Virginia Returns Home Saturday Night to Face Maryland

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Virginia (1-3, 0-1 ACC) vs. Maryland (4-1, 1-0 ACC)
Game 5 Saturday, Oct. 4 7 p.m.

Carl Smith Center, Home of David A. Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium (61,500)
Charlottesville, Va.

Surface: Prescription Athletic Turf
Series vs. Maryland: Maryland leads 41-29-2
Last Meeting: 2007 (UVa 18, Maryland 17)
Television: ESPNU
Radio: Virginia Sports Network
Satellite Radio: XM Radio Ch. TBA
School Websites: VirginiaSports.com, UMTerps.com

TV Coverage
ESPNU is televising the game.
Doug Bell (play-by-play) and Charles Arbuckle (analyst) have the call.

Radio Coverage
All Virginia games are broadcast on the Virginia Sports Network, originating at WINA/WWWV in Charlottesville.
Dave Koehn (play-by-play), Frank Quayle (analyst) and Tim Sherman (sidelines) have the call.

Cavaliers Open ACC Home Slate
Virginia is 26-28 all-time in ACC home openers, including a 24-13 defeat of Duke last season.
The Cavaliers have won 19 of their last 21 ACC home openers, with the lone losses coming in 2000 (Clemson) and 2006 (Maryland).
UVa has won six of seven ACC home openers under Al Groh, with the only loss coming in 06 to Maryland (28-26).

Hoos’ Night Streak At Home On The Line
Virginia has won five straight home night games (games starting after 6 p.m.), dating back to a 19-14 loss to then-No. 7 Florida State on Oct. 18, 2003.

Scott Stadium Night Games Since 2004

Things You Need To Know
The Cavaliers have won six of their seven home ACC openers under head coach Al Groh.
Virginia has captured 12 of the last 16 meetings with Maryland, but the Terrapins hold a 41-29-2 overall series edge.
Virginia has won seven of its last eight home games against Maryland dating to 1992. All but one of the wins were determined by double figures.
Clint Sintim leads the ACC in sacks this season and also is the national leader in sacks among linebackers.
Virginia has had 15 players make their first career starts this season after NT Nick Jenkins and S Corey Mosley earned their first starts last week vs. Duke.

Maryland-Virginia Series
Maryland owns a 41-29-2 record in the series and holds a 21-18 record in Charlottesville. The Terrapins own a 20-11-2 edge in College Park.
Maryland rallied from a 20-0 halftime deficit to win 28-26 in Charlottesville in 2006, its last visit to Charlottesville.
The Cavaliers and Terps have played every season since 1957, the second-longest current streak for a Virginia opponent behind North Carolina (1910).
Virginia and Maryland have met 72 times on the gridiron, making the Terps the fourth-most played opponent in UVa history (Virginia has faced North Carolina a record 112 times).

Coaching Ties to Maryland
UVa defensive line coach Levern Belin was the defensive line coach on Ron Vanderlinden’s staff at Maryland from 1999-2000.
While coaching at Wake Forest, UVa head coach Al Groh led the Demon Deacons to a 27-21 win over the Terps in College Park in 1986. Groh went 1-5 vs. Maryland while at Wake.

First Quarter Drought vs. Maryland
Virginia used big first quarters to win in 1999 (17 points) and 2000 (21 points), but since then the Cavaliers have scored just 13 first-quarter points10 in 2006 and three last year.
Overall, Virginia has scored just 69 points combined in the first quarter of the last 16 meetings vs. the Terps.
Virginia has scored 13 points in the opening quarter this year (3.25 avg.)

UVa Ground Game Key to Victory
When the Cavaliers are able to run the ball, they increase their chances to win against Maryland.
Virginia rushed for 191 yards last season in its win in College Park.
In 2005, the Cavaliers rushed for 295 yards, their fourth-highest total ever against Maryland, to gain a 16-0 win.
In the 2006 loss to Maryland, UVa rushed for 181 yards, ending a streak of 10 consecutive series wins with at least 150 yards.
Overall UVa is 21-8 since 1937 when gaining at least 150 rushing yards.
In contrast, when Virginia is unable to run the ball, Maryland typically comes out on top.
Virginia has lost 15 consecutive games to Maryland when rushing for fewer than 100 yards, dating back to 1957.
Since 1957 UVa has averaged 214.5 yards rushing in wins over the Terps and 119.8 yards in losses.
Since 1937 the team with the most rushing yards is 54-5 and won all 38 meetings from 1937-86. The only years the loser had more occurred in 1987, 1990, 1998, 1999 and 2006.

