Saturday's dramatic fourth quarter was a perfect example of why fans should always stick around for the end of the game.
With Wake Forest (3-2, 1-1 ACC) leading by three late in the fourth quarter, and the ball back at Virginia's 16 yard-line following quarterback Matt Schaub's third interception, the Cavaliers' defense stopped the Deacons on four straight running plays, allowing only eight yards and forcing a turnover on downs. Senior Raymond Mann and junior Rich Bedesem tackled Cornelius Birgs to deny the Wake attempt on fourth-and-two from the Virginia eight.
When Virginia (3-1, 2-0) regained possession, Schaub pressed down the field until Groh sent in sophomore kicker Connor Hughes to attempt a 53-yard field goal after the drive stalled at the Wake 36. Hughes' kick was the second-longest in school history and sent the fans into a frenzy as the ball sailed through the uprights with plenty of room to spare.
"This is a kicker who's got real guts, so it was easy for me" to try the 53-yard attempt, Groh said. "It was probably easier for him."
Continuing his season-long streak of perfect kicking, Hughes went four-for-four in field goals, including his career-best 53-yarder that tied the game at 24 with less than two minutes on the clock. He would later add the winning field goal from 38 yards out following senior Jamaine Winborne's interception and a Schaub completion to sophomore tight end Heath Miller, sealing the victory for Virginia, 27-24.
"Wake Forest tried to freeze [Hughes] out there, but he kept focus and knew what he had to get done," senior Almondo "Muffin" Curry said. "He did a tremendous job. He's a pretty confident kid. He does a good job of just kicking the ball."
Hughes put Virginia on the board in the first quarter with a 39-yard field goal following a 58-yard drive that took 11 plays.
Hughes "was awesome for us tonight," Winborne said. "If he wasn't there, we wouldn't have been able to win the game."
Sophomore Wali Lundy led Virginia in rushing, with a career-high of 137 yards on 27 carries.
Schaub, returning to the field in game play for the first time since injuring his shoulder Aug. 30 against Duke, got off to a strong start in the opening drive, completing 4-of-4 for 63 yards.
Senior Kase Luzar's fumble at the Wake Forest one yard line, however, allowed the Deacons to gain possession on a touchback.
Schaub's first-half performance -- 203 yards, 18-of-22 passing and a 25-yard touchdown pass to junior Ottawa Anderson that gave the Cavaliers a three-point lead over the Deacons about five minutes into the second quarter -- slowed in the second-half.
Virginia's defense held on despite five turnovers, including Schaub's three interceptions. Schaub threw only seven over the course of all of last season.
"We knew that we could move the ball on them because we moved it easily our first couple possessions but shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers and penalties," Anderson said. "We weren't down because we knew we could do it, but we just had to get it in our minds."
Down eight going into the fourth quarter, Schaub's recovery was evident in his pass to Miller in the corner of the endzone for a much-needed touchdown. Schaub followed the play by running in a two-point conversion, tying the game before the succession of field goals began.
"If you want to have a tough team, you have to have a tough quarterback," Groh said. "What [Schaub] got a chance to demonstrate today was his heart and his guts."
Virginia's victory Saturday keeps the Cavaliers in a tie atop the ACC.Despite what Groh referred to as a "pretty good scuffle," the Cavaliers still look to improve as they prepare for their next ACC face-off at North Carolina this Saturday, Oct. 4th.
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