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Blue Downs Orange 17-7 in UVa Spring Football Game
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Charlottesville, VA – The Blue team defeated the Orange squad 17-7 in the Virginia football team’s annual spring football game at Scott Stadium. The teams played four 10-minute quarters in a standard game format that included special teams play. The Blue team featured the majority of the Cavaliers’ returning starters on offense while the Orange team included the returning starters on defense.
Prior to the start of the football game the Cavalier men’s lacrosse team played ACC rival Maryland. A crowd of 10,545 saw the No. 10 Terrapins rally in the second half for a 12-7 victory against No. 6 Virginia.
The Blue team got on the scoreboard first when Perry Jones took a pass from Michael Rocco and leaped over a pile of defenders into the end zone to cap the 15-yard play at the start of the second quarter.
The Blue team built its lead to 14-0 in the third quarter when Dom Joseph intercepted a pass from Michael Strauss and returned it 65 yards for a score.
With Rocco at quarterback for the Orange squad, it scored its only points when he hooked up with Brendan Morgan for a three-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Robert Randolph converted a 40-yard field goal for the Blue team to finish off the scoring.
Rocco led the UVa quarterbacks, completing 10 of 22 passes for 95 yards for the Blue team and seven of 10 throws for 57 yards for the Orange team. Ross Metheny, who also played for both teams, combined to complete three of six passes for 60 yards. David Watford, a freshman who enrolled at UVa in January, also did double duty and completed one of five passes for six yards. Strauss finished with 85 yards, completing six of 14 attempts.
Rocco was intercepted on the game’s opening drive by Chase Minnifield when the receiver slipped while running his route. Due to injuries and off-season surgeries, the teams played without veteran receivers Kris Burd, Matt Snyder, Tim Smith and Bobby Smith.
Jones led all pass catchers with five receptions for 35 yards. Johnny Pickett topped the Orange squad with three receptions for 36 yards.
The defense on both sides of the ball limited any long running plays. Jones finished with seven yards on 11 carries while Khalek Shepherd had 15 yards on 10 attempts for the Orange team. No player had a rush of more than eight yards.
Steve Greer led all defenders by racking up nine tackles for the Orange. He had a pair of sacks and broke up one pass. The two teams combined for 19 sacks since quarterbacks were whistled down when touched by a defensive player. Billy Schautz took advantage of the situation by recording three solo sacks. Mike Ahunamba and Henry Coley both had five tackles to lead the Blue team.
At halftime UVa head coach Mike London announced Snyder, Jones, strong safety Rodney McLeod and defensive tackle Nick Jenkins would serve as team captains for the 2011 season.
The Cavaliers return to practice next week before holding their final practice on April 9. Slated to start at noon, the practice is open to the public. It will be held on the practice fields behind the McCue Center.