THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 1995 TAG: 9509240193
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CLEMSON, S.C. LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
It's over.
Virginia ended the longest period of home-field domination by one team over another in ACC history on a dark and rain-chilled afternoon Saturday in Clemson's Death Valley.
The 11th-ranked Cavaliers shook off the demons that had tormented previous Virginia teams in Death Valley and came out winners for the first time 22-3.
``It feels good,'' said Virginia coach George Welsh, who had witnessed five of the team's 17 losses and the only tie in the high-rise stadium.
``I am glad it happened on my watch,'' he added.
Welsh also was the first Virginia coach ever to beat Clemson, at Charlottesville in 1990.
``I think we have broken all the curses now,'' a smiling Welsh said. ``I am glad the next guy after me won't have to live with the curse Clemson had on us.''
Welsh said he did not mention the winless streak to his players during the week, but did allude to it in a pregame talk.
``I told them that we were the 11th ranked team, not Clemson, and for them to go out there and play like it,'' Welsh said.
The Cavaliers did just that with two first-period touchdowns and a pair of strong defensive stands in the final three minutes of the first half.
The victory was secured in the second half by a 76-yard scoring pass from quarterback Mike Groh to wide receiver Pat Jeffers and more trench work by the defense.
Many Clemson fans began leaving at the end of the third period after Rafael Garcia's 30-yard field goal gave Virginia its 22-3 lead.
But Virginians in the crowd weren't about to allow the elements to drive them away from enjoying every second of the historic game.
They laughed, they swayed, they sang, and they cheered loudly when the final buzzer sounded.
The mud-stained Cavaliers whooped with them.
``It is a great feeling, and it's really exciting because it had never happened before,'' said tailback Tiki Barber, who rushed for 111 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown dash in the first quarter.
Defensive tackle Todd White said, ``I believe we got a big monkey off our backs today, but we've still got one more to go - and it's more like a gorilla than a monkey.''
White was referring to Florida State, which shares first place in the ACC with the Cavaliers, now 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the league.
Redshirt freshman defensive back Anthony Poindexter admitted he did not feel the excitement of ending the streak as much as older players.
``Some of us, like me, were just happy to stay unbeaten in the ACC. Ending the streak means a lot more to the older players, so there really were two different celebrations in the locker room,'' he said.
Both White and Poindexter played key roles in the Cavaliers' most impressive defensive effort of the season.
The Tigers rushed for 180 yards and passed for another 213, but could never get a foot in the Virginia end zone despite golden opportunities.
They had a first down on the Virginia 5 but ran out of downs on the 1 with 2:34 remaining before the half.
On their next possession, the Tigers had a first down on the Virginia 14 but again ran out of downs after being pushed back to the Virginia 34.
Clemson coach Tommy West said his team's failure to score on either of those drives may have cost it the chance to continue its mastery over the Cavaliers.
``That was the biggest part of the game,'' West said. ``I don't think we can play any worse offensively.''
Still, down only 12-0 at halftime, the Tigers remained hopeful until Groh and Jeffers teamed for their demoralizing touchdown bomb in the third period.
Ironically, it was the only time in the game that Virginia converted on third down, and Groh had to recover from a moment of confusion before making the play.
``The play was for me to run a fly pattern, but Mike thought I was to go underneath,'' Jeffers said.
Groh credited Jeffers with making a great catch at the Clemson 30.
``I thought he was going to cut in, but when I saw him beat his man down the sidelines I did a double pump and let him have it,'' Groh said.
Groh felt the play convinced the Tigers that this would be a day like no one ever had seen in Death Valley.
``They were hanging in there until that touchdown, but I think it took the steam out of them and their fans,'' Groh said. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The first-quarter celebration of Virginia's Duane Ashman, left,
Ronde Barber and Joe Crocker after an interception turned out not to
be premature.
by CNB