Virginia Defense Tough vs. Terps
Another factor that has enabled the Cavaliers to win 12 of the last 16 meetings against Maryland is an ability to hold the Terrapin offense in check.
Virginia has held Maryland under 380 yards of offense 15 times since 1988 and won 13 of those games.
During UVa’s nine-game winning streak (1992-2000), the Cavaliers allowed an average of 113.8 yards on the ground and 183.4 through the air to the Terps.
Overall, Maryland has topped 200 yards rushing only four times since 1987 (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005). The Terps also have thrown 23 interceptions and allowed 33 quarterback sacks vs. UVa since 1992.

UM-UVA Fourth-Quarter Theatrics
Each of the last three games between the teams has been decided by a fourth-quarter rally.
Last season, Virginia scored the winning TD with 16 seconds remaining to claim an 18-17 win.
In 2006, Maryland rallied from a 20-0 halftime deficit and earned a 28-26 win in Scott Stadium.
In 2005, the Terrapins trailed 26-24 entering the fourth quarter, then scored three touchdowns in a 45-33 win.

Last Five Meetings
2007 – Virginia 18, @ Maryland 17
2006 – Maryland 28, @ Virginia 26
2005 – @ Maryland 45, Virginia 33
2004 – @ Virginia 16, Maryland 0
2003 – @ Maryland 27, Virginia 17

2007: Virginia 18, Maryland 17
Reserve running back Mikell Simpson capped an amazing all-around performance by scoring the winning touchdown with 16 seconds left as Virginia beat Maryland 18-17 in College Park.
Simpson scored on a 1-yard plunge to finish a frantic 90-yard drive that consumed more than seven minutes. Simpson touched the on each of the last 14 plays during the final 15-play drive.
Simpson ran 16 times for 119 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 152 yards. Simpson, listed third on the depth chart, had only two carries and four catches before the game.
The Terrapins had not lost to Virginia at home since 1999.

Virginia Averages Fewest Penalty Yards Per Game Since 01
Virginia has been the ACC’s least-penalized team during Al Groh’s eight years as head coach.
UVa has averaged just 45.3 penalty yards per game since 2001, although it is averaging 54 penalty yards through the first four games this year.
Since 2001, Maryland is third in the ACC with 49 penalty yards per game.

Eight Hoos Hail From Maryland
Eight Cavaliers grew up in the state of Maryland:
TB Raynard Horne (Baltimore/Overlea)
NT Nick Jenkins (Westminster/Good Counsel)
LB Cam Johnson (Greenbelt/Gonzaga)
QB Brendan Lane (Annapolis/Severn)
S Matt Leemhuis (Bethesda/Winston Churchill)
DB Rodney McLeod (Oxon Hill/DeMatha)
TE Colter Phillips (Darnestown/Georgetown Prep)
DB Devin Wallace (Fort Washington/Friendly)

Freshman Foursome Cracks Lineup
DB Rodney McLeod played on the opening kickoff last week vs. Duke to become the fourth true freshman to play for Virginia in 2008. McLeod also played several plays from scrimmage.
He is joined by P Jimmy Howell, OL Austin Pasztor and LB Cam Johnson.
Johnson made his debut vs. Connecticut, while Howell and Pasztor each saw action in the season opener vs. Southern California.

Jenkins, Mosley Become Latest To Earn First Career Starts
Fifteen Cavaliers have made the first start of their careers this season seven on offense and eight on defense.
NT Nick Jenkins and S Corey Mosley were the latest, making their first career start Saturday at Duke.

More First-Timers
19 Cavaliers have seen their first career action in the first four games this season.
14 made their first appearances vs. USC and six have followed suit in the last three games.
On Offense: T Landon Bradley, WR Kris Burd, TE Andrew Devlin, WR Jared Green, C Anthony Mihota, G Austin Pasztor, QB Marc Verica.
On Defense: DE Nick Conrath, DL John-Kevin Dolce, LB Terence Fells-Danzer, NT Nick Jenkins, LB Cam Johnson, CB Dom Joseph, DB Rodney McLeod, CB Chase Minnifield, S Corey Mosley, DE Zane Parr.
On Special Teams: P Jimmy Howell, PK Yannick Reyering.

