The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 47

C-1 0 The Orlando Sentinel, Sunday, October 27, 1996 METRO 1 Knights almost golden against Tech Florida know the Knights' correct initials this morning. TLANTA For the occupants of Grant A Field's visiting locker room in the sweet aftermath of Saturday's homecoming Georgia Tech one," sighed walk-on QB Jason Thorpe, heroic in relief of Daunte Culpepper heroic in his own right playing the final two series of the first half with a possibly separated shoulder. "Tech knew they'd been in a dogfight" said Culpepper. This much is for certain. The faces were long SENTINEL COLUMNIST 0 Strong safety Donnell Washington is doing his part in the Golden Knights' frustrating battle to hold, their own in the takeaway turnover statistic that is so vital to winning or losing.

Washington rrfade an acrobatic catch of a midair fumble Saturday and ran untouched 46 yards for his second touchdown of the season. This one brought Central Florida to a touchdown of Georgia Tech, 20-13, but could not prevent the Knights' eventual defeat? 27-20. In New Mexico, Washington returned an intercepted pass 80 yards for a 7-3 lead in a game UCF eventually lost, 17-7. "We've got to have more takeaways," Washington said. "But you keep the positives and learn from the negatives.

What else can you do?" Just as we're all more familiar now with one Jason Thorpe, the backup quarterback with the computer-nerd physique arid brains. Rebuffed by college football recruiters, Thorpe took his 175 pounds to UCF last year on an academic scholarship and walked on the football team. The sophomore from Lakeland has a 3.7 grade-point average in PR and advertising. As coaches noticed how he plays smart and within his ability, Thorpe kept moving up the depth chart and was there for the call when Culpepper's damaged shoulder stiffened at halftime Saturday. Throwing mostly short, the plucky Thorpe twice led UCF back from 14-point.

deficits when others might have caved especially when his brilliant third-quarter, 80-yard march was aborted by Mike Grant's fumble at the 1. "There will always be that what sighed Thorpe, who refused to fault the inconsolable Grant "I think Tech's linebacker just put his hat on the ball. I don't fault Grant for anything. Man, Grant tried to get in for all he was worth. That's the kind of player I want in my backfield Actually, that drive gave us a lot of confidence.

I think the team had questions of whether the second-string quarterback could get it done." In the end, the stadium scoreboard said the Knights, indeed, almost got it done. Across the top of that board is noted that the Tech campus served as the Olympic Village for the past summer's Atlanta Games. In that perspective, you have to say UCF didn't lose on Saturday. They took the silver medal. feature, the main task seemed to be deciding whether to laugh or cry.

Upstart Central Florida had just made a bold statement about its recent ascent to NCAA Division I-A with a 27-20 scare of the same tradition-rich Georgia Tech ranked among the nation's Top 25 just two weeks ago. Making their way through piles of sweaty shoulder pads and socks, UCF President John Hitt and Athletic Director Steve Sloan happily pounded young backs and delivered kudos. "These guys came a long way today!" gushed Hitt "There were lots of opportunities to quit out there, and they didn't" Knights coach Gene McDowell spewed pride in the day's accomplishment "I think we certainly make a name for ourselves anytime we play a game like this and somebody like Tech coach George O'Leary and his staff know they just played a football team that was tough as nails. We gained their respect" The players, however, dutifully wore long faces and somberly spoke of the Big One that got away. The unwritten rule of macho athletes decrees there is no such thing as a moral victory.

Trust me. For UCF, this was a moral victory, "We shoulda won," snorted gifted receiver Todd Cleveland, who caught six balls despite a recurring ankle ding. "We shoulda won that game. They had a good team and thought they'd beat us convincingly, but we shoulda won." "Well go home and lose some sleep over this er in Tech's locker room than in UCFs. And the fans cheering loudest at the end were the UCF boosters who made the trek to Atlanta They came; they got a taste.

At halftime, the Knights lost the quarterback that has the NFL salivating and had to turn to a quarterback not even the colleges wanted. Cleveland was forced out of huge chunks of the game. The Knights got just two field goals out of three drives inside Tech's 10 once on an excruciating fumble at the Yellow Jackets' 1. And yet they were still in the thick of it right up iuntil Tech (5-2) smothered an onside kick in the final minute and was finally able to collectively exhale. Last week's Yellow Jacket loss to Clemson was considered an upset; a setback to UCF might have knocked the World Series off today's front page of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that referred all week to Tech's homecoming foe as "CFU." One has the feeling Georgians at least RESULTS, SCHEDULE Opponent Date Nobody could blame fullback Page Sessoms for being excited even after a defeat.

