Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 6, 1994 TAG: 9411100043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DURHAM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
That was the word from coach George Welsh following the Cavaliers' 28-25 upset loss to Duke.
Groh, who tossed two first-half touchdown passes to Tyrone Davis, took issue with reporters who wondered if the Cavaliers were headed for their annual November swoon.
``We're going to be back next week,'' said Groh, who had not lost in three previous starts. ``I'm not worried about that at all.
``I'm sure we're going to hear a lot of that talk, that we're ready to fold, but I'm here to tell you that this team is not folding. We'll be ready to play Saturday against Maryland.''
Groh completed 14 of 26 passes for 217 yards and was intercepted once when intended receiver Patrick Jeffers fell down, but he was replaced by Symmion Willis with 7 minutes, 55 seconds left in the game.
``We were looking for a spark,'' offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien said. ``In fact, I called down to George at the start of the fourth quarter and said, `Do you want to put Symmion in or do you want to have Mike go another series? We need to get it kick-started.'''
As it turned out, Groh went two more series, the second of which started at the Duke 5-yard line after UVa defensive end Mike Frederick deflected a Duke pass that was ruled a lateral.
When the Cavaliers failed to come away with any points, that was the end of Groh's day. He was replaced by former starter Willis, who had missed 21/2 games with a pulled hamstring.
The move paid immediate dividends when Willis, on his second play, connected with Petey Allen for a 69-yard touchdown pass. Willis added a two-point conversion run that closed the deficit to three points with 7:07 left.
The truth be known, Allen was well-covered on the touchdown play, but adjusted his route when he saw the ball was underthrown.
Willis' resurgence proved to be short-lived when he threw into coverage and was intercepted by Duke freshman Levance McQueen at the UVa 36. That effectively ended the Cavaliers' hopes.
Only 29 seconds remained when Virginia got the ball for the last time at their 17. Willis threw three straight incompletions before he was intercepted on the last play of the game.
``It's frustrating for me,'' said O'Brien, whose repetitive play-calling was the source of discussion in the press box. ``To me, we had guys open. There were some protection breakdowns, [but] we had chances.
``We prepared well. On Wednesday, we threw the ball unbelievably. I've never seen us throw the ball and catch the ball as well. I don't think [UVa peaked] too soon, either, but today it just didn't happen.''
FORGOTTEN MAN: Tyrone Davis broke Herman Moore's school record with the 27th and 28th touchdown receptions of his career, but he wasn't the happiest man leaving the field at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Davis finished with three receptions for 107 yards - but had no catches after his second touchdown with 11:29 left before halftime.
``We can't win the game with Tyrone Davis all the time,'' Welsh said. ``Some people are going to take Tyrone Davis out of there and they did a pretty good job, maybe.
``You've got 11 guys out there. You know, Tyrone Davis may get hurt. So, we've got to throw the ball to some other people.''
Davis' three receptions gave him 100 career receptions, tying him for sixth on UVa's all-time list. He moved into second place in the ACC in career touchdown receptions behind Duke's Clarkston Hines, who had 38 between 1986 and 1989.
THE BOWLS: Virginia no doubt dropped out of consideration for the Fiesta Bowl, which was intrigued by a possible match-up between Colorado and UVa if both teams were 10-1.
Other bowls with representatives at Saturday's game were the Peach, Hall of Fame, Liberty and Independence. The Peach and Hall of Fame bowls have the third and fourth choices of ACC teams.
BARBER UPDATE: Sophomore Tiki Barber resumed kick-return duties but had a season-low three carries, all in the first half. Barber was fourth in the ACC in rushing before Saturday.
ODDS AND ENDS: A 65-yard touchdown pass from Groh to Davis was UVa's longest of the season before the 69-yarder from Willis to Allen. ... Davis also attempted the first pass of his career, a tight spiral that went over Patrick Jeffers' head on a reverse. ... Virginia remains unscored upon in the first quarter this season. ... The Cavaliers still have not won back-to-back games against ranked opponents.
by CNB