In a game filled with subplots, more than just bragging rights will be on the line Saturday when Virginia hosts in-state rival Virginia Tech in each team's final regular-season game.Both teams' prospects for postseason bowl games could be significantly helped by a win on Saturday, particularly those of the Cavaliers (6-5, 4-4 ACC), mired in a logjam in the middle of the conference standings.
The Hokies (8-3, 4-3 Big East) have lost three of their last five games after a 6-0 start and are looking to add to their all-time 46-35-5 series advantage over the Cavaliers. However, they will have to beat a Virginia team led by senior quarterback Matt Schaub and a potent senior class playing in their last collegiate home game.
Virginia coach Al Groh had nothing but praise for Schaub, the ACC's second-rated passer.
"His impact has been tremendous from a performance standpoint, from a 'set the standard' standpoint and from an attitude standpoint," Groh said.
Schaub will lead a Cavalier offense against a Hokie defense that has allowed at least 22 points in each of its road games this year. Virginia figures to lean heavily on sophomore running back Wali Lundy, as Virginia Tech has given up a total of 536 yards rushing in its last two games. Lundy rushed for 100 yards on 27 carries in Saturday's victory over Georgia Tech.
His counterpart at running back, Virginia Tech junior Kevin Jones, has garnered national media attention as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate. Jones enters Saturday's game eighth in the nation with 1,419 rushing yards and third in touchdowns with 18, statistics not lost on Groh.
"If there were a lot of guys like him around, we wouldn't be speaking about Kevin with the types of superlatives as we do," Groh said. "But he's a really dynamic player."
Jones will be only one of many concerns for Virginia's defense. Virginia Tech's multi-dimensional offense also boasts the impressive quarterback duo of junior starter Bryan Randall and redshirt freshman complement Marcus Vick. Both quarterbacks are well-known for their athletic ability and running skills, but Virginia is taking care not to underestimate their effectiveness throwing the ball.
Virginia junior defensive end Chris Canty made it clear that the Cavaliers understand the threat they pose, but also feel that the Virginia defense is capable of containing the duo.
"I think those guys can throw the ball very well, so we have to be prepared for that," Canty said. "They're pretty good quarterbacks, but they're nothing that we haven't seen already."
Whether Canty's confidence is well-founded remains to be seen, but it is certain that this is no ordinary game for Virginia. With the Commonwealth Cup on the line, emotions are running high and players on both teams consider the game a must-win.
This year's game has particular significance in the long-running series between the two schools. Saturday's match-up, the 87th time the Cavaliers and Hokies have squared off, will be the last one before the Hokies move into the ACC next year, injecting even more meaning into the already tense series.
"It's a rivalry game," Cavalier sophomore linebacker Daryl Blackstock said. "You've got to win the rivalry game, always."
Blackstock's teammates echoed his sentiments in regard to the heightened drama of the match-up.
"Everything has stepped up a little bit. It's almost like a playoff game, if you will. As for the intensity, there's nothing like it," Canty said.
Cavalier and Hokie fans will have until 1 p.m. Saturday to let that intensity build.
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