University of Virginia Library

Defense Sparkles

Two Sullivan TD Grabs Beat SC, 24-16

By FLETCHER THOMPSON

Nearly 43,000 people
turned out to see the lambs
taken to the slaughter Saturday
night and 43,000 people went
home disappointed, as the
lambs, in this case, the Wahoos,
pulled the Astroturf out from
under their hosts and strolled
off with a 24-16 victory over
South Carolina.

It was a sad reunion for
ex-Cav quarterback Bill Troup,
whose former teammates
welcomed him with open arms
several times while virtually
obliterating the Gamecock
offense.

All in all, the Cavalier
defense got to Troup times
for seventy yards in losses and
held the South Carolina rushers
to a nine inch average in forty
carries, Between sacks Troup
did find time to throw for 318
yards, most of which were
meaningless due to the Cocks
inability to sustain a drive.

The highly touted offensive
unit enjoyed a less auspicious
debut. Coach Don Lawrence's
"big play" offense failed to
produce many big plays or
move the ball with consistency,
but it still put enough points
on the board to win, taking full
advantage of three Gamecock
fumbles.

Lawrence's first play from
scrimmage was an imaginative
call, a pass from halfback Mark
Gruetzmacher to quarterback
Harrison Davis, which
unfortunately fell beyond his
reach. Two more serials by

Davis also missed their marks
and the Cavs were forced to
punt from their 23.

The Gamecocks were
equally unsuccessful in their
first possession, and returned
the ball to the Wahoos at their
own 37. The contest floated
along in this manner for some
time as the teams traded boots
three more times while
chalking up only one first
down apiece.

With 1:45 remaining in the
first quarter, South Carolina
got the ball on the Virginia 36
and promptly advanced it to
the 12 before yielding to the
inspired 'Hoo defense.

On the first play of the
second period 'Cock kicker
Tom Bell knocked through a
twenty-six yarder to give
Carolina its only lead.

The Cavalier attack again
bogged down after a brief drive
following the kickoff and
punter Billy Maxwell's boot
put the Gamecocks on their
own 12 where they stayed for
three downs before going into
punt formation.

Then defensive tackle Dick
Ambrose came up with one of
the game's biggest plays,
blocking the punt and then
taking out the punter while
teammate Billy Williams
scooped up the pigskin and
dove for six.

Maxwell kicked the point
ending the first half scoring as
the game fell back to its
original pace with a missed
Gamecock field goal attempt
the only other scoring threat.

The Cavs came out swinging
to start the second half, forcing
a fumble on the first play from
scrimmage and following up
with a 15 yard scamper by
halfback Kent Merritt and an
18-yd Davis strike to split end
Dave Sullivan. Maxwell's PAT
put the Hoos up by 14-3.

The Gamecock attack again
proved inferior to the orange
and blue "D," which earned
several standing ovations from
the small crowd of Virginia
faithful, again kicked the ball
away. The Wahoos again failed
to mount a threat, and booted
it back to the Gamecocks who
fumbled on their nine.
Maxwell's field goal padded the
margin to two touchdowns.

Troup finally succeeded in
taking command long enough
to direct a touchdown march,
but the Cocks bobbled the ball
away a few minutes later,
paving the way for a 47-yd. TD
jaunt capped by a nine yd. lob
to Sullivan to start the final
peri

This was just about enough
to spell the demise of the
Cocks but the defensive unit
continued to dig their grave
with Kevin Michaels
interception, which almost
single-handedly emptied the
stadium, and three consecutive
sacks of the battered Troup.

Troup made the final tally
look close with a game-ending
score but one has to believe
that he was glad to say good-by
to his old mates.

Stan Land Savors Break During SC Contest