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Virginia vs. Maryland
Oct. 4, 2008
Virginia Player Quotes
Virginia sophomore CB Ras-I Dowling
On defense recording a shutout victory versus Maryland:
“It feels good. It feels good to get a shutout win versus anybody.”
On recording an interception:
“There wasn’t necessarily any key; they just threw the ball and I made a play on it.”
On the defensive game plan going into today’s game:
“We executed our game plan pretty well. We stopped the run and the pass and made big plays. Maryland is a big play team and we stopped that today.”
On Maryland quarterback Chris Turner:
“He’s a good quarterback, but we played really well against him.”
Virginia senior LB Clint Sintim
On the overall defensive effort:
“It was really a great performance. A lot of guys put a lot into it. After last week we were demoralized by our performance and we came out this week and had a better effort; a lot of guys made plays and stepped up. We put a zero up on the board and that’s big.”
On pressuring Maryland quarterback Chris Turner:
“I had a lot of pressures; I guess you could say my mentor (Chris Long) was really helping me out. I was able to get free and a lot of guys helped me out. I was able to get the single block and get free on a couple of quarterback pressures.”
On Vic Hall’s fumble recovery:
“I was actually in the backfield but I turned around and saw it on the Jumbotron. Vic (Hall) is just one of those guys; he is a heads up player who is always there. He does exactly what the coaches teach him to do and was able to make a big play. That does not surprise any of us, that’s just the type of player that Vic is.
On defeating a heavily favored Maryland team:
“They’re a great team and they have showed that in the last two games they played. We weren’t the favored team but we came out here and performed. Whenever these teams play, you can assume the record is 0-0. We came out here and performed really well.”
Virginia junior WR Kevin Ogletree
On the overall offensive performance:
“I think it was a great overall performance. There was great blocking up front, Marc (Verica) played a heck of a game and some playmakers were called on to make some plays, so that’s what we did. That was what we intended to do throughout the week, that’s what we knew it would take to get the win, so that’s what we tried to focus on and we came out and executed.”
On the job done by the offensive line:
“We were moving the ball downfield and we had a lot of first downs, which was key. It was good to see that some of the older guys like Eugene (Monroe) and Will (Barker) work with some of the younger guys like Austin (Pasztor). I think it was his first or second game so it was good to see him mature and come into his own.”
On being able to bounce back after last week’s loss:
“It feels great. It’s an ACC win; with Maryland it’s a historic rivalry so we’re really happy and excited.”
Virginia senior OT Eugene Monroe
On the improvement of the offensive line this week from last week:
“This whole past week we have focused on getting targeted on the right defenders because we weren’t doing a great job of doing that. Tonight we did a better job and obviously had big help from the run game, which was a great thing. I’m just excited that tonight we got this win.”
On the performance of running backs Cedric Peerman and Mikell Simpson:
“They are going to find the holes and different find different opportunities. They make us look good by look good by targeting the holes and accelerating off of the end. If we can run the ball, we take pressure off of the quarterback and that also opens up the guard game. We just did a better job all around; we played better tonight than we have before.”
On being able to bounce back after last week’s loss:
“It’s big. It’s not just that it’s an ACC team but it’s Marylandthey are one of our biggest rivals. We wait for this game every year, all year and we are ecstatic that we got this win.”
Virginia sophomore quarterback Marc Verica
On offensive identity:
“We have struggled to find our offensive identity up to this point, but tonight everything seemed to click. We ran the ball well, we pass protected, we run blocked and did a great job of executing on offense.”
On bouncing back from last week:
“I approached this game as an opportunity to bounce back. After last week’s performance, I had to find a way to regain my confidence and thankfully we got it done tonight.”
On taking an early shot downfield:
“It was very important for us to be able to open things up a little bit. Kevin (Ogletree) did a great job to get downfield and haul in the ball. His second effort was crucial as the team really fed off getting in the end zone early.”
On going from scout team to starter:
“It’s a surreal feeling to go from fourth string to starter in just a year. I can’t give enough praise to my coaches and my teammates who have helped me get where I am. The feeling is indescribable.”
On the running game:
“We planned to run the ball a good amount tonight, and thanks to the play of the backs and offensive line, we were incredibly successful. We prepared hard, practiced hard, and tonight were able to execute on the ground.”
On pocket presence:
“A lot of that is coach Mike (Groh) helping me in practice. We do a lot of drills where I work on moving and sliding in the pocket. We focus on keeping my eyes downfield while making people miss. That preparation really let me feel comfortable back there tonight.”
On decision making and the game plan:
“A big focus was to take what the defense was giving you. If you have to come underneath to the backs or tight ends, take it. We focused on not forcing things and just taking what was available. Once we were able to do that and run the ball successfully, it opened up some opportunities downfield and we were able to take advantage and make some plays.”
Virginia senior tailback Cedric Peerman
On the running game:
“It was something we focused on this week. We had a great game plan and those guys up front did a great job executing. The receivers hit their block downfield, and I was able to find some creases.”
On his physical condition:
“I felt really good. I have healed over the last couple of weeks. Not playing last week was a great decision, as it allowed me to come out tonight feeling fresh. I feel as close to 100 percent as I have in a while.”
On quarterback Marc Verica:
“We have all always had faith in Marc. We knew he had a great arm as a scout team guy when he first got here. He seemed to put it all together tonight as he showed impeccable decision making, incredible poise, and led the team to a big win.”
On the game plan:
“We called what we practiced, and everything really seemed to work tonight. We have to keep building on what we have done to this point. This win tonight has no impact on what happens to us next week so we have to stay focused.”
On being injury status:
“I’m back, I’m ready to go, and I’m excited about the direction we’re headed as a team right now.”