THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 15, 1996 TAG: 9609150202
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: 79 lines
Coach George Welsh took a rare tour of the Virginia locker room to seek out defensive players and shake their hands Saturday after a stomach-churning 21-3 victory over Maryland.
``I couldn't believe it when I saw him coming to shake our hands,'' tackle Todd White said.
``I am going to put that in my book of memoirs. I started shaking when I saw him. I told someone that it must be `Apocalypse Now' time.''
If NCAA rules permit, Welsh ought to treat the entire defensive unit to a steak dinner, too.
Without one of the strongest defensive efforts in Scott Stadium history, the No. 22-ranked Cavaliers (2-0 overall, 1-0 ACC) well could have crawled away from their league opener with an L instead of a W.
The defense, which was expected to carry the load this season, scored Virginia's only touchdown in the opening three quarters and set up two easy scores for the offense with turnovers in the fourth period.
Maryland, losing for the fifth straight year to the Cavaliers, dropped to 2-1, 0-1.
``This is the best defensive effort I've seen in 15 years here,'' said Welsh who collected his 100th victory as an ACC coach.
Welsh might want to modify that statement after the glow of victory wears off.
As good as the defense was, Maryland was forced to play more than three quarters with redshirt freshman quarterback Ken Mastrole, whose experience was limited to one previous snap.
Terps starter Brian Cummings suffered a cut chin and shoulder injury late in the first period while being flattened by Virginia linebacker Dillon Taylor.
``We were a limited in what we could do (without Cummings),'' Maryland coach Mark Duffner said.
``We were able to use only a little more than half of what we put in our game plan.''
The Cavaliers' didn't have an excuse for the ineptness of its offense, which failed to complete a pass in the first half.
``I am going to have to watch the film to see what was happening,'' Welsh said when asked to comment on the performances of quarterbacks Tim Sherman and Aaron Brooks.
Welsh would have a more enjoyable time if he reviewed the defensive highlights, of which there were many.
Lineman Tony Dingle gave Virginia a 7-0 lead by making an interception at the Terps' 10 and returning it for a touchdown at 8:53 of the second quarter.
Tailback Tiki Barber scored the last two touchdowns in the game's final 2:31 to end drives set up by big defensive plays.
Barber's brother, Ronde, set up the first score with an interception at the Maryland 19.
A few seconds later, Dingle recovered a fumble on the Maryland 10 and two plays later Tiki Barber strolled into the end zone on a 5-yard carry. He finished with 123 yards on 29 rushes, and like his offensive teammates gave credit to the Maryland defense.
``That might be the toughest over 100-yard rushing game I've ever had,'' Barber said. ``It was like into a brick wall.''
Barber admitted it might have been different if the passing game had not been so woeful.
``They just ganged up on me,'' Barner said. ``A couple of times I thought I might break free, but there were so many guys to get away from.''
Barber's longest run was 24 yards.
Sherman started for the second straight week at quarterback. He completed only 4 of 12 passes for 51 yards and threw two interceptions.
Brooks completed only 1 of 6 passes for 9 yards and had one interception.
``The quarterbacks weren't accurate, and sometimes they held the ball too long,'' Welsh said. ``Maybe they had to (run) because the receivers weren't open.''
The Cavaliers visit ACC foe Wake Forest next Saturday in Winston-Salem. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON, The Virginian-Pilot
U.Va.'s Tiki Barber rushed for 123 yards and two fourth-quarter TDs
that put away a struggle in Charlottesville.
Photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON, The Virginian-Pilot
U.Va.'s Jamie Sharper, No. 33, and Wali Rainer celebrate after
bringing down Maryland quarterback Brian Cummings. by CNB