Virginia has lost to Duke two years in a row. It’s fright-night in Charlottesville as the birds of prey, and the Grim Reaper are both circling Coach Al Groh’s house in Hooville. www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/gamecenter/recap/NCAAF_20091031_DUKE@VA
The hapless Hoos gave up 19 fourth quarter points to perennial cellar dweller Duke University here in front of the smallest crowd (41,713 announced, but it really was more like 30,000) in the modern era of Virginia football. Thaddeus Lewis continued his red-hot season, as he finished 24-40 for 343 (1 TD, 1 Int.) He completed passes to 7 different Blue Devils, and Duke’s excellent kicker Will Snyderwine booted 5 field-goals, as Duke beat UVA for the second time in a row. I have to wonder what Lewis’s career might have been like if he had attended Florida State, or Miami, as he is the best damn quarterback in the ACC.
Virginia played a horrific game on offense, as Sewell and Verica both split time time at the quarterback position. Sewell finished the game 8-22 for 86 yards with a touchdown and an interception thrown. Verica, who came in for Sewell because he got his bell wrung, wound-up 5-16 for a pitiful 21 yards, and no TD’s. Rashawn Jackson rushed 16 times for 84 yards, and Mikell Simpson carried the ball 5 times for 21 yards. Joe Torchia caught his first career touchdown, and was Virginia’s leading receiver with 3 receptions for 44 yards. Torchia, and Jackson were really the only bright-spots offensively for the now 3-5 terrifyingly terrible Wahoos.
Defensively, Nate Collins continued his amazing season up-front for the Hoos. Collins, who is really making a name for himself with NFL scouts, finished with 10 tackles and two tough sacks on Thaddeus Lewis.
Virginia goes back on the road next week to Miami. “Serenity now, serenity now”, as Frank Costanza would say… Go Hoos. Mike London, “Please pick up the orange and blue courtesy phone!”