Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 11, 1994 TAG: 9409190011
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ANNAPOLIS, MD. LENGTH: Medium
He'll always remember his first touchdown, which came on a 74-yard punt return late in the third quarter of UVa's 47-10 victory.
``I knew if I got through the front line, I had a chance to go all the way, but it just wasn't happening,'' Barber said. ``When I first looked up, all I saw was a wall of Navy players.''
Barber took a step to the left, cut back to the middle of the field and was not touched, eluding Navy punter Brian Schrum at midfield. In the Cavaliers' opener on Sept.3, Barber was stopped when he tried to run over Florida State kicker Scott Bentley.
``I learned my lesson on that,'' said Barber, a redshirt freshman from Roanoke, Va.
Injury was one of the reasons - maybe the major reason - quarterback Mike Groh and Barber each made the first start of his college career.
Although Groh tossed a pair of touchdown passes against Florida State, Symmion Willis was expected to start before suffering a hamstring injury Tuesday in practice.
Willis, who was in uniform Saturday, warmed up before the game and was available to play in an emergency. He is not expected to be sidelined for long.
At tailback, Barber started in place of Kevin Brooks, reportedly nursing injuries from the Florida State game. Barber did not carry the ball from scrimmage before giving way to Brooks for the second series.
Barber, carried the ball six times for 8 yards, but finished with 158 all-purpose yards, 53 of those on seven receptions.
ANOTHER DEBUT: Linebacker Skeet Jones, considered one of UVa's top recruits when he signed in 1991, made the first start of his career, replacing Randy Neal.
Neal aggravated a knee injury against Florida State, but should be back in action next week, when the Cavaliers meet Clemson at Scott Stadium. Also missing Saturday night was safety Paul London, who had off-season knee surgery but practiced during the week.
Defensive coordinator Rick Lantz said during the preseason he considered Jones to be a fourth starter at linebacker. Jones, listed as the top backup at all three spots, is expected to take Neal's place in the middle next year.
ON THE BALL: A blocked punt by Percy Ellsworth in the second quarter was UVa's third block in two games. The Cavaliers blocked one kick all of last season.
RECORDS: Navy quarterback Jim Kubiak set a school record with 55 attempts, breaking his own record of 54. It was the most passes attempted against Virginia. ... Teams have attempted 111 passes against UVa the past two weeks.
ODDS AND ENDS: Barber's punt return for a touchdown was the first by the Cavaliers since Jason Wallace went the distance against Clemson in 1990. ... Tyrone Davis, with three touchdown receptions Saturday night, moved into second place on UVa's all-time list with 21. Herman Moore is the leader with 27. ... Groh has thrown six touchdown passes in his career, five the past two weeks. Groh's 26 completions were the second-most in UVa history. ... The Cavaliers' third tailback was walk-on C.E. Rhodes, a redshirt freshman from Heritage High School in Lynchburg, Va. Rhodes previously had been listed as a defensive back.
NEXT WEEK: Virginia (1-1) will entertain (Clemson (1-1) at noon in a game that will be televised on the ACC network (WSET Channel 13). UVa has one victory in 33 games with the Tigers, who were upset Saturday by North Carolina State 29-12.
by CNB