THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511190614
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
Percy Ellsworth tried to take all the blame, while just a few feet away Mike Groh was saying it was his fault.
They were admirable, stand-up sentiments. But after their third last-minute loss of the season - a 36-29 loss to Virginia Tech Saturday - it seems that forces far beyond the control of a single defensive back or quarterback are working against the Virginia Cavaliers.
Calling Virginia star-crossed or snake-bitten doesn't seem enough. And the ``C'' word doesn't apply either, defensive tackle Todd White said.
``We're not a choking team,'' White said. ``A lot of our games come down to the final seconds and that's what's going to happen with two good teams.
``I think we're a team that loses focus on goals.''
Virginia had its goal within its grasp Saturday. Up 15 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers looked to be in complete control. Virginia's defense alternately snuffed and strung out Virginia Tech's running game, and quarterback Jim Druckenmiller - in the midst of an off-day - didn't appear capable of leading the Hokies back.
But the Hokies scored 22 fourth-quarter points, taking their place alongside Michigan and Texas as teams that have come back to sting the Cavaliers.
``I never thought we had it,'' Virginia coach George Welsh said. ``It can't get away if you don't have it.
``You've got to accept things like this,'' Welsh said. ``It's part of football.''
Part of Virginia football. This year, anyway.
``It didn't shock me,'' Groh said. ``We've been through so much this year I don't think there's anything that can surprise or shock me.''
Virginia's lead began melting away early in the fourth quarter, when Druckenmiller hit Jermaine Holmes with a 10-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 29-20.
A bad snap that led to a weak punt by Virginia's Will Brice set up Virginia Tech's next score, a 35-yard field goal by Atle Larsen that cut the gap to 29-23 with 6:58 left.
The Hokies sacked Groh twice to end Virginia's next possession, and Virginia Tech took over at the Cavalier 46. But just three plays later, a Druckenmiller pass was tipped and popped into the air, and a diving White made the interception.
Virginia needed just three points to put it out of reach, but a 46-yard field goal by Rafael Garcia went wide, and Tech had a final chance.
Welsh said he wasn't optimistic.
``I'm never optimistic when they have the ball and one play can beat you,'' Welsh said.
The play that beat Virginia was a pump-and-run pattern from the 32. Ellsworth bit on the pump fake from Druckenmiller and Holmes ran by him. All Druckenmiller had to do was the lob the ball in there.
``I take full blame for this loss. Those guys played too hard to allow that to happen,'' Ellsworth said.
``Anything short of death, I never thought I could feel this bad.''
Virginia had a last chance, and was trying to get in position for a Garcia field goal attempt when a Groh pass was intercepted by Antonio Banks and returned 65 yards for a touchdown.
``I should have made a play for my team, and I didn't,'' Groh said.
Virginia was just a handful of plays away from an 11-1 season but will have to take comfort in its defeat of Florida State, its ACC title and an appearance in a second-tier Bowl game like the Peach or the Carquest.
``You can't take away what we did,'' Ellsworth said. ``We did win the ACC championship. But we should have won every game we lost.''
Welsh said the loss didn't feel much different than the Michigan and Texas defeats, except for its timing.
``The difference is this is the last week of the season and we don't have a chance to get back,'' he said. ``But under the circumstances, I wouldn't want another chance. Not after all these games.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot
Virginia Tech defender Torrian Gray rides up on U.Va. wide receiver
Germane Crowell as Crowell brings in a pass for a long gain in the
first half. In the second half, Tech hammered away at the Cavaliers
early game.
``You've got to accept things like this,'' Virginia coach George
Welsh said. ``It's part of football.''
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/The Virginian-Pilot
HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot
Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer hugs an assistant, above. ``We are
getting prettier all the time,'' Beamer said. ``Maybe even
glamorous.'' Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller, right, evades the
U.Va. offense. Druckenmiller threw a touchdown pass to Jermaine
Holmes in the final minute to help Tech take the lead.
by CNB