Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 15, 1995 TAG: 9510160099
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
There was a little happier ending for Cavaliers' linebacker Skeet Jones after UVa rallied from an 18-point second-quarter deficit to defeat Duke 44-30 at Scott Stadium.
Jones, one of the Cavaliers' co-captains, did the unthinkable when he ostensibly declined a running-into-the-kicker penalty and allowed Duke to take possession at the UVa 42-yard line after an 18-yard punt.
``I was trying to tell [the official] that we wanted the ball and he just ignored us,'' Jones said. ``He patted me on the butt and said, `OK, that's what I thought you wanted.'''
It was only a 5-yard penalty and UVa would not have gotten a first down, but the Cavaliers would have preferred to punt again, as Welsh made clear to Jones on his return to the sideline.
``He was mad at me because he thought I had told them something different,'' Jones said. ``It was just a missed communication on their part because I know I made a correct call.''
The Blue Devils subsequently scored on a 12-yard run by Charles London to take a 14-3 lead - en route to the 21-3 lead they enjoyed before the Cavaliers began their comeback.
``I was upset and Skeet was upset,'' Welsh said. ``Usually, they'll look over and ask you what you want. I think we need some help from the officials in letting a 21-year-old make that decision.''
Another player in his final year, offensive tackle Chris Harrison, was called for a crucial personal foul in the Cavaliers' 22-17 loss to North Carolina one week earlier.
NOT A SNAP
UVa punter Will Brice averaged only 36.2 yards on six punts, but one snap nearly went over his head and two more came back to him on the bounce.
If UVa had an unsung hero, it might have been back-up quarterback and holder Tim Sherman, who looked like Cleveland shortstop Omar Vizquel the way he kept short-hopping snaps for extra points and field-goal attempts.
Regular deep snapper Walt Derey has a hand injury, although he performed those duties for part of the game. Scott Allanson, a seldom-used linebacker, was later pressed into service.
EYE ON RECORD
UVa offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien offered a ``no comment'' when asked if he was aware that quarterback Mike Groh was close to UVa's school record for passing yardage.
The Cavaliers had run their tailbacks on seven straight plays before Groh completed a 4-yard pass to Pete Allen on third-and-11 with just over one minute remaining.
Groh, who passed for 335 yards two weeks ago in the Cavaliers' 35-17 victory over Wake Forest, stood at 342 yards before the pass to Allen. The old record was 344, set by Shawn Moore against Georgia Tech in 1990.
NEXT OPPONENT
The Cavaliers, ranked 19th in The Associated Press poll, visit No.18 Texas, which dropped to 4-1-1 when it was tied Saturday by Oklahoma 24-24 in Dallas. The Longhorns won their only previous meeting with UVa 68-0 in 1977.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL UVA
by CNB