Scott German: Cavs shed Duke woes

Saturday’s Atlantic Coast Conference football contest between Virginia and Duke could certainly not be billed as a November Clash of the Titans.

Virginia’s win last Saturday at Maryland was their first win in November since the 2007 campaign while Duke has won only twice during this 11th month since 2004.

For Virginia the incentive was even larger as they brought to Scott Stadium a three-game losing streak against the Blue Devils. Sparked by a strong second-half effort, the Cavaliers’ losing streak was snapped with a 31-21 win over Duke before a crowd of 45,733.

With the score still deadlocked at 21-all, Virginia took the lead for good on a 1-yard run by junior running back Perry Jones. Jones hit paydirt as he soared over the Cavaliers’ massive offensive line breaking the plane in mid-air for the score. Virginia posted another strong offensive effort, tallying 356 total yards evenly balanced between the air and ground. Jones and redshirt freshman running back Kevin Parks combined for 164 rushing yards while fullback max Millen added 62 yards receiving.  Through the air, quarterback Michael Rocco was 15-of-29 for two scores.

Virginia  (7-3, 4-2 ACC) has now won three straight and four of five. The Cavaliers are firmly in the hunt for the ACC’s Coastal Division title, trailing first-place Virginia Tech by one game. Virginia concludes the regular season with games at Florida State and back home in Scott Stadium with the Hokies.

After taking the lead early in the third quarter, Virginia watched as Duke mounted a game-tying seven-play, 60-yard scoring drive. Blue Devil quarterback  Sean Renfree on a third-and-four play connected with receiver Conner Vernon for 51 yards taking the ball to the Virginia 1. Four plays later Duke would score when on fourth down Juwan Thompson ran outside to the end zone. It would turn out to be the final points of the game for the the Blue Devils.

Virginia leading by seven at 28-21 late in the third quarter went on a 62-yard scoring drive that would ultimately provide the winning margin. The drive closed on a 29-yard field goal by Robert Randolph.

In Saturday’s win the Cavaliers were  guilty of some serious mental lapses. But unlike the 2010 version of Virginia football when one miscue seemed to steamroll into a comedy of errors this years squad proved resilient especially with some stout defense efforts. The first quarter provided Virginia an opportunity to display that resiliency when true freshman punt returner Dominique Terrell let a punt bounce off his leg leading to a Duke recovery at the Virginia 26-yard line. The defense rose to the occasion, forcing a Blue Devil field goal attempt when Matt Conrath blocked his third field goal of the season to keep the Devils off the scoreboard.

Virginia used a defensive score to break the halftime tie. Chase Minnifield  read a play-action pass perfectly  and stepped in front of the Duke intended receiver for the pick six. it was Minnifield’s 13th career interception. Duke threatened several times in the fourth quarter but crossed midfield just once against a rapidly improving Virginia defense.

The Cavaliers will head to the Sunshine State next Saturday looking for their second consecutive Florida win.

Story by Scott German