Cavaliers Second Youngest Team in ACC
Virginia has 72 freshmen or sophomores on its roster. The Cavaliers and Virginia Tech rank second to Georgia Tech for the youngest team in the ACC.
Georgia Tech has 75 players that are either freshmen or sophomores.
North Carolina (68), Duke (66) and Boston College (64) rank fourth through sixth, respectively.

Three Compete as Grad Students
Three Cavaliers have already received their undergraduate degrees and will participate as graduate students this season.
The list of grad students and their undergraduate degrees includes: QB Scott Deke (economics), S Byron Glaspy (economics) and TB Cedric Peerman (sociology).
UVa has had 107 players play as grad students in the past 19 seasons.

Jackson Gives Run Game a Boost
Rashawn Jackson rushed for 43 yards, including a 22-yarder, on eight carries Saturday at Duke (5.4 avg./rush).
It was the second-most rushing yards for a UVa back this season (Peerman, 60 vs. Richmond).
He stepped into a key rushing role in place of the injured Cedric Peerman.

Ogletree Continues Streak of Multiple Receptions
Kevin Ogletree had three receptions for 36 yards at Duke and now has at least two receptions in 15 straight games, dating to the start of 2006.
He leads the team with 22 receptions for 218 yards (54.5 yards per game).

Cavalier Wide Receivers Emerge
Virginia wide receivers have combined for 503 yards receiving through three games more than half of the wide receiver total from all of 2007.
UVa wide receivers had 833 receiving yards in 13 games last season.
UVa WRs have 50 receptions this year after catching 72 balls all of last year.

Verica Moves Into Starting Slot
Virginia quarterback Marc Verica made the first start of his career Sept. 13 at Connecticut. He completed 22 of 30 passes for 158 yards and one interception.
His 22 completions were third most in school history in a first start. Mike Groh holds the record with 26 completions in his first start against Navy in 1994 and Aaron Brooks is second with 25 completions against Auburn in 1997.
Verica’s 158 yards passing were the most by a UVa QB in a first start since David Rivers threw for 228 yards against Georgia Tech in 1999 in the only start of his UVa career.

Monroe, Sintim On Kiper’s Big Board
Senior T Eugene Monroe currently is No. 1 on ESPN’s Mel Kiper’s 2009 Big Board for NFL Draft prospects. Senior LB Clint Sintim is slotted No. 20.
Monroe also has been named to the Outland and Lombardi trophy watch lists, while Sintim is on the Nagurski Award watch list.
Monroe started 11 games at left tackle last season and did not allow a sack all season.
Monroe received honorable mention All-ACC recognition last season and joined Sintim on several preseason All-ACC squads this year.

Sintim Leads Linebackers in Sacks Nationally
With a career-high tying three sacks at Duke, Clint Sintim now has 21 career sacks and four this season to lead linebackers nationally.
His 21 career sacks are the most for any current linebacker in the country (no LB has more than 14).
It also is tied for eighth for all players nationally and ranks eighth in UVa history with Sean Scott (1984-87).
He has the second-most sacks ever by a UVa linebacker (Darryl Blackstock leads with 27).
Sintim also leads the ACC in sacks this season.

Dowling Returns to Lineup With a Bang
Sophomore CB Ras-I Dowling had a career-best two interceptions Saturday at Duke to double his career INT total.
He made his first start of 2008 and added a career-high eight tackles.
Dowling had been hampered by an injury early this season and did not play in the opener vs. Southern California.
He saw limited action vs. Richmond, then had three tackles at Connecticut.
Dowling is the first Cavalier to intercept two passes in a game since Marcus Hamilton picked off two passes at Duke in 2006.

Tackles Adding Up for Copper
ILB Jon Copper tied a career high with 12 tackles last Saturday at Duke.
Since the start of 2006, Copper has recorded six or more tackles in 26 of his 29 games.
He is attempting to become the first player to lead the team in tackling three straight years since Charles McDaniel from 1982-85.
Copper has gotten off to a good start with a team-high 34 tackles (18 solo), including three games of nine or more.
He made a career-high 109 tackles last season to rank seventh in the ACC with 8.4 stops per game.
He also shared the team lead with two interceptions a year ago, the first LB to lead the team since Scott Lageman in 1985.