Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 12, 1995 TAG: 9511130091
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: COLLEGE PARK, MD. LENGTH: Long
The Cavaliers overcame blustery conditions, an early deficit and some potentially fatal mistakes in the kicking game to defeat Maryland 21-18 at Byrd Stadium.
On the same field where it clinched its first co-championship, 14th-ranked UVa raised its record to 8-3 overall and 7-1 in the ACC - one-half game ahead of Florida State.
``As you can see, I don't have any rings on my finger,'' said UVa offensive tackle Chris Harrison, who returned this season for an unprecedented sixth year. ``I'm looking to get a big, fat one at the end of the year.''
Florida State won Saturday at North Carolina 28-12 and can clinch a share of the title next week against visiting Maryland. As the highest-ranked ACC team, No.5 FSU (8-1, 6-1) is a likely choice for the Football Bowl Alliance.
``We can always say that we [shared] the ACC championship and beat Florida State,'' said UVa quarterback Mike Groh. ``People can take who they want, but they can't take away what we did this season.''
The Gator Bowl has the second choice of ACC teams and could base its decision on the outcome of next week's Virginia-Virginia Tech game in Charlottesville. The Hokies (8-2) have clinched a share of the Big East title.
``The Gator or the other one - the one in Atlanta - would be fine with me,'' said Virginia coach George Welsh, referring to the Peach Bowl, which has the third choice of ACC teams.
Although the Cavaliers already had posted the six Division I-A victories required for bowl eligibility, there was no assurance they were going anywhere when Maryland jumped to a quick, 11-0 lead.
The Terrapins (6-4, 4-3) got a 37-yard field goal from Joe O'Donnell on their first possession and immediately got the ball back when UVa failed to control the ensuing, wind-blown kickoff.
After return men Pete Allen and Terrence Wilkins tripped over one another, Paul Jackson recovered for the Terps at the UVa 16-yard line. Six plays later, quarterback Scott Milanovich scored on a 1-yard bootleg play.
``Nobody ever panicked on the sideline,'' Groh said. ``It's not like they had stuffed us or anything. It was 11-0, but our offense hadn't even been on the field yet.''
The Cavaliers rallied for an 11-11 halftime tie, but they experienced another horror show on the third-quarter kickoff, when UVa freshman Wali Rainer was unable to handle Maryland's ``power'' kick.
The Terrapins took over at the Virginia 49 but came away with nothing when Paul London intercepted Milanovich in the end zone. It was one of four UVa interceptions, two by London.
``[The interceptions were] the difference in the game,'' Welsh said. ``It usually is when you get that many.''
It wasn't too long ago that Welsh was saying the Cavaliers were concentrating too much on interceptions and should deflect more balls.
``That wasn't me,'' UVa defensive coordinator Rick Lantz said. ``You remember that: It was not me. We negated the errors in the kicking game by intercepting the ball.''
The kicking game had its one shining moment when junior Rafael Garcia booted a 41-yard field goal into the wind that put Virginia ahead 21-11 with 9:41 remaining.
``It was hard to tell whether the wind was blowing south to north or north to south, so I acted like there was no wind at all,'' said Garcia, who has converted 13 of his last 14 field-goal attempts.
It appeared that UVa may have sealed the victory with 6:58 left, when London intercepted Milanovich at the Cavaliers' 10-yard line, but a blocked punt - the first against Virginia this season - made it a game again.
The Terps took over at the UVa 5-yard line following Richard Roberts' recovery and needed just one play for Buddy Rodgers to score the touchdown that made it 21-18 with 3:17 remaining.
That was the last time Maryland touched the ball. Tiki Barber picked up 8 yards on a crucial third-and-four play from the UVa 36, and then he raced 26 yards two plays later.
Barber, who had more problems with the footing than anybody, led all rushers with 27 carries for 116 yards. One-time starter Kevin Brooks added 103 yards, 67 on the third-quarter drive that put UVa ahead 18-11.
Mostly, the day belonged to the defense, which held Maryland to 226 yards, with the touchdowns coming on drives of 16 and 5 yards. Terrapins wide receiver Jermaine Lewis, averaging nearly 132 all-purpose yards, finished with 3.
``They've played us better defensively than anybody we've played against the last four years,'' said Milanovich, who was 16-of-31 passing for 144 yards.
Welsh did not have to be reminded that Virginia clinched its previous co-championship in 1989 with a 48-21 victory over Maryland at Byrd Stadium.
``I thought about that,'' Welsh said. ``In fact, I thought about mentioning it to the team, but I didn't. It's too long ago for them. They were still in high school.''
Of course, that was before Florida State joined the ACC and, in the eyes of many, changed the conference forever.
``This one is tougher because of the big gorilla that's in the conference now,'' Welsh said. ``We had a lot of the best teams in the ACC on the road, plus Michigan and Texas. To have eight wins, with a chance at nine, is a pretty good accomplishment.''
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by CNB