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Virginia (2-3, 1-1 ACC) vs. East Carolina (3-2, 1-1 C-USA)
Game 6 Saturday, Oct. 11 Noon
Carl Smith Center, Home of David A. Harrison III Field
at Scott Stadium (61,500) Charlottesville, Va.
Surface: Prescription Athletic Turf
Series vs. ECU: East Carolina leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: 2006 (ECU 31, Virginia 21)
Television: Raycom
Radio: Virginia Sports Network
Satellite Radio: XM Radio Ch. TBA
School Websites: VirginiaSports.com, ECUPirates.com
TV Coverage
The Raycom/ACC Network is televising the game.
Steve Martin (play-by-play), Rick Walker (analyst) and Mike Hogewood (sidelines) 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.
The Series vs. the Pirates
Virginia meets East Carolina for just the third time this week. ECU has won both of the previous meetings.
Two years ago, Virginia suffered a 31-21 defeat in its first-ever visit to Greenville.
The only other meeting was in 1975, a 61-10 Pirate victory in Charlottesville.
Offense Comes Alive
After struggling in its first four games, Virginia’s offense had a breakout game Saturday vs. Maryland. UVa set season highs in several categories:
Points, 31
Total Offense, 427
Rushing Yards, 201
Passing Yards, 226
First Downs, 26
Time of Possession, 35:06
Virginia also took care of the ball and did not turn it over for the first time since the game at Maryland last year (Oct. 20).
Things You Need To Know
East Carolina and Virginia have met just twice previously the Pirates won both times.
Against Maryland, UVa bested its previous high for total offense by 123 yards (Duke, 304) and posted its highest offensive total since the 2007 Maryland game (439).
Ras-I Dowling has three interceptions in the last two games. He already has more interceptions than any UVa player had in 2007.
Clint Sintim leads the ACC in sacks this season and also is the national leader in sacks among linebackers.
Virginia has had 16 players make their first career start this season while 20 have made their first college appearance.
More on the UVa-ECU Series
In the 1975 contest, Sonny Randle returned to Charlottesville to take over the UVa program following a three-year run at East Carolina where he led the Pirates to a 22-10 record and two Southern Conference titles.
ECU held a 6-3 lead heading into the second quarter, but they then erupted for 55 unanswered points.
The Pirates rushed for 633 yards, scored nine touchdowns on the ground and rolled up 36 first downs (all ECU records and UVa opponent records). ECU’s 690 yards of total offense are the second-most ever allowed by Virginia.
2006: East Carolina 31, Virginia 21
Brandon Fractious had 102 yards and one of East Carolina’s four rushing touchdowns to lead the Pirates past Virginia in 2006 in Greenville, N.C.
Brandon Simmons and James Pinkney also ran for scores for the Pirates. East Carolina finished with 432 total yards despite playing without starting wide receiver Aundrae Allison and running back Chris Johnson. The Pirates also got a 2-yard rushing score from punter Ryan Dougherty on a fake field goal with 2:17 left to seal the win.
Jason Snelling ran for 103 yards and a touchdown for the Cavaliers.
Pinkney ran for 42 yards and threw for 224.
ECU-UVa: Two Years Later
Several key players in the 2008 ECU-UVa matchup also were factors in the 2006 contest in Greenville:
For Virginia:
Cedric Peerman: three rushes, 26 yards
Kevin Ogletree: three catches, 13 yards
Jon Copper: eight tackles
Antonio Appleby: seven tackles
Byron Glaspy: five tackles
Clint Sintim: four tackles
For East Carolina:
Quentin Cotton: team-high six tackles
Van Eskridge: five tackles, sack
Pierre Bell: five tackles
Scott Robinson: three tackles, sack
Brandon Simmons: 17 rush, 57 yards, TD
Virginia vs. Conference USA
This is just the second time Virginia has played a game against a Conference USA opponent. The only other time was two years ago at East Carolina.
Of the 12 current members of C-USA, the Cavaliers have only played two (East Carolina, Tulane) and, except for the 2006 ECU game, that was long before they became league members. In games against these two schools, Virginia is 2-5 overall.
C-USA currently consists of East Carolina, Houston, Marshall, Memphis, Rice, SMU, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, UCF and UTEP.
Of former C-USA members, Virginia played three (Army, Louisville, TCU) but they were not conference members at game time.
Virginia has now played at least one game against a school from every Division I-A conference except the Sun Belt at some point in program history.
Freshman Foursome Cracks Lineup
DB Rodney McLeod played on the opening kickoff against vs. Duke to become the fourth true freshman to see action 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.
