Virginia Postgame Notes vs. Penn State

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Penn State at Virginia

Sept. 8, 2012

Virginia Game Notes

Team Notes
• First-Time Starters: Offense: Dominique Terrell (WR), Conner Davis (OG)
• UVa is now 3-5 all-time against Penn State and 2-2 in Charlottesville.
• Virginia lost its first turnover of the season on its first offensive play of the day.
• Penn State’s opening drive of 6:27 was longer than any drive Richmond had in last week’s Virginia game (4:48).
• PSU’s opening drive of 17 plays was the longest against UVa since Georgia Tech in 2011 (19 plays).
• In the four Penn State drives following UVa’s four turnovers, the Cavalier defense allowed minus-14 yards, resulting in just three points.
• The Cavaliers were 4-4 on third downs during the game-winning drive.
• With UVa’s win over Penn State (17-16) today and Indiana (34-31) last season, it is only the fourth time an ACC team has defeated different Big Ten opponents in successive seasons – NC State (Indiana in ’00 and Minnesota in ’01), NC State (Iowa in ’92 and Purdue in ’93) and North Carolina (Michigan State in ’64, Ohio State in ’65 and Michigan in ’66).
• It was only the fourth time in the Mike London era that UVa failed to reach 300 yards of total offense (295), but marked the first victory. The losses for UVa were: 2010 Virginia Tech (291), 2011 vs. Virginia Tech (241) and 2011 vs. NC State (249).
• With 32 rushing yards, UVa rushed for its fewest yards in a victory since rushing for two yards (20 carries) in a 27-22 victory at Duke on Oct. 5, 2002.
• Penn State’s Sam Ficken missed four field goals against UVa, becoming the first opponent kicker to miss four field goals against the Cavaliers since Maryland’s Bernardo Bramson went 1-for-5 in the 1964 meeting.
• UVa had four turnovers against Penn State. The last time UVa had four turnovers and won was in 2011 at Indiana.
• The last time UVa was minus four in the turnover battle and won the game was on Sept. 17, 1994 against Clemson. UVa had four INTs and lost three fumbles, while Clemson threw three INTs. UVa won the game 9-6.

Player Notes
• Michael Rocco was 6-of-6 passing for 97 yards and a touchdown on the game-winning drive.
• Rocco threw for 258 yards and now has 3,383 career passing yards, which ranks 12th all-time at UVa, passing Todd Kirtley (3,146).
• Rocco has now throw for over 200 yards for the ninth time in his career, tying him for No. 8 on UVa’s all-time list.
• Rocco has reached 200 yards passing in five straight games.
• Rocco threw two touchdown passes for the first time this season and fifth time in his career.
• With 14 yards rushing, Perry Jones moved up to No. 23 on UVa’s all-time rushing list and now has 1,636 yards, passing Bill Dudley (1,631).
• Drew Jarrett hit a 46-yard field goal in the 2nd quarter, the longest fieldgoal of his career.
• Steve Greer had 15 tackles, a new career high. His previous high was 14 against Miami in 2009.
• It was Greer’s eighth career game with double digit tackles and first since the 2011 meeting with NC State.
• With the 15 tackles, Greer moved into the No. 20 slot for all-time tackles at UVa, passing Kai Parham (272). Greer now has 273 career tackles.
• Greer also had two sacks, matching a career high set against Florida State in 2011.
• Anthony Harris had a career-high 11 tackles; his previous high was six vs. Richmond.
• Henry Coley had 11 tackles, a new career high – his previous high was six last week against Richmond. He also had a blocked PAT in the fourth quarter.
• Jake McGee’s 44-yard catch in the fourth quarter was a career-long reception.
• McGee had a career-high 99 receiving yards; his previous best was 23 last week vs. Richmond.
• McGee’s touchdown reception in the fourth quarter was the first of his career.
• With a touchdown catch Saturday, Jeremiah Mathis now has four touchdowns in 10 career catches.