THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 13, 1994 TAG: 9409130487
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
Virginia quarterback Mike Groh is scheduled to return to the bench for Saturday's game against Clemson, but it is not because he didn't produce when given the opportunity.
Statistics released Monday showed Groh leading the ACC in passing efficiency two games into the season.
Groh got his first college start when Symmion Willis was held out against Navy last Saturday because of a pulled hamstring muscle.
Groh passed for three touchdowns and ran for another in a 47-10 victory.
The previous week, Groh replaced Willis in the second half of the loss against Florida State and directed Virginia to its only two touchdowns.
He has completed 34 of 47 pass attempts for 349 yards and five touchdowns while giving up only one interception.
His 26 completions against Navy tied for second most in school history and his 257 passing yards were the most by a Virginia quarterback in his first start. The old mark was set by Bob Davis (250 yards) against Wake Forest in 1964.
Groh said he is surprised to be the top-rated ACC quarterback after two weeks only because he did not expect to have an opportunity for playing time.
``Other than that, I am not surprised,'' he added. ``I think I have played as well as anyone else in the ACC in the first two weeks.''
Still, coach George Welsh said Willis, fully recovered from his injury, will reclaim his starting job against Clemson and there was no assurance Groh even would get off the bench.
``I don't believe in musical chairs,'' Welsh explained.
Groh promised to be ready if needed again.
``I don't think about starting,'' he said. ``I just want to help the team whenever I get the opportunity.''
SOLD OUT: The Clemson game, which opens the home season for the Cavaliers, is a sellout.
A spokesman said the only tickets available are for fans wanting to purchase season tickets.
The game will be televised regionally (WAVY), beginning at noon.
INJURY UPDATE: Senior linebacker Randy Neal, who did not dress for the Navy game because of a sprained knee, is listed as ``doubtful'' for Saturday.
``We will know more by Wednesday, but it doesn't look good now,'' Welsh said Monday.
Virginia Beach's Skeet Jones replaced Neal as a starter against Navy and will start against Clemson if Neal is unavailable.
``He (Jones) did a good job in the Navy game,'' Welsh said.
True-freshman Germane Crowell, who separated a shoulder against Navy, is definitely out for the next month, and may take a medical redshirt.
``It depends on how many games are left when he recovers, and how much we need him,'' said Welsh.
Crowell caught two touchdown passes in his first college game against Florida State.
PLAYING SICK: Defensive end Mike Frederick is still trying to shake a virus that weakened him for the Navy game.
Frederick, a senior co-captain, did not go on the field for the coin-toss at Navy because he was resting in the locker room.
``I really wasn't well, but I didn't think about not playing,'' Frederick said. ``This is my last go-around and I don't to miss any games.''
The All-ACC candidate, who had 74 tackles last season, only has four after two games.
But neither Frederick nor Welsh is worried about the low number.
Both explain that the first two opponents have been pass-happy against the Cavaliers, reducing opportunities for stops by Frederick.
``Mike has pressured the quarterbacks well, and he's graded out well,'' Welsh said.
SURPRISE PLAY: When Mike Groh ran 2 yards untouched into the end zone against Navy, it looked like a well-executed play.
Groh revealed Monday, though, that it resulted from a busted play.
``I was supposed to hand off (to Tiki Barber), but I had trouble with the snap and didn't get the ball in time to make the handoff,'' Groh said.
``I decided to run it around end myself instead of taking a chance on fumbling.
``I know it looked like he caught the entire defense by surprise,'' Welsh said. ``Well, he caught his own teammates and us (coaches) by surprise, too.''
SCOUTING REPORT: Clemson had its poorest rushing game (21 yards, one first down) since 1947 in losing 29-12 to North Carolina State last Saturday, but Welsh predicts the Tigers will come running into Scott Stadium.
``They will try to pound us, wear us down, and use several variations of the option,'' Welsh said.
Clemson's running game has keyed victories the last two years over the Cavaliers. The Tigers rushed for 361 yards last year and for 402 yards in 1992.
Only once in the series' last 16 games has Clemson rushed for less than 200 yards. That was in 1990 - the only time Virginia has beaten the Tigers. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Mike Groh
by CNB