University of Virginia Library

Wake Hands Cavaliers Defeat, 23-21

Wahoos Toppled
In Second Half

By Bill Nachman
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Bob Bischoff (82) Scores First Cavalier Touchdown Of 14 Quarters In First Period

Danny Fassio Directed Attack, Threw To Tight End For Early Lead In 23-21 Disaster

Wanted: a script writer who
can come up with happy
endings. Apply at University
Hall. Attention: Coach
Blackburn.

So might read an athletic
advertisement after Saturday's
football nightmare. Virginia
came out on the losing end
again as they fell to Wake
Forest, 23-21, with one minute
to play.

The clincher to a rather
dismal Cavalier second half was
a bad snap from center to
punter Hal Trentham late in
the game, who in desperation
kicked the ball over the end
line for a safety - these two
points were the margin of
victory.

Virginia scored the first
time it had the ball, with
quarterback Danny Fassio
directing a 13 play touchdown
march. Gary Helman was the
workhorse of this drive as he
carried the ball six times for 27
yards. Bob Bischoff caught a
Fassio aerial of 22 yards for
the score.

Having realized its first
points in some 14 periods, the
Cavaliers were temporarily sparked
as they forced a fumble of the
ensuing kickoff with Jim Willits
scooping up the ball. On first down
halfback Jimmy Lacey swept left
end for 26 yards. Fassio bulled in
from a yard out for the score.

The rest of the first quarter was
lethargic as the crowd was treated
to a succession of punts.

Wake decided to cut out this
punting nonsense early in the
second period. Larry Russell led his
charges down the field in a 77-yard,
5 five play explosion. Buz Leavitt's
37-yard run around the right side
was the big play. Back Steve
Bowden scored the touchdown on a
nifty six-yard jaunt off tackle.

After several exchanges of
punts, Wake Forest managed to tie
things up. Rover Jim Schubert, who
played well all day, picked off a
Fassio pass in the open and ran it
back 60 yards for the second
Deacon tally.

Behind the fine blocking of the
forward wall, Virginia scored the
next time it had possession. The big
play was Chuck Mooser's 57-yard
kickoff return. On a succession of
reverses and sweeps the Cavaliers
worked the ball into scoring range.
Lacey swept left end for the final
two yards and the six points.

Wake did not have any time for
a drive as the half ended, and
Virginia took a 21-14 lead into the
locker room.

Someone forgot to tell the
Cavaliers that there were two halves
to a football game as they couldn't
mount another offensive threat.

The fans were confronted with
the first of two bad snaps on punts
early in the third period, as Dan
Ryczek pulled the trick. Hal
Trentham tried to field the ball
and run, but to no avail.

Taking over the ball in good
field position (Virginia's 39), Wake
worked out a score in nine plays.
Leavitt ran six times during this
drive and pushed into the end zone
from four yards out.

Chuck Mooser (40) Steams Toward Wake Forest Goal On Second Period Kickoff Return Carrying 57 Yards

Boyd Page (50), Assisted From All Sides, Wraps Up Wake Forest Quarterback Larry Russell

Cavalier Defensive Effort All In Vain As Wahoos Lose Heartbreaker On Last Minute Safety, 23-21

Having tied things up, the
Deacons seemed content to settle
for a tie. The entire fourth quarter,
except for one drive by Wake which
was halted, looked like action one
would see on University Hall field
at a soccer match. Nothing
happened at all, except Trentham's
and Wake's Tracy Lounsbury's
booting the ball back and forth.
Virginia insisted on draws and
sweeps, and by the second half the
Deacons appeared to have adjusted
their defense to halt what offensive
punch the Wahoos could muster.

And then with only 61 seconds
to play Virginia finally showed its
uncanny ability to lose once again.
Hal Trentham had dropped back to
kick on fourth and 18
Unfortunately, the ball never quite
made it to him. John Blackburn
sent the ball sailing toward the
Virginia goal. To prevent Jim
Schubert from diving on the loose
ball for a touchdown, Trentham
popped the ball out of play to
credit Wake with a safety.

Wake Forest had little trouble in
thwarting a last ditch Cavalier drive.
As the gun sounded the final total
read Wake 23, Virginia 21.

The loss sent the Wahoos
plummeting into the ACC cellar
with a 1-4 conference mark. The
Cavaliers are now 3-5 overall.