R ESERVE PLAYERS RARELY
Defensive coordinator Bob Haley of Shepherd (W.Va.) University knows the correlation of having capable reserves and establishing a successful program.
"I get a little nervous about playing a lot of people," the Rams coach admitted in a phone interview yesterday. "One of the keys [to our success] is having people who can play just as well the next week. We're fortunate
Earlier this month, junior linebacker Donte McCoy (North Stafford) moved into the starting lineup due to an injury and led the team in tackles against West Virginia Tech. Practically the same thing occurred last week when Joey Hooks filled a vacancy in the team's linebacking corps as the Rams routed West Virginia Wesleyan, 51-0.
These are heady days in Shepherdstown where the Rams are riding a 16-game winning streak and currently find themselves ranked first in the NCAA Division II Football Committee's Northeast Region poll--the first time a West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team has ever enjoyed a top ranking.
In nine games, the Rams have outscored their opponents, 230-52. The defensive effort compares favorably to the 1999 playoff-bound team that ranked fourth in the nation in rushing defense (64.7), sixth in total defense (236.7) and seventh in scoring defense (12.5).
Senior linebacker Jeremy Bailey (Culpeper) is the unit's standout performer, both in terms of statistics and field leadership. His 50 tackles is top on the team. Eight of his tackles were for losses, he has an interception and a fumble recovery and has broken up two passes.
"Jeremy is very intelligent and doesn't need any prodding about what needs to be done," said Haley, a one-time University of Maryland standout who had a tryout with the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers. "He makes all our front reads and does a good job of dropping back in pass coverage."
Bailey's flexibility of playing either the weak or strong-side spot eased the Rams' difficulty during its recent plague of injuries.
His biggest play of the occurred the second week of the season when he batted away a two-point pass conversion attempt with 1:43 remaining to preserve Shepherd's 34-32 victory over Shippensburg (Pa.) University.
McKoy has appeared in eight games and has registered 15 tackles. Freshman Omar Josephs (Culpeper) has seen spot duty in the Rams' secondary this fall.
Two newcomers to the program, offensive lineman Matt Ware (Brooke Point) and defensive back Justin Toney (North Stafford) have not played a down this season, but both are regarding as promising prospects and are likely to be red-shirted, gaining them an extra year of eligibility.
If victorious in their remaining two games against homecoming opponent West Liberty State and West Virginia State, the Rams would achieved their unbeaten regular season in 50 years.
Hippeard, Damm lift CavsQuarterback Randy Hippeard (Colonial Forge) and specialist Ray Damm (Stafford) sparked the Virginia-Wise football team to a 29-27 victory over Shorter College last Thursday at Rome, Ga.
Returning to the Cavaliers' starting lineup for the first time in four games, Hippeard completed 14 of 23 pass attempts for 155 yards and a touchdown as Wise amassed 406 yards of total offense.
Damm enjoyed his best performance as a punter this season, averaging 43.5 per attempt, and added a 26-yard field goal and two PAT conversions. Teammate Eric Ludden (Massaponax) contributed to the victory, recording five tackles.
Keydets lose in overtimeThe Virginia Military football team won its previous six overtime games, but had the streak snapped on Saturday, falling 55-52 in three OTs to Gardner-Webb.
Sophomore Nat Jackson (Massaponax) paced the Keydets with 149 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries and added 32 yards on four receptions. Teammate Vicheal Foxx (Caroline) was a defensive leader with eight tackles.
Still going strongRichmond quarterback Stacey Hutt (Essex) was named weekly all-star by I-AA.org after leading the Spiders to an overtime victory over Hofstra. The senior ran for one score in OT, then passed for the winning TD.
Florida State's Lauren Brick (Culpeper) participated in three firsts as the Seminole women posted three victories in a quad swimming meet at College Park, Md. The junior emerged victorious in the 100-yard fly (1:02) and both the 200 and 400 medley relays (1:43.65 and 3:44.76) and added a fifth in 200 breast (2:22.27).
Southern Illinois' captain Sean McNemar (Culpeper) had a share of the lead with his 36-hole total of 69-76--145 going into Tuesday's final round of the Oral Roberts University Invitational golf tournament at the Battle Creek Golf Club in Tulsa, Okla.
Freshman Cameron Wallace (Chancellor) placed second in the 100-meter butterfly (1:07.49) and fourth in 200 individual medley (2:33.88) to help spark the unbeaten Navy women's swimming team to a 182-112 victory over Johns Hopkins.
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