Virginia Military
N/A0-0
Virginia
12th ACC4-8
Virginia Military @ Virginia preview
Scott Stadium
Virginia’s final tune-up before jumping into ACC play comes against its second FCS opponent.
The Cavaliers figure to physically dominate VMI Saturday when the in-state programs meet for the first time in 19 years at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville. This year’s game will be the 82nd between the schools, making the Keydets the third-most common opponent in Virginia history behind only North Carolina (114 games) and Virginia Tech (91 games).
Virginia, idle last week after dropping a 17-14 decision at USC on Sept. 11, has easily won the last eight meetings against the Keydets, including a 42-0 pasting back in 1991.
Look for the Cavaliers to use their decided size advantage up front to extend that streak by calling Keith Payne’s number early and often. The fifth-year tailback already has rushed for five touchdowns and currently ranks fourth nationally in scoring at 15 points per game. Speedy Perry Jones will also get a number of carries as a change-of-pace back. The Cavs lost some of their depth this week when promising backup Dominique Wallace left the team, but they don’t figure to miss a beat.
Fifth-year quarterback Marc Verica has thrown for 473 yards over two games, but must continue to avoid the shaky decision-making that has plagued his career. His choice to run to his left and throw back across his body led to a costly interception in the end zone against the Trojans, and ultimately may have cost his team that game. It’s not likely Verica will be challenged like that by VMI, but it will be important for Verica to build momentum for ACC play, which begins next week against Florida State.
It remains unclear whether Virginia will again be without stud cornerback Ras-I Dowling. The possible NFL first-round draft pick has missed the first two games as he mends from a right hamstring injury.
VMI, a member of the Big South Conference, is coming off a 45-0 pasting at the hands of William & Mary last week.
Senior quarterback Cam Jones gets the first crack to run the new pro-style offense preferred by coach Sparky Woods, a former Virginia assistant and South Carolina head coach. But Jones has given way to freshmen Adam Morgan and Eric Kordenbroc in each of the past two games.
VMI has not beaten an ACC team since upending Virginia back in 1978, and hasn’t defeated an FBS team since 1981.
The Cavaliers figure to physically dominate VMI Saturday when the in-state programs meet for the first time in 19 years at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville. This year’s game will be the 82nd between the schools, making the Keydets the third-most common opponent in Virginia history behind only North Carolina (114 games) and Virginia Tech (91 games).
Virginia, idle last week after dropping a 17-14 decision at USC on Sept. 11, has easily won the last eight meetings against the Keydets, including a 42-0 pasting back in 1991.
Look for the Cavaliers to use their decided size advantage up front to extend that streak by calling Keith Payne’s number early and often. The fifth-year tailback already has rushed for five touchdowns and currently ranks fourth nationally in scoring at 15 points per game. Speedy Perry Jones will also get a number of carries as a change-of-pace back. The Cavs lost some of their depth this week when promising backup Dominique Wallace left the team, but they don’t figure to miss a beat.
Fifth-year quarterback Marc Verica has thrown for 473 yards over two games, but must continue to avoid the shaky decision-making that has plagued his career. His choice to run to his left and throw back across his body led to a costly interception in the end zone against the Trojans, and ultimately may have cost his team that game. It’s not likely Verica will be challenged like that by VMI, but it will be important for Verica to build momentum for ACC play, which begins next week against Florida State.
It remains unclear whether Virginia will again be without stud cornerback Ras-I Dowling. The possible NFL first-round draft pick has missed the first two games as he mends from a right hamstring injury.
VMI, a member of the Big South Conference, is coming off a 45-0 pasting at the hands of William & Mary last week.
Senior quarterback Cam Jones gets the first crack to run the new pro-style offense preferred by coach Sparky Woods, a former Virginia assistant and South Carolina head coach. But Jones has given way to freshmen Adam Morgan and Eric Kordenbroc in each of the past two games.
VMI has not beaten an ACC team since upending Virginia back in 1978, and hasn’t defeated an FBS team since 1981.