November 30, 2003
Virginia 35, Virginia Tech 21
Virginia beat Virginia Tech 35-21 on Saturday in Charlottesville, winning the Commonwealth Cup for the first time in five years. Tech led 14-7 at the half, but the Cavaliers scored on their first four possessions of the second half and capitalized on many Hokie mistakes to bring in the win in the last out-of-conference matchup of these two before Tech joins the ACC in 2004.
The Cavaliers played an outstanding game, led by Matt Schaub's 32-of-46, 358 yard, 2 TD/1 INT passing day. UVa's poorly-regarded receiving corps repeatedly beat VT's secondary for big plays. The other part of UVa's passing offense was a total of 13 passes for 145 yards from Schaub to TE Heath Miller, of which 10 (by my count) went for first downs. The Tech defense got very little pressure on Schaub all game, and Miller was wide open in the middle of the field all day (at least three additional Schaub-to-Miller attempts went incomplete).
The Hokies' offense was competent, though Kevin Jones had a bad day (25 attempts for 75 yards). VT QB Bryan Randall, allowed to play the whole game, went 14-for-26 for 214 yards, with 1 TD and 2 INTs. Randall suffered through a terrible performance by his WRs with several drops, including an Ernest Wilford bobble on the second interception. Backup QB Marcus Vick came in on several plays throughout the afternoon, with the player not behind center lining up as an inside WR.
Two special teams plays provided the crowning blow for the Hokies. In the third quarter, with the score 21-14 in favor of UVa, Vincent Fuller fell offsides on the left side of the punt block unit as Eric Green raced in from the right, blocked the punt and ran it in for a would-be touchdown. The 5-yard penalty gave UVa a first down. Then in the fourth quarter at 28-21, UVa lined up for a field goal with Schaub as holder and Miller at right end. Had the FG been attempted, it would have been blocked from the offense's left side; as it was, Miller went about six yards downfield as Schaub picked the ball up and rolled right. Schaub completed the pass, and Miller fought through two Tech defenders for 4 more yards and the first down. Wali Lundy scored on the next play to put the game away.
Please note that all comments are subject to the Fanblogs Comment Policy.