Pasztor First Since 2005 to Start on O-Line as True Freshman
True freshman Austin Pasztor made his first career start Saturday at Maryland.
He became the first true freshman to start on the Cavaliers’ offensive line since Branden Albert in 2005.
Pasztor Also Becomes Latest First-Time Starter
With Pasztor making his first start, 16 Cavaliers now have made the first start of their careers this season.
There have been plenty on each side of the ball, with eight first-timers on offense and eight on defense.
More on the First-Timers
20 Cavaliers have seen their first career action in the first five games this season after Curt Orshoski saw time on the kickoff team last Saturday.
14 made their first appearances vs. USC and six have followed suit in the last four games.
On Offense: T Landon Bradley, WR Kris Burd, TE Andrew Devlin, WR Jared Green, C Anthony Mihota, G Austin Pasztor, QB Marc Verica, FB Curt Orshoski.
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.
Hold Opponents to Fewer than 100 Yards Rushing and Win
Since 2004, Virginia has held 21 opponents to 100 rushing yards or fewer, including Richmond, Duke and Maryland this season.
Virginia is 18-3 in those games. The lone losses were to NC State and Texas Tech last season and Duke two weeks ago.
Four Hoos Hail from North Carolina
Virginia has four players who hail from North Carolina, including two Durham natives, S Brandon Woods and WR Maurice Covington, who each went to Southern Durham High School.
Chris Hinkebein (Providence) and Rico Bell (Vance) each are from Charlotte.
Big Win over Maryland
The win was UVa’s most lopsided in the series since a 48-13 Cavalier win in Scott Stadium in 2002.
It marked the first time Maryland has been shut out by UVa since a 16-0 loss in 2004.
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.
More on the Youth Movement
Virginia has just 16 seniors on its roster.
That total is among the fewest in the country only 17 programs have fewer seniors on their rosters.
Central Michigan and Toledo each have just 10 seniors on their rosters.
UVa Has Played Most Games of Any ACC School
Virginia has played more football games than any other Atlantic Coast Conference school.
The Cavaliers have played 1,185 games in this, the 119th season of UVa football.
During that time, Virginia has compiled a 610-527-48 record, a winning percentage of .535.
North Carolina ranks next among ACC schools with 1,164 games played in 118 seasons. UVa is ranked sixth among all NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams in games played and 13th overall among all Division I teams.
Penn (1,285) has played the most games overall.
Tough Slate Out of Conference
UVa’s first three opponents (USC, Richmond, UConn) are a combined 12-4 this year after earning 31 victories a year ago.
USC is currently ranked No. 8 nationally and UConn is receiving votes, while Richmond was the FCS No. 1 squad prior to its upset loss to Villanova two weeks ago.
East Carolina, UVa’s opponent this week, was nationally ranked after wins over Virginia Tech and West Virginia but dropped out of the polls last week.
Overall Schedule Also Strong
Of Virginia remaining seven opponents, only one (Miami, 2-3) has a losing record.
UVa’s opponents combined to go 91-64 (.587) last year.
UVa’s opponents’ 2007 winning percentage ranks 19th nationally.
Eight of the 12 opponents had .500-plus records and played in bowls in 2007.
UVa’s schedule was ranked 10th toughest in the country recently by ESPN.com.
Peerman Bursts Back Onto Scene
After being limited in the first four games by an injury, Cedric Peerman had a big game vs. Maryland.
Peerman notched 110 yards rushing for his fourth career 100-yard rushing day. It also was the most yards for a UVa back this season, bettering Peerman’s 60-yard outing vs. Richmond.
Peerman also racked up a career-best seven receptions.
Peerman Piles up Yardage
Cedric Peerman now has 1,181 career rushing yards — 32nd all time at Virginia.
He is just the 36th player to go over 1,000 in a career at UVa.
Ogletree Cracks Century Mark Again …
Kevin Ogletree earned his third career 100-yard receiving day Saturday vs. Maryland, with exactly 100 yards.
He also had 103 yards receiving Sept. 6 vs. Richmond.
Ironically, Ogletree’s other 100-yard performance came two years ago in UVa’s home game vs. Maryland (133 yards).
… And Inching Toward Another Century Mark
Kevin Ogletree also has 86 career receptions and is 19th all-time in receptions at UVa.
He needs three to tie for 18th place all-time (John Pincavage, 1963-65) and four to reach 17th (Michael McGrew, 2001-04).
He is looking to become just the 14th player in school history to catch 100 passes in a career.
Ogletree Continues Streak of Multiple Receptions
Kevin Ogletree had five receptions for 100 yards vs. Maryland and now has at least two receptions in 16 straight games, dating to the start of 2006.
