THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 23, 1994 TAG: 9410230192
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Long : 104 lines
Clouds hung heavy in the dark twilight skies over Scott Stadium late Saturday, but the Virginia sidelines were illuminated by the brightest of smiles.
Could this be George Welsh, a coach who seldom displays much emotion, wearing such a huge grin with a full four minutes left in this most important game against rival North Carolina?
Yes, it was.
And somewhere behind those clouds you figure Thomas Jefferson was up there smiling, too.
It was an afternoon when every Virginia fan in the world had a reason to smile.
The Cavaliers answered critics who had wondered how good they might be by blasting the 15th-ranked Tar Heels, 34-10, with their best performance of the season.
With scouts from the Peach and Fiesta bowls in attendance, the Cavaliers boosted their record to 6-1, 4-1 in the ACC.
North Carolina dropped to 5-2, 2-2.
Virginia, which moved into a No. 25 poll ranking this week, took control early and held a 17-0 lead before the Tar Heels even had a first down.
The Cavaliers never let up, not even with four minutes left when they looked over and saw the rare sight of Welsh busting loose with a big, toothy grin.
``Yeah,'' Welsh admitted afterwards, ``I was smiling, and it was the first time this season I've smiled in the fourth period. But it was over by then.''
Welsh now has a 9-3-1 record against North Carolina, and his teams have never lost to the Heels in seven games in Scott Stadium.
In appreciation, Virginia fans stormed the field and tore down the goal post in the south end zone, just as they had after last month's victory over Clemson.
But this victory was more worthy.
Unlike the sloppy win over Clemson, in which Virginia had seven turnovers, the Cavaliers were virtually flawless this time.
Quarterback Mike Groh threw a couple of picture-perfect passes to wide receiver Tyrone Davis for touchdowns, and tailback Kevin Brooks rushed for two more.
The defense, which entered the game No. 1 in the nation against the rush, was its same magnificent self.
Freshman Ronde Barber intercepted two passes and sophomore James Farrior picked off another that he returned 35 yards to set up a 24-yard field goal by Rafael Garcia in the opening minutes of the second half.
``That (interception) was a big play because it kept them from building momentum for the second half,'' Welsh said.
North Carolina's offense never got on track and quarterback Jason Stanicek was forced to go to the air when the ground game bogged down.
``The key was stopping their running game,'' Virginia defensive end Mike Frederick said. ``We knew if we stopped them from running that they were not going to beat us with their passing.''
The Tar Heels wound up with almost as many yards passing (163) as they had rushing (169).
``They have a great offense, but we've been telling people we play pretty good defense, too,'' Frederick said. ``I think Carolina knows that now, and the people across the country should be able to see it, too.''
Linebacker Randy Neal said the defense set the tone for the game in the first period when North Carolina was stopped without a first down on three possessions.
``Those (North Carolina) guys had talked a lot, but they didn't really know that they could beat us,'' Neal said. ``We shut them down in the first quarter and they never recovered.''
Carolina got 54 of its rushing yards in one big chunk on a second-period run by fullback William Henderson to the Virginia 3.
Two plays later Henderson scored the Tar Heels' only touchdown.
``He (Henderson) caught us in a blitz,'' Neal said.
Frederick said the Cavaliers realized they couldn't completely stop North Carolina.
``We figured they would break some runs, but the important thing was how we would react to it,'' Frederick said. ``We showed a lot of character after giving up that long run, and that is what wins football games.''
Later in the second period, Barber ended a Carolina drive with his interception at the Virginia 1.
The Tar Heels failed to score again in the final seconds of the first half after picking up a first down on the Virginia 14.
``They had their chances,'' Welsh said. ``But they made mistakes and we were opportunistic and made some big plays.''
North Carolina ``played as poor as I've ever seen us play,'' coach Mack Brown said about his team.
``We had opportunities but just didn't take advantage of them,'' Brown said. ``Our players are disappointed and frustrated.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
PAUL AIKEN/Staff
Virginia quarterback Mike Groh, taking the ball on a fourth-down
conversion on the way to a Cavaliers touchdown, was 15-of-21 for 256
yards and two touchdowns.
Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
``We shut them down in the first quarter,'' said linebacker Randy
Neal, here smothering Jason Stanicek. ``They never recovered.''
by CNB