Would it be possible for Virginia to erase memories of an ugly 26-14 loss to in state foe William & Mary just two years ago? Would a leader emerge from a duo of quarterback possibilities? How would the Cavalier’s stable of young and raw talent grade out when afforded the opportunity to play for real? And could venerable Scott Stadium once again provide a significant home field advantage?
The answer to these questions and concerns played out Saturday evening in the sweat box that was Scott Stadium as Virginia totally dominated the Tribe of William & Mary 40-3 in the season opener for both teams.
Freshman tailback Kevin Parks and sophomore quarterback Michael Rocco led a Cavalier youth movement on offense while the Virginia defense had more than enough correct answers as well, against a W&M team expected to be a serious contender for the Football Championship Subdivision national Championship this season. Tonight the Wahoo defense showed little if no resemblances to a unit that just last season was often undisciplined and even more often a step slower than its opponent.
Parks rushed for 114 yards and scored three times while Rocco executed the Cavalier offense precisely, doing what was asked which was more than enough to lead the Cavalier to the win. Rocco who emerge as the starter in a three man preseason race completed his first eleven pass attempts. Backup quarterback David Watford a true freshmen from Hampton also playing time early in the contest and lead his team to a touchdown scoring drive.
Thirteen Cavaliers made their college debuts in the first half Saturday, among the Parks, who ground his way to 78 yards before intermission. With less than eight minutes remaining in the second quarter, parks took a Rocco handoff stepped to his left and on a thin dime dashed to his right sprinting 19 yards for a score. Later in the third Parks rushed for a 26-yard touchdown. Parks may be the heir apparent to replace the busing running of Keith Payne from a year ago. In fact Parks equaled Payne’s feat of scoring three times in last years season opening win over Richmond, despite a significantly smaller body frame than Payne.
William & Mary struggled mightily on offense the entire game, not crossing midfield to last offensive play of the first half. Last season, opposing offenses literally ran through the Virginia defense, amassing slightly more than 200 yards rushing alone. Virginia held Tribe tailback Jonathan Grimes-a preseason all-American to just 20 yards on six carries in the opening half of action. In the third quarter the cavalier defense continued to shine as another newcomer Demetrious Nicholson recorded his first career interception and returned the ball 31 yards to the W&M 13-yard line. For a moment Scott Stadium again roared. Could it actually be that this infusion of young players, many of whom hail from within the borders of the Commonwealth be restoring the commitment to excellence ? At least for that moment the Virginia football team had again given Scott Stadium it’s swagger back.
Virginia Head Coach Mike London commented on the play of his newcomers, starting with Parks. ‘He did tonight what he has been showing us in practice for the last month. Kevin can run by you and over you.” Their is no doubt he has gotten stronger since last season and he gives us a great deal of options in the backfield,” praised London. On the play of sophomore signal-caller Rocco, London said he did exactly what was asked of him. ” He made some good decisions and I think he got stronger and more confident as the game went on. In the first half his third down efficiency was little lower than what we wanted but it improved in the second half,” noted London. Rocco was 14 of 18 in the first half totaling 98 yards.
Virginia heads to Big-10 country next Saturday with a non-conference tilt against Indiana University with kickoff slated for 7 p.m.
Cavalier Notes of Interest
Virginia was 5-5 inside the red zone tonight . ( 3 touchdowns, 2 field goals)
Demetrius Nicholson was the first true freshmen to start for Virginia since 2005
22 Cavalier players made their first ever college appearances
Rocco completed his first 11 pass attempts
Announced crowd of just under 52,000
Scott German covers UVa. football for AugustaFreePress.com.
Share
