Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 17, 1995 TAG: 9510170062
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Certainly, there have been few non-televised UVa games that have lasted as long as the Cavaliers' 3-hour, 15-minute marathon with the Blue Devils.
``If that game's on TV, it takes 3 hours, 45 minutes,'' said UVa coach George Welsh, who was glad to see time moving slowly when the Cavaliers fell behind 21-3.
UVa came back to win 44-30 in a game that featured 98 passes, the all-time high for a UVa game, as well as 43 time-saving incompletions.
Duke quarterback Spence Fischer had 35 completions in 56 attempts, the record for a Virginia opponent in both categories. Fischer and Cavaliers quarterback Mike Groh passed for a combined 706 yards, another record for a UVa game.
What hasn't been determined is whether Virginia has ever won a game after trailing by as much as it did Saturday. Preliminary research has uncovered a game in 1980 in which UVa fell behind 17-0 before beating Duke 20-17.
MILESTONES: Groh has passed for 862 yards in the past three games and now ranks third at UVa in career passing yardage (3,557) and fourth in career touchdown passes (25).
Walk-on Patrick Jeffers, returning to his native Texas this week, has become the seventh player in UVa history to catch 100 or more passes. Jeffers ranks third in receiving yardage, fourth in receptions and fourth in touchdown catches.
TOUCHDOWN TIKI: UVa tailback Tiki Barber has tied a school record by rushing for touchdowns in nine consecutive games, including the first eight this season.
The record was set over three seasons by John Duda, whose UVa career (1944-46) was interrupted by military service. Barber began his streak last year against North Carolina State, after which he was sidelined for two games by injury.
THE KIRBY TREATMENT: Welsh said he will reduce Barber's practice load as the week goes on, as he did with former All-ACC running back Terry Kirby. Barber had 38 ``touches'' (30 carries, three receptions and five punt returns) against Duke.
``You give him the full practice load early in the week and then cut back,'' Welsh said. ``You want to make sure his legs are all right, [but] you don't want him touching it 38 times every week.''
BOOMING 'EM: Coaches and teammates praised kicker Rafael Garcia, who reached the end zone on seven of eight kickoffs, five of which were not returned. Garcia had only six touchbacks through seven games.
Garcia was 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts Saturday and has made his past four after a 7-for-12 start. Garcia has 28 field goals in his college career, good for fourth place on UVa's all-time list.
MYSTERY MAN: UVa watchers may have been surprised at the sight of Joshua Nowocin, listed at 5 feet 8 but seemingly much shorter, at wide receiver.
Nowocin, a walk-on from Culpeper, transferred to Virginia from Penn State. He was pressed into service after injuries to Derick Byrd and Pete Allen, although Allen later returned to the game.
MYSTERY MATCHUP: Welsh said he could not remember the circumstances under which Virginia scheduled Texas, which entertains the Cavaliers at 1 p.m. Saturday in Austin, Texas.
``It seems to me that the associate [athletic director] at Texas wrote to a number of schools, us being one of them, and said he had some openings,'' said Jim West, a former UVa administrator. ``I called him and said we were interested, but it had to be home-and home [contract].''
The Longhorns, who will visit Scott Stadium next year, are coached by former Wake Forest mentor John Mackovic. It will be the third school with which Mackovic has faced Virginia, including Illinois in the 1990 Citrus Bowl.
FSU PLANS: Virginia is so concerned with parking and other logistical problems connected with Nov.2 game with Florida State that it called a news conference solely to discuss those plans.
It will be the first Thursday night game for UVa, which has asked season ticket-holders not to arrive until after 5 p.m. and moved public parking from University Hall to the Fontaine Research Park.
ODDS 'N' ENDS: Defensive tackle Tony Dingle became the first true freshman to start for the Cavaliers when he replaced Tony Agee, who had a sprained ankle, against Duke. ... Hal Johnson, a freshman quarterback from North Cross School in Roanoke, was in uniform for the first time against the Blue Devils. ... Welsh said tight end Bobby Neely, who has played in only two of the first eight games, was not optimistic a separated shoulder would heal in time for him to play Saturday.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB