Story Links
April 14, 2007
Spring Game Photo Gallery FB Captains/Spring Award Winners Announced
Charlottesville, VA – Playing in a light rain, Virginia’s Blue team defeated the White squad 7-0 Saturday afternoon at Scott Stadium during the Cavaliers annual Spring Football Game. Without the services of several starting offensive players, the UVa defense dominated play on both sides of the ball.
The only score in the contest came when Scott Deke hit Simon Manka for a 24-yard touchdown pass with 7:22 remaining in the second quarter. The game format included 12-minute quarters and a running clock for portions of the contest that did not include any kick returns.
Deke finished the game with 12 completions on 22 attempts for 129 yards. Maurice Covington and Joe Torchia both caught four of his passes. Manka’s catch was his only one of the contest. The Blue team benefited by the running of redshirt freshmen tailbacks Keith Payne and Raynard Horne. They combined for 68 yards on 20 carries. Horne led all rushers with 39 yards on 12 carries while Payne added 29 on eight attempts.
Marc Verica quarterbacked the White squad and completed nine of 21 throws for 94 yards. Cedric Peerman was that team’s top rusher with 37 yards on five attempts.
“I would have been just as happy for a 0-0 tie because that means the defense is getting it done,” said Virginia standout defensive end Chris Long, who played in just two series. “Our team won, but it is not so much about each team because we are all teammates. It is about individual improvement and guys showing what they learned all spring, which I think a lot of guys showed that.”
The game was the final of Virginia’s 15 practice sessions in the spring. The Cavaliers return 19 starters from last year’s 5-7 team, including nine on offense and 10 on defense.
“We separated the continuity of the units a little bit to create certain match-ups that we did not get to see a lot of in the spring that we wanted to take a look at,” said Cavalier coach Al Groh. “It is really not an event where I would try to form any evaluation of the scheme or the team.
“It is a chance to see how different individuals might react to whatever circumstances might come up, particularly some younger players who have not been out there. We try to find out who might be ready for prime time and who might not. My impressions are based more on the individual than the overall operation out there.”
Both Deke and Verica shared the quarterback spotlight since starter Jameel Sewell did not play in the Spring Game. Sewell had wrist surgery on his left throwing hand in December and returned for spring practice, but did not participate in full-contact drills.
Kevin Ogletree, Virginia’s top receiver in 2006 with 52 receptions for 582 yards, did not play after suffering a knee injury early in the spring. Junior linebacker Clint Sintim was also held out of the game due to off-season shoulder surgery. Senior tight end was held out of the game after a mid-week arm injury.
“Whenever you throw a touchdown pass, it is exciting,” Deke said afterward. “You feel you have done a good job and led the team down, but there is always room to improve. It is just spring now and September is when the real games start to count. There is always room to better yourself, but I am satisfied with how I played today, and hopefully I can continue to better myself day after day.”
The game marked the first time a number of redshirt freshmen competed in Scott Stadium for the first time, but it was a pair of veteran linebackers who topped the Blue team’s defensive effort.
Junior linebacker Antonio Appleby led all players with eight tackles while senior linebacker Jermaine Dias had seven stops. They helped to hold the White team to just 63 rushing yards on 26 attempts. Sophomore cornerback Vic Hall added the game’s top defensive play when he intercepted one of Verica’s passes.
“I really love the way Vic Hall practices every day,” Long said after the game. “If we had 15 Vic Halls, we could be national champions”
Named one of the team captains for the second straight season, Long was very impressed by the efforts of the Cavaliers this spring.
“It was a good spring for our team,” Long said. “I’ve been here for three springs now and I think this is the best one, and I can honestly say that. The fact that a lot of players have improved individually, when you do that the team gets better.”