CHARLOTTESVILLE—About half the team had left town to start Thanksgiving break early, but the other University of Virginia men’s lacrosse players were still in Charlottesville when they got the shocking news Saturday. Former U.Va. standout Will Barrow had been found dead at his apartment. “Stunning,“ Cavaliers coach Dom Starsia said last night. “Absolutely stunning.“

William Balderson, 9, persuaded his mother and grandmother to take him yesterday to the fourth annual Chick-fil-A Charity Dodgeball Tournament at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. He had watched the movie “Dodgeball” and wanted to check out the real action. While he was there, he got a haircut—also offered as part of the fund-raising efforts—for a $5 donation.

James Madison football coach Mickey Matthews hasn’t softened his view of the way his Dukes performed in last season’s 17-16 home loss to the University of Richmond. “We didn’t show up on offense last year against them,“ Matthews said yesterday. “You’ve got to give some credit to Richmond. I thought Russ [Huesman, defensive coordinator] did a good job of defending us, but we absolutely stunk the place up offensively.

CHARLOTTESVILLE—University of Virginia football players Will Barker and Dave Roberts have been acquitted of petit larceny. Barker, 21, and Roberts, 19, were arrested in late July at an after-hours nightclub in Charlottesville. They were alleged to have stolen beer from a cooler at Club 216, and each was charged with petit larceny, a misdemeanor. Judge Robert Downer found them not guilty yesterday in Charlottesville General District Court.

William and Mary’s Jonathan Grimes was honored as national special teams player of the week by The Sports Network after totaling 324 all-purpose yards in the Tribe’s 38-28 defeat of Villanova. Grimes finished with 105 yards receiving, 161 yards in kickoff returns and 58 yards rushing. The Colonial Athletic Association named him rookie of the week and special teams player of the week as well.

Talladega Superspeedway It was only fitting that a wild, unpredictable race at Talladega Superspeedway would end with a controversial finish. Tony Stewart survived the Big One—and the Big One II—to capture the checkered flag in the AMP Energy 500 yesterday in a green-white checkered finish, giving him his first win this season.

Getting to Petersburg football practice in the afternoon is a lonely drive. Grass grows ankle high around empty driveways. Salons have hand-painted signs advertising over dark windows. No cars are parked at the gas pumps. Streets are blocked off in the middle of the day, but no one is working on them. Making it to the football field isn’t necessarily easy for the kids that live there, either. The dropout rate for Petersburg High School is more than four times the state average. Of those who stay in school, 60 percent qualified for free or reduced-price lunch this year.

Tommy Richards sets up a net on one of his two grass courts. He also has two squash courts and two clay courts “Do you enjoy racket sports, the country and having fun?“

Castaway Sporting Goods (804-706-9100) reports crappie are picking up, especially in the lakes. The last tournament is tomorrow. The top 100 teams based on points have qualified. The winner gets a fully rigged basscat boat worth about $40,000. Notable catches: Craig Lee (Chesterfield), 36 pounds, bluecat; Jason King , 58, bluecat, Bruce Weaver , 2, crappie.

James River graduate Terrence “T.C.“ Bowler plays on two flag football teams and for the Virginia Hornets of the East Coast semipro football league. Looking for an alternate source of fuel? Just hitch your wagon to Terrence “T.C.“ Bowler, and you’re likely to go, go, go. Bowler’s day job is inspecting gas pumps for Baird Petroleum. Meanwhile, his personal energy tank always is brimming over.

The H.C. Edwards Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society will hold its 19th annual Sportsmen’s Banquet on Oct. 25 at the Augusta Expoland on Expo Road in Fisherville, beginning with cocktails at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m. The banquet will feature live and silent auctions, games, drawings and door prizes; highlighted with a large selection of quality firearms, artwork and collectibles. As with all RGS fund-raisers, proceeds from the event will be used to restore and protect grouse and woodcock habitat.

ASHBURN—The Washington Redskins likely will be without two defensive starters for Sunday’s NFC East clash with the Philadelphia Eagles: Shawn Springs and Jason Taylor. Cornerback Springs didn’t practice yesterday because of a strained calf muscle. He joined defensive end Taylor as players receiving a pessimistic assessment from coach Jim Zorn.

Mayor L. Douglas Wilder suggested last night that North Boulevard may no longer be Richmond’s best site for a baseball stadium. In an unannounced appearance before the City Council, Wilder said his administration plans to select by the end of next month master developers for two major properties, one along the Boulevard that includes The Diamond property and another near Main Street Station in Shockoe Bottom.

A day after blowing a lead with a triple bogey on the final hole, Will MacKenzie birdied the par-5 18th three straight times yesterday to win the Viking Classic in a playoff for his second PGA Tour victory. A free spirit who dropped out of golf for almost 10 years and lived in his van for five, MacKenzie beat Marc Turnesa on the second playoff hole after Brian Gay dropped out on the first extra hole.

Zak Thornton rushed for 180 yards on 27 carries and Eric Dardozzi had 14 tackles and scored on a 46-yard fumble recovery to give Randolph-Macon a 30-21 victory over SUNY-Maritime (1-2) yesterday. The Privateers scored with 15 seconds left in the game to pull within nine points, but James Spanopolous’ two-point conversion run failed, sealing the game for Randolph-Macon.