08/30/97 - 8:46PM ET - Click reload often for latest version
NCAAF FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL --- --- --- --- ----- VIRGINIA TECH (25) 14 14 24 7 59 RUTGERS 0 7 0 12 19 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QTR: VTCH - TD, KEN OXENDINE 1 YD RUN (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK), 5:43 VTCH - TD, CARL BRADLEY RECOVERED FUMBLE IN END ZONE (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK), 14:18 2ND QTR: VTCH - TD, MARCUS GILDERSLEEVE 80 YD PASS FROM AL CLARK (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK), 4:12 VTCH - TD, MARCUS PARKER 13 YD RUN (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK), 12:13 RUTG - TD, GARY FAUNTLEROY 1 YD RUN (LEE MCDONALD KICK), 14:30 3RD QTR: VTCH - TD, AL CLARK 80 YD RUN (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK), 0:55 VTCH - TD, PIERSON PRIOLEAU 43 YD FUMBLE RETURN (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK), 1:32 VTCH - TD, ANGELO HARRISON 33 YD PASS FROM AL CLARK (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK), 7:53 VTCH - FG, SHAYNE GRAHAM 24 YD, 14:22 4TH QTR: RUTG - TD, BILLY WOODARD 3 YD PASS FROM BRENDON EDMONDS (PAT FAILED), 2:20 VTCH - TD, ANDRE KENDRICK 2 YD RUN (JIMMY KIBBLE KICK), 7:54 RUTG - TD, WALTER KING 53 YD PASS FROM BRENDON EDMONDS (PAT FAILED), 9:38
NCAAF 1 2 3 4 F - - - - -- Virginia Tech (25) 14 14 24 7 59 Rutgers 0 7 0 12 19 FINAL
Virginia Tech-Oxendine 1 run (Graham kick) Virginia Tech-Bradley recovered fumble in end zone (Graham kick) Virginia Tech-Gildersleeve 80 pass from Clark (Graham kick) Virginia Tech-Parker 13 run (Graham kick) Rutgers-Fauntleroy 1 run (Mcdonald kick) Virginia Tech-Clark 80 run (Graham kick) Virginia Tech-Prioleau 43 fumble return (Graham kick) Virginia Tech-Harrison 33 pass from Clark (Graham kick) Virginia Tech-FG Graham 24 Rutgers-B Woodard 3 pass from Edmonds (kick failed) Virginia Tech-Kendrick 2 run (Kibble kick) Rutgers-King 53 pass from Edmonds (kick failed)
Virginia Tech Rutgers First downs 17 16 Rushed-yards 58-323 37-162 Passing yards 178 169 Sacked-yards lost 2-9 3-22 Return yards 80 27 Passes 9-13-1 16-35-2 Punts 4-40.0 8-42.5 Fumbles-lost 2-0 5-4 Penalties-yards 8-72 6-32 Time of possession 33:08 26:52
Individual Statistics RUSHING: Virginia Tech-Clark 7-118, Parker 6-101, Ellison 4-47, Pegues 14-33, Kendrick 6-18, Hawkins 2-14, Oxendine 14-8, Steadley 1-3, Meyer 2-1, Sorensen 1-minus 3, Team 1-minus 17. Rutgers-Crooks 19-108, Robinson 6-58, Diggs 3-11, C Washington 2-5, Fauntleroy 1-1, Harper 1-minus 5, M Jones 5-minus 16.
PASSING: Virginia Tech-Clark 7-10-1-147, Sorensen 2-2-0-31, Meyer 0-1-0-0. Rutgers-M Jones 9-25-0-73, Edmonds 7-10-2-96.
RECEIVING: Virginia Tech-Gildersleeve 2-85, Harrison 2-39, Scales 2-31, Stuewe 2-19, Hawkins 1-4. Rutgers-King 3-74, Fletcher 2-22, Powell 2-15, Funderburk 2-13, B Woodard 2-10, Diggs 2-9, Holland 1-17, Crooks 1-12, C Washington 1-minus 3.
