Conrath and Minnifield Earn ACC Weekly Honors

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia defensive tackle Matt Conrath and cornerback Chase Minnifield were named ACC Football Players of the Week, announced by the conference on Monday. Conrath was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week and Minnifield was honored as the ACC Defensive Back of the Week.

Conrath (Oak Lawn, Ill.) led the UVa defense with nine tackles in Virginia’s 31-21 victory against Duke to improve the Cavaliers’ record to 7-3 and 4-2 in conference play. Conrath had two tackles for loss, forced a fumble and blocked a Duke field-goal attempt in the first quarter after the Blue Devils had driven to the Virginia 7-yard line with no score in the game. It was the fifth blocked kick during his career and his third this year. The Cavaliers held Duke’s running game to just 34 yards on 29 carries, 70 yards below their season average. The weekly honor is the second of the season for Conrath, who also won the award for his nine tackles and blocked field goal against then-No. 12 Georgia Tech.

Minnifield (Lexington, Va.) had five tackles and broke up two passes in UVa’s win. He came up with the big play on defense, intercepting a pass and returning it 54 yards for a score to put UVa up 21-14 early in the third quarter. Minnifield’s interception was his third of the 2011 season and the 13th of his career. It was his first career pick-six. It was the second week in a row that UVa took home the defensive back of the week award from the ACC, as Rodney McLeod won it following the Maryland game. The award is Minnifield’s first of the season and the second of his career. He shared the award with teammate Corey Mosley following the Cavaliers’ win over then-No. 22 Miami in 2010.