Elevated from the scout squad this week, the red-shirt freshman from Dade City caught a 10-yard pass on his first career play from scrimmage. He finished the day with three catches for 22 yards and one run for another 7. "Getting a chance is a dream come true for me," said Sessoms, one of the strongest Knights, who bench presses more than 400 pounds. Another significant first was that wide receiver Rufus Hall made his first six catches of 1996 for 64 yards. Hall looked like a budding star before a season-ending knee surgery after a second-game injury in 1995.

"I'm still not right but I'm on the way back," Hall said, but added that his left knee was in extreme pain after the game. UCF coach Gene McDowell was visited by an old friend, Billy Shaw, Aug. 29 UCF 39, William Mary 33 Sept 7 South Carolina 33, UCF 14 Sept 14 New Mexico 17, UCF 7 Sept 21 Ball State 31, UCF 10 Sept 28 East Carolina 28, UCF 7 Oct 12 UCF 38, Samford 6 Oct 19 NE Louisiana 39, UCF 38 Oct 26 Georgia Tech 27, UCF 20 Nov. 2 Illinois St 4 p.m. Nov.

9 at Ala-Birmingham 2 p.m. 4 p.m. Nov. 16 Bowling Green Knights' running stymied UCF from C-1 1 i an All-America lineman at Georgia Tech in the '60s and father of Tech quarterback Brandon Shaw. McDowell and the elder Shaw worked together on the Florida State staff and both interviewed for the head coaching opening at UCF in 1985.

hired the right man," Shaw said. Sunshine Network will repeat its broadcast of the game at 2 this afternoon. Meanwhile, Sunshine's Paul Kennedy is on the move once again. After calling the game, he flew to Washington, D.C., and will run in a marathon today. Monday he's back in Orlando for Magic coach Brian Hill's charity golf tournament.

On Tuesday, he must be in Houston for an Orlando Solar Bears International Hockey League game. Daunte Culpepper's injured left shoulder (non-throwing) makes him questionable for Saturday's home game against Illinois State. Tight end Joey Hubbard also has a shoulder injury and appears doubtful now. Wide receiver Todd Cleveland reinjured a sprained ankle and is questionable. Minutiae: Not only was it homecoming at Georgia Tech, it was the first home game of the season with the student body on campus.

Georgia Tech could not begin classes until two weeks ago because of post-Olympic work such as removing barbed-wire fences. The UCF volleyball team got strong support while playing here Friday night from UCF followers and the cheerleaders. However, the Knights lost in that sport, too. JERRY GREENE If a Jr-Xr- Hi), '-i: -4 4 'vV jr 4 hjjji. ji i I A High-steppin'.

UCFs Mike Grant is brought down by Georgia Tech linebacker Keith Brooking in the first quarter of Saturday's game. Georgia Tech defeated UCF, 27-20. but the Jackets (5-2) clinched the victory on a 96-yard swing pass touchdown by tailback Charlie Rogers midway in the fourth. The Knights scored with 40 seconds left on a 11-yard pass from backup quarterback Jason Thorpe to wide receiver Mark Nonsant. But UCFs onside kick failed, and the Yellow Jackets took no risks, kneeling to run out the clock and get off with something less than a victory to cherish.

"Give credit to Central Florida for some of the things they did," Georgia Tech coach George O'Leary said, "We were fortunate today." Indeed. Clearly looking ahead to next week's game against Florida State, O'Leary did not use his starting offensive backfield in order to heal minor injuries. "Give us two more good I-A recruiting classes," UCF coach Gene McDowell said, "and well beat this bunch." The teams meet again in 1999. "We put ourselves in position to win," McDowell said, "and then we turned the ball over and turned the ball over. It's just a handful of mistakes that takes you out of your chance to win." Statistically, the game was a wash.

Georgia Tech totaled 377 yards, one more than UCF. The glaring difference was five turnovers for UCF compared with a pair by Tech. The Knights have lost the ball 17 times in their past three games and 31 times this seasoa The Knights couldn't run, totaling 52 yards and led by Mike Grant's 25 on 18 carries. But UCF's quarterbacks threw well for the most part Culpepper completed 12 of 16 for 145 yards in the first half, and Thorpe hit on 20 of 35 for 179 yards in the second. Each had a pass intercepted.

