Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 12, 1995 TAG: 9511130086
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Virginia quarterback Mike Groh had his lowest passing output as a starter - 93 yards and no touchdowns - but his contribution to the Cavaliers' 21-18 victory over Maryland cannot be underestimated.
Groh was not sacked and did not yield any interceptions under conditions that may have contributed to four Scott Milanovich passes that were picked off by the Cavaliers.
The Terrapins were coming off a 30-13 victory over North Carolina State in which they had recorded nine sacks, but Groh repeatedly got rid of the ball one step ahead of the Maryland rush.
``I didn't want to give them anything easy [or] give them anything cheap,'' said Groh, a fifth-year senior. ``I didn't want to make a stupid decision and give them the ball down close.''
CONFIDENCE
Virginia coach George Welsh said he was reluctant to attempt a field goal of more than 35 yards before Rafael Garcia's 41-yarder put the Cavaliers ahead 21-11 with 9:41 remaining.
``I was thinking 35,'' Welsh said, ``but I asked [Garcia], and he said 40. So, I said, `Why not?' If he can kick 40, he can kick 41. That helped a lot, because it meant Maryland needed two scores.''
Garcia's field goal was his 20th of the season and the 37th of his career - one short of the UVa record set by Wayne Morrison between 1979-82. The ACC record for field goals in a season is 23, set by Clemson's Obed Ariri in 1980. Garcia, last year's ACC scoring champion, trails teammate Tiki Barber 89-88. Barber's 2-yard touchdown run was his 13th of the season - most by a UVa player since 1941.
STILL CLIMBING
Barber, who needed 2 yards to break Barry Word's school rushing record of 1,224 yards in a season, got 4 yards on his first carry with 7:43 left in the first quarter. Barber carried 27 times for 116 yards, 46 on UVa's last drive, and stands at 1,339 for the season - sixth in ACC history.
NO FACTOR
Maryland wide receiver Jermaine Lewis, Barber's chief rival for the ACC's all-purpose title, suffered a hip pointer and played sparingly in the second half.
Lewis, getting increased playing time at running back with Maryland's new emphasis on the I-formation, had eight first-half carries for 2 yards. His only reception was a 1-yarder in the third quarter.
STREAKS, ETC.
Groh needs 56 yards to pass classmate and former teammate Symmion Willis as UVa's single-season passing leader. ... Virginia's four interceptions gave them 22 - the third year in a row the Cavaliers have had more than 20.
\ NEXT GAME
Fourteenth-ranked Virginia (8-3) entertains No.21 Virginia Tech (8-2) at 12:07 p.m. at Scott Stadium on Nov. 18. The game will feature teams atop the ACC and Big East Conference standings, with a possible Gator Bowl bid on the line. The Hokies have won eight games in a row, including a 38-16 victory Saturday over Temple.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL UVA
by CNB