University of Virginia Library

Army Homecoming

Wahoos Guests At West Point

BY TOM BELL

The Cavaliers hit the road again
tomorrow as they travel to West
Point, N.Y. to face Army, hoping
to break out of a dismal slump
which has held them in its grip for
the last two weeks.

The Cadets should be a fired up
football team as it is Homecoming
at the Academy, and they must still
remember the 21-20 loss suffered at
the hands of the Cavaliers last fall.

The Keydets have surprised
some observers by knocking off
Georgia Tech and Missouri,
although their overall record is just
2-3.

Injuries continue to plague the
depth-shy Cavaliers. Jimmy Lacey
and Gary Helman, the starting
running backs for the last two
years, will again be hampered by
injuries. Lacey, who started at
fullback last week, will miss the
game with a leg injury, while
Helman, bothered by a sprained
ankle, will see limited action at
most. The two have not been
healthy at the same time all season.

Greg Dickerhoof, still somewhat
bothered by a hand injury, will
start in place of Helman at fullback,
and Kent Merritt, who is the team's
leading ground gainer and this
week's ACC Sophomore of the
Week, will be at running back
where he has started every game.

Larry Albert, who has been
forced out of the last two games
with injuries, is expected to start at
quarterback for the Cavaliers, with
Harrison Davis, who had his best
game of the season in last week's
loss to Clemson, in reserve.

Steve Sroba may not start at
safety for the Cavaliers as a result
of injuries, but should see some
action. Chris Brown will start in the
place of cornerback Bob McGrail.
Reserve linebacker Harry Gehr will
also probably not play.

The Cadets feature a "steady
consistent offense" and a defense
that "really swarms all over you"
according to Cavalier scouts. In
addition to their two wins, they
have lost to Stanford, 38-3, Penn
State 42-0, and Air Force, 20-7.
Like the Cavaliers, West Point
brings a two game losing streak into
the game.

The Cadets have also been hit
by injuries and will be without the
services of three starters. Defensive
backs Mercer Fergusin, and Randy
Stein, and offensive guard Gregg
Tree are all listed as "very
doubtful" by the Army coaching
staff, under the direction of head
coach Tom Cahill.

There will be an interesting
family act in the contest tomorrow
as reserve Cavalier linebacker Dan
Blakley has a brother, Chuck, who
starts at cornerback for West Point.

"We think Virginia is a good
football team," said Mr. Cahill,
looking forward to the game, "their
record notwithstanding. They have
excellent overall team speed and
will be tough defensively. One thing
is certain-Virginia is a much better
team than their record would
indicate."

A crowd of more than 41,000 is
expected for the game, including
the screaming, 4,200 member Corps
of Cadets.

Army has won four of the six
meetings between the two teams
starting in 1954, but the Cavaliers
have one two of the last three, with
a 35-14 win in 1964 and last year's
win. The 1964 game was one of the
biggest upsets in the history of
Cavalier football.

The kickoff is stated for 2 p.m.
tomorrow in the Academy's Michie
Stadium.