"Culpepper was a little more athletic and threatened us more on the run," Tech defensive end Jermaine Miles said. "Thorpe was more of a passer." The clubs traded field goals in the first quarter, with Charlie Pierce hitting from 32 yards for the Knights. Tech gave sophomore quarterback Brandon Shaw his first start because freshman Joe Hamilton had a bruised knee. Shaw engineered an 80-yard, 10-play drive that ended on a 1-yard scoring run by Rogers early in the second period. Culpepper brought the Knights back but injured his shoulder with 11 minutes left in the period when he ran 16 yards to Tech's 9.

The Knights settled for another 32-yard kick by Pierce. "I didn't want anyone to know I was hurt," Culpepper said. ASSOCIATED PRESS wmmm YELLOW JACKETS 27, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 20 GEORGIA TECH Pawing Team Rushing No Yds Net LG Player An Com tat Yds TD Thorpe 35 20 1 179 1 Culpepper 16 12 1 145 0 GT 15 UCF 24 7 17 Rogers 24 94 92 18 Hrioman 10 54 53 14 Shaw 7 20 11 8 6 0 Receiving 0 Petting No Yds Avg TO 378 377 62 156 9 97 1Z.1 1 AM Com kit Yds TD 25 13 1 221 1 Player Shaw 38 41 04 5-50 ASSOCIATED PRESS Receiving Nonsant Hall Cleveland Silpa Sessoms Grant Hud Hubbard No Yda Ave Player 64 10.7 54 90 50 16.7 22 7.3 7 35 4 2.0 26 260 1 14 Stop right there. UCF's Tarveres Tate brings down Georgia Tech's Charlie Rogers. 142 20.3 Rogers 7 tat DOWNS Rushing Passing Penany TOT.

NET YDS. NET YDS. RUSHING Rushee Sacfc-Yda. bat Avg. per rush -y? NET YDS.

PASSING Hadint PUNTSAvg. Hadblocfced RETURN YDS. PuntRetuma rOckorl Returns Intel ceofione PENALTIES-Yda. -FUMBLES-Loet TIMEOFPOSS. TO 1 0 0 53 13.3 Middieton 4 Baynham 1 Sheridan 1 17 17.0 8 90 1.4 38 324 221 32-51 13-25 2 1 3-47 0 5088 0 0 52 6 1-0 1-8 448 3-t9 1-8 2-2 5-27 3-20 4-3 2-1 32:55 27:05 Punt return Punt returns Player No Yds la Avg 6 60 Middieton 1 Ho Yda Avg TD 1 0 0.0 0 Kickoff return cellent when Pierce's punt was downed on Tech's 4 with 8:02 to play.

Rogers tried a run but was stopped, so Shaw tossed a simple swing pass to him and nobody from UCF was out there to stop him. Result: The longest play from scrimmage in Tech history. A trade of interceptions led the Jackets to another field goal and a 13-6 lead before halftime. Rogers ended another drive by Tech with another 1-yard scoring run early in the third quarter. Once again the Knights came back, using 15 plays to travel to Tech's 1 before Grant fumbled into the end zone to abort the drive.

That lost opportunity seemed more important minutes later when Washington grabbed the Jackets' fumble and made his 46-yard scoring drive. The Knights' chances seemed ex Kickoff return No Yda Avg 2 34 170 1 15 150 TD 0 0 Player Rogers Haney Individual CENTRAL FLOR OA Player No Yde Avg TD Mat 2 52 260 0 Cleveland 2 37 185 0 Tacklet-aaalste-sacKs Bryant 6-7-8. Washington 6-5-0, Thomas 7-2-0. Reddick 4-U), Doster 1-5-0. Tate 3-1-0, Jackson 1-1-0, McWhorter 1-1-0, Benoit 1-1-0.

Raid 1-04, Moore 1-04, Bush 1-04, De-vine 144. Cordrey 0-14, Palmer Ruahlng Tecklee-aaaleta-eecka Ferryman 6-3-0, Rogera 5-6-2, Brooking 5-54. WHkins 4-44, Bostie 6-14, Dae 5-24. Clements 4-34, Bradford 4-2-2. Frakes 2-14.

Miles 2 0-1, Miles 244, Hughes 244. Shep-ard 1-14, Haney 144, Tarplm 144, Edwards 144, Wnherspoon 0-14, Robertson 0-14. MISSED TO ATTEMPTS None. No. Yda.

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