Verica, Peerman lift Virginia to stunner

By: AP | WSLS 10
Published: October 05, 2008

Marc Verica threw for two touchdowns
and ran for another as Virginia finally clicked on offense and
pounded Maryland, 31-0 on Saturday night.
The Cavaliers (2-3, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), outscored
128-20 in three previous games against Bowl Subdivision teams, not
only found a quarterback, but also their running game. Cedric
Peerman ran for 110 yards, including a 9-yard third quarter
touchdown.
That score, on a fourth-and-1 play, put Maryland (4-2, 1-1) in a
31-0 hole, and made certain that the Cavaliers wouldn't blow it
this time. Two years ago, Virginia led the Terrapins 20-0 at
halftime, then gave up 28 consecutive points and lost 28-26 at
home.
But this game looked nothing like that one, or like any of the
others Virginia had played so far this season on the way to
cranking up speculation that coach Al Groh's job was in jeopardy.
Sparked first by its defense, and then by Verica, the Cavaliers
dominated, turning a rivalry that usually produces last-minute
heroics and heartache into a laugher instead.
Verica drew praise after his first start even though the team
lost 45-10 at Connecticut, then threw four interceptions last week
as the Cavaliers helped Duke end its 25-game ACC losing streak. He
played like he was energized to finally get to play at home.
He hit Kevin Ogletree deep down the middle for a 51-yard
touchdown late in the first quarter, the Cavaliers' first scoring
pass of the season, and outran linebacker Alex Wujciak for 5 yards
to the right pylon early in the second quarter, giving Virginia a
14-0 lead.
After getting the ball at the Cavaliers 12 with just over four
minutes to play in the half, Verica completed all eight passes and
directed a 12-play, 88-yard march. The touchdown came when he hit
Ogletree from 15 yards out just 11 seconds before halftime.
Verica was 17-for-20 in the half for 178 yards.
Maryland tried to jump-start its offense in the second half, but
Obi Egekeze's attempt at an onside kick to start the half went only
four yards and was downed at the Terps' 49.
That led to a 32-yard field goal by Yannick Reyering, and Terps
tight end Dan Gronkowski was stripped by Vic Hall three plays later
and Corey Mosley recovered for the Cavaliers.
Eleven plays and 61 yards later, Peerman went around the left
side on the fourth-down play from the 9, found room on the
sidelines and dove into the end zone to complete the scoring.

Verica, Peerman lift Virginia to stunner

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