Att: 0,000
GAME RECAPQuarterback Al Clark had an 81-yard touchdown run and a 33-yard scoring pass in a 24-point third quarter as number 25 Virginia Tech routed Rutgers, 59-19 in the Big East Conference season opener.
Clark, who replaced NFL first-round draft choice Jim Druckenmiller, was 7-of-10 for 147 yards and two touchdowns with one interception and added 118 yards in seven rushes. The Hokies extended their regular-season winning streak to eight games and improved to 14-3 in their last 17 road contests. Virginia Tech is 13-1 in its last 14 Big East games and 6-1 in Big East openers.
"Al Clark got off to a good start," said Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer. "He did an overall nice job today, but of course we would have liked him to make a few more passes. Clark didn't get rattled, even when there was an interception. I know he would have liked to make an overall larger number of passes, but he is developing. I knew he was going to be good, but I didn't know when he would emerge. He is calm when he's out there -- he stays in himslef and he doesn't get excited."
Virginia Tech, which got 101 rushing yards on six carries by fullback Marcus Parker, scored 20 or more points for the school-record 19th straight game and sent Rutgers to its 10th loss in 12 games since last season. The Scarlet Knights fell to 63-60-9 all-time in season openers.
"I'm very drained right now, and so are our players," Rutgers coach Terry Shea said after the game. "I don't sense it's going to be discouragement. We had a post-game meeting and this team has enough pride. They've got tremendous growing pains."
Clark broke through the left side of the line and scampered for the 80-yard score to make it 35-7 just 55 seconds into the third quarter. On Rutgers' ensuing possession, Pierson Prioleau scooped up a fumble and raced 43 yards for another touchdown.
Clark found Angelo Harrison in the front right corner of the end zone for a 33-yard score midway though the third, and Shayne Graham kicked a 24-yard field goal with 38 seconds left in the period.
Virginia Tech outgained Rutgers 501-331, racking up 323 yards on the ground. Jacki Crooks led the Scarlet Knights with 108 yards on 19 carries. Mike Jones was 9-of-25 for 73 yards, getting sacked twice, and Brendan Edmonds was 7-of-10 for 96 yards and two interceptions for Rutgers.
The Hokies opened the scoring 5:43 into the game when Ken Oxendine, who was held to just eight yards on 14 carries, scored on a one-yard plunge. With 42 seconds left in the first quarter, Jones was hit in the end zone by linebacker Cory Bird and fumbled. Defensive tackle Carl Bradley covered the ball for a score to make it 14-0.
"I'm disappointed, obviously. But it's a learning experience," Jones said. "And like the coach said, if we don't learn from it, we might as well stick our heads in the ground."
Clark threw a short pass in the right flat to running back Marcus Gildersleeve, who appeared to go to a knee to catch it but was not ruled down, turning it into an 80-yard scoring play 4:12 into the second quarter. Parker's 13-yard TD run just over eight minutes later made it 28-0.
"Marcus Gildersleeve and Ken Oxendine are two guys who make it tough for the opponent," Beamer said. "Both can run, both can block, and both can catch coming out of the backfield -- and both are unselfish. I think they are one of the best combinations in the country."
Rutgers finally got on the board with 30 seconds left in the first half when Gary Fauntleroy bulled in from a yard, cutting the deficit to 28-7.
After the 24-point third quarter, the Scarlet Knights did not score again until 2:20 into the fourth, when Billy Woodard caught a three-yard TD pass from Edmonds.
Virginia Tech countered just over five minutes later when Andre Kendrick scored on a two-yard run, and Edmonds threw a 53-yard scoring pass to Walter King with 5:22 remaining to make the final margin.
"I didn't think they were 40 points better," said Rutgers linebacker Brian Sheridan, who was injured and missed the 1996 season. "I'm in shock. But we have Texas next week and that's not going to be easy. We have a lot of work to do."