Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, April 10, 1994                   TAG: 9404100138
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE                                LENGTH: Medium

UVA'S BARBER BREAKS OUT IN SCRIMMAGE

"I guess this makes it complete," said Barber after he scored three touchdowns, one on a 32-yard run and another on a 33-yard reception in the Cavaliers' final scrimmage at Scott Stadium.

The format virtually assured a UVa victory - with the Cavaliers' offense meeting the defense - but the score was tied before freshman Tommy Vaughan caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Mike Groh with one second remaining to make it 36-30.

It was the third touchdown pass for Groh, who finished 20-of-32 for 254 yards. Vaughan, a walk-on, had six receptions for 112 yards and two TDs.

The defense was awarded one point for stopping a drive, three points for a turnover and six points for a touchdown and led 19-0 after three first-half interceptions, one of which Sam McKiver returned 48 yards for a touchdown.

"If the [defensive coaches] had left the first unit in there, I really don't think the offense would have scored all those points," UVa head coach George Welsh said. "I think the first defense was a little too good for our offense."

And that was with ACC sack leader Mike Frederick and fellow defensive lineman Mark Krichbaum in street clothes, Frederick with a back injury and Krichbaum with a dislocated toe. Frederick, who underwent a magnetic resonance imaging exam Friday, said his back has not responded well to treatment.

Injuries kept 14 players out of the game, including would-be starters Bryan Heath and Chris Harrison on the offensive line. Blocking breakdowns were at least one reason Virginia had a total of three first downs on its first 10 series.

That changed on series No. 10, when quarterback Symmion Willis had the offense moving crisply before he took a helmet to the back while scrambling for a first down. Willis was helped to the sideline with a hip pointer and did not return.

After his 32-yard touchdown burst in the second half, Barber fumbled inside the 10-yard line.

"What made it worse was, the hole was there," Barber said.

He subsequently redeemed himself by bulling 1 yard for his second touchdown and converting a short pass from Groh, who had been forced from the pocket, into the touchdown that made it 30-30.

Barber, a dangerous return man at Cave Spring, yielded those duties Saturday to his twin brother, Ronde. Although he had instructions not to return any punts, Ronde Barber got Welsh's attention by catching a variety of long and short punts from left- and right-footed punters.

Ronde Barber, who was redshirted last fall while his brother played briefly as a freshman, was moved from safety to cornerback at the start of spring drills and is battling holdover Joe Crocker for a starting job.

"I was lost and confused when I got here," said Ronde Barber, whose 4.41 clocking for 40 yards was second-fastest on the team this spring, "but I've learned a lot about the defense and I'm starting to feel comfortable. I love where I am right now."