By Rachel Alexander
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 7, 1998; Page C4

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Sept. 6 – New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan was stopped at the 2-yard line the last time he tried to run an interception back for a touchdown against the Washington Redskins, so when he got his chance today, he clutched the ball to his chest, threw his head back and ran the 24 yards to the end zone as if he were being chased by an eighteen-wheeler.

"After I got caught on the 2-yard line a couple of years ago, I promised my mother if I ever got in that position again, I'd get a touchdown and send the ball to her," Strahan said, referring to his 62-yard run that fell short in 1995. "Still, when I got there I was surprised. I looked down and I had got to this blue section and no one had tackled me. You're just looking around for a flag at that point because it is too good to be true."

With the way Strahan played in the Giants' 31-24 win over the Washington Redskins this afternoon at Giants Stadium, he may want to send his mother more than the ball. A piece of quarterback Gus Frerotte's shirt would be a good souvenir of his two sacks, while a shoulder pad or two would be a more appropriate way to remember his complete domination of Redskins right tackle Shar Pourdanesh.

On the very first down Strahan tackled running back Terry Allen for a loss of five yards, and his day only improved from there. In the second quarter, Strahan drew a holding penalty against Pourdanesh that invalidated a Redskins touchdown. In the third quarter, he intercepted Frerotte's pass intended for tight end Jamie Asher and ran it back for his touchdown, the Giants' third in a six-minute span. On Washington's next possession, Strahan got his second sack, and in the fourth quarter he was able to pressure quarterback Trent Green into throwing the ball away on third down of the Redskins' final possession.

"The guy was really special," Giants Coach Jim Fassel said. "He is an outstanding defensive end. He plays great, and he plays hard."

Strahan made his first Pro Bowl last season when he recorded 14 sacks, the third-highest in the NFL and the most by a Giant since Lawrence Taylor's 15 in 1989. He has always had particular success against the Redskins, sacking Jeff Hostetler twice in a tie between the teams last November. Later in the season, he helped block a punt by Matt Turk in a 30-10 Giants victory.

The Redskins had thwarted Strahan's previous chance to score a touchdown so he admitted to being nervous as he cut in front of Asher to make the interception.

"When I couldn't see the quarterback, I realized he couldn't see me," Strahan said. "I'm just thankful to God that I caught the ball. If I had dropped it, I would have had the whole city of New York on me."