He leads the team with 27 receptions for 318 yards (63.6 yards per game).
Ogletree ranks second in the ACC in receptions per game (5.4) and fifth in yards per game.
Ogletree Gunning for Three 100-Yard Receiving Games in Season
With two 100-yard games already this year, Kevin Ogletree is in line to become just the seventh player in UVa history to have three 100-yard receiving games in a season.
No UVa player has had three 100-yard receiving games in a season since Billy McMullen recorded four in 2001.
| Player | 100-Yard Gms/Season (year) |
| Germane Crowell | Six (1997) |
| Herman Moore | Three (1989), four (1990) |
| Billy McMullen | Four (2001) |
| John Ford | Four (1998) |
| Tyrone Davis | Three (1994) |
| Sonny Randle | Three (1958) |
| Harrison Davis | Three (1973) |
Cavalier Wide Receivers Emerge
Virginia wide receivers have combined for 649 yards receiving this year and are already approaching the wide receiver total from all of 2007.
UVa wide receivers had 833 receiving yards in 13 games last season.
UVa WRs have 61 receptions this year after catching 72 balls all of last year.
Verica Turns Things Around
After a tough outing at Duke, Virginia quarterback Marc Verica made his first home start a memorable one, completing 25-of-34 passes for 226 yards and two TDs.
He set career highs for completions, yards and touchdowns and also scrambled for his first rushing TD (five yards in the second quarter).
Verica became the first UVa QB in nearly three years to complete 25 passes in a game (Marques Hagans vs. Minnesota, 2005 Music City Bowl).
Verica also connected on his longest career pass, 51 yards, to Kevin Ogletree for a TD.
Cavaliers Show Big-Play Potential
Marc Verica’s 51-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Ogletree in the first quarter Saturday was significant in several ways:
It was UVa’s first passing TD of the season.
It marked UVa’s longest offensive play of the season.
It was Verica’s longest career pass.
It equaled Ogletree’s long career reception. He had a 51-yard reception (non-scoring) vs. Maryland in 2006.
It was UVa’s longest reception in a game since Ogletree’s catch in 2006 (24 games).
Defense Records Another Shutout
UVa’s shutout Saturday vs. Maryland was the program’s ninth since 2003 and second this season.
The Cavaliers’ last three wins have come by shutout, 16-0 Sept. 6 vs. Richmond and 48-0 at Miami on Nov. 10, 2007.
It marks the first time since the start of the 1952 season that three straight UVa wins have come via shutouts.
UVa has recorded at least one shutout every season since 2003.
UVa Second in Shutouts Since 2001
Virginia is second in the ACC in shutouts since 2001, Al Groh’s first year at UVa.
The Cavaliers have nine shutouts, second only to Virginia Tech, which has 13 since 2001.
Boston College (six) and Miami (five) are the only other schools with more than four shutouts in the last eight seasons.
Sintim leads Linebackers in Sacks Nationally
With a career-high tying three sacks at Duke, Clint Sintim now has 22 career sacks and five this season to lead linebackers nationally.
His 22 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.
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 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.
More on Dowling
After his interception vs. Maryland, Dowling has three interceptions this season in four games more than any UVa player had all of last season and most since Marcus Hamilton in 2006.
Despite his limited play time, Dowling still ranks second in the ACC in interceptions and with six passes defended.
Tackles Adding Up for Copper
ILB Jon Copper tied a career high with 12 tackles two weeks ago at Duke.
Since the start of 2006, Copper has recorded six or more tackles in 26 of his 30 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 35 tackles (19 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.
Glaspy Continues to Lead Secondary
Byron Glaspy’s 33 career starts are most in the secondary and second on the team behind Clint Sintim’s 42.
He ranks third on the team with 25 tackles in 2008 and has two PBU.
He ranks fifth among ACC DBs in tackling this season (6.2 per game).
Glaspy joined the team as a walk-on picked out of the student body three years ago and quickly worked his way up the depth chart.
Defense Preventing Sacks
Virginia’s young offensive line has done its job in pass protection, allowing just six sacks in five games.
The Cavaliers are third behind Florida State and Boston College (five) for the fewest sacks allowed in the ACC.
UVa ranks 30th nationally in fewest sacks allowed.
Sintim a Candidate for Nagurski Trophy
Senior OLB Clint Sintim has been named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List.
Nagurski Trophy is presented to the nation’s best defensive player.
He has started all 42 games in his career currently tied for the 11th most consecutive starts in the FBS.
His nine sacks last year led the nation’s linebackers.