THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9510010179
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
Virginia didn't run over Wake Forest as expected, but the 11th-ranked Cavaliers found other ways Saturday to protect their perfect record in the ACC.
A 32-point favorite, the Cavaliers had to go to the air and rely on a pair of big fourth-quarter plays to subdue the Deacons 35-17 on homecoming afternoon in Scott Stadium.
The victory boosted Virginia (5-1, 4-0) into first-place in the ACC, a half-game ahead of Florida State, and left Wake Forest (1-4, 0-2) stuck in the basement.
Cavaliers quarterback Mike Groh, who complained last week he was not being allowed to throw enough, had the biggest afternoon of his career.
In fact, the 6-foot-3 senior had the second-best passing performance in school history by throwing for 335 yards and two touchdowns - topped only by Shawn Moore's 344 yards in a losing effort against Georgia Tech in 1990.
But the coaches didn't unleash Groh's right arm because of his outcry during the week.
Rather, the air show was required by a Wake Forest defense that was determined not to allow the Cavaliers to rush through it as had happened in the 11 previous games between the two teams- all Virginia victories.
The Cavaliers had only 107 yards rushing and did not have a back to go over 100 yards in a game for the first time this season.
``They got a lot of guys around the ball, blitzed us, and plugged us,'' said Cavaliers coach George Welsh. ``It was obvious what they were going to do early in the game.''
Just as obvious was that Virginia had an alternative plan.
Groh pushed the Cavaliers into a 14-0 first-period lead by connecting with Derick Byrd on a 65-yard scoring play and Germane Crowell for an 18-yard touchdown.
The Cavaliers increased the lead to 21-0 midway through the second period on a 1-yard carry by tailback Kevin Brooks.
At least two other scoring opportunities were muffed in the first half.
Patrick Jeffers, normally the team's most dependable receiver, was wide open at the Deacons' 30 when he dropped a perfectly thrown pass. Tailback Tiki Barber was stripped of the ball after making a catch on the Deacons' 2.
Defensive back Joe Crocker also had open lanes between him and the end zone when he dropped a potential interception.
The missed opportunities loomed larger in the second half as the Deacons scored a pair of touchdowns to cut Virginia's lead to 21-14 with 13:34 remaining in the game.
The Deacons' first score was a 15-yard pass play from Rusty LaRue to running back Herman Lewis.
Their second touchdown, a 5-yard run by Lewis, was the result of snap that sailed over Virginia punter Will Brice's head and was recovered by Wake Forest on the Cavaliers' 9.
Suddenly, though, U.Va. snapped out of its funk and put the homecoming crowd at ease with a pair of touchdowns in under two minutes.
Norfolk senior Pete Allen scored on 49-yard reverse at 13:08 and Tiki Barber followed a big play by defensive tackle Duane Ashman with a 5-yard touchdown run at 11:28.
The quick, burly Ashman crashed into the Deacons' backfield, causing Lewis to let the pitched ball bounce off him and fall to the ground.
Ashman retrieved the ball and dashed to the end zone, but was called back when officials ruled the misplay a muff instead of a fumble.
A muff is when a player loses the ball without ever having control of it.
Ashman said defensive coordinator Rick Lantz called a blitz, and his assignment was the tailback.
``I think I frightened him, and he just missed the pitch,'' Ashman said. ``We needed a big play at that point, and I felt I had to take over.''
Similarly, Allen described his flashy run down the left sidelines as ``another chance I had to help the team.''
``The momentum had shifted a little in the second half and I was looking to make a big play to get us back together,'' Allen said.
Groh had set up the reverse by pitching out to Barber on the right side five earlier plays. This time, he faked the pitch and gave it to the fleet-footed Allen.
``I knew the left sidelines were going to be there for Petey,'' Barber said.
Groh said the back-to-back touchdowns took some fire out of the determined Deacons.
``There never was any doubt in my mind that we weren't going to win but I think those two quick touchdowns took some air out of them,'' Groh said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Virginia defenders Percy Ellsworth, bottom, and Ronde Barber break
up an end zone pass to Wake Forest's Desmond Clark.
by CNB