine passes for 99 yards and tight end Scott Francis added three receptions for 50 yards.