NCAA Football Preview (Arkansas St-Virginia Tech)
Posted: Sat September 27, 1997 at 6:45 a.m EDT
Arkansas St (1-2) at Virginia Tech (3-0) 1:00 pm EDT
Virginia Tech has nothing to gain when it puts its number 12
ranking on the line against Arkansas State.
The Hokies (3-0) are meeting Arkansas State for the second time
ever, having taken a 34-7 victory in 1994. Unlike most schools,
Virginia Tech scheduled three straight conference games to open
the season -- winning each -- before taking on either a lesser
opponent or one outside of the conference.
The Hokies have nothing to gain with this matchup, though the
Indians do not provide much of a threat to their undefeated
record, their 11-game home winning streak or Frank Beamer's
chance to become the school's all-time winningest coach.
Beamer is 64-51-2 in 10-plus seasons at his alma mater. His
next win would break a tie in the victory category with his
predecessor, Bill Dooley, who coached from 1978-86. He has
helped the Hokies score 20 or more points in a school-record 22
straight games.
If the Indians (1-2) want to have any chance of winning, they
must stop the run. Virginia Tech has had at least one 100-yard
rusher in nine of its last 11 games, including each of the last
four.
Ken Oxendine, who needs 40 rushing yards to break into the
school's all-time top 10, has registered a career-high 28
carries in consecutive games. He ran for 104 yards against
Syracuse and added 160 yards last week against Temple.
Guiding the offense is Al Clark, who is 20-of-37 for 350 yards
and three touchdowns with one interception. Clark is just as
dangerous with his legs, having run for 164 yards and one score
on just 20 carries, an 8.4-yard average. His favorite receiver
is Shawn Scales, who has eight catches for 154 yards and a
touchdown.
In last week's 23-13 victory over lightly regarded Temple,
Virginia Tech needed a 94-yard field-goal drive that culminated
with less than a minute left to seal the game. Arkansas State
will be hard-pressed to provide a similar test.
The inconsistent Indians have seen Jeremie Watkins go 36-of-78
for 501 yards with one touchdown against six interceptions.
Lennie Johnson has 218 yards and a touchdown on 12 catches,
while Ron Teat has caught 11 balls for 116 yards and a score.
Lamont Zachery heads the rushing attack with 203 yards and three
touchdowns on 31 carries, a 6.5-yard average. He has added 135
yards on six catches. Alastair Couch has carried 32 times for
143 yards and three TDs.
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