The Virginia Cavaliers will clash with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets tomorrow at Scott Stadium at noon. Virginia (5-5, 3-4 ACC) will look to halt a four-game conference losing slide that culminated with a 27-17 loss last Thursday to Maryland.
Georgia Tech (6-4, 4-3) is coming off a decisive victory over North Carolina last Saturday, defeating the Tar Heels 41-24. The Yellow Jackets, however, have been very streaky this season. Georgia Tech has recorded victories over Auburn, North Carolina State and Maryland, but handed Duke its first ACC win in 30 games, losing 41-17 to the Blue Devils two weeks ago.
A win tomorrow would tie Virginia with Georgia Tech in fifth place in the ACC, keeping the team's bowl hopes alive.
"We want to end the season on a positive note," senior quarterback Matt Schuab said. "I want to win these last two games and I'm going to do whatever it takes to do that."
Georgia Tech leads the overall series 13-11-1, winning last year 23-15. The home team has won the last eight games in the series.
Two years ago, the two teams played one of the most exciting games in ACC history. There were seven lead changes in the fourth quarter in that contest and tailback Alvin Pearmam eventually won the game on a hook-and-ladder play with 22 seconds left in the game.
"It was so fast-paced, it was almost like a basketball game," Pearman said. "It was definitely the most fun I've had during a football game."
The Cavaliers' biggest challenge will be in facing the ACC's leading rusher, sophomore P.J. Daniels, who has 1,034 yards on the season. Virginia has been struggling against the run this year, giving up 257 yards to Maryland's second-string running back Josh Allen.
In order to win this game, Virginia will also have to shut-down Georgia Tech's ability to make the big play. Georgia Tech's big playmaker is wide receiver Johnathon Smith who is third in the ACC in reception yards with 925 on 57 receptions.
The Cavaliers have been hurt in several games by giving up long passing plays, including the 79-yard touchdown reception by Florida State's Craphonso Thorpe.
The Virginia defense will also have to be careful of freshman Reggie Ball who has been a threat on the ground and in the air with 1,743 yards and 10 touchdown passes as well as 297 rushing yards.
"He certainly has done a remarkable job for such a young player," Virginia coach Al Groh said.
The Virginia offense will rely on the play of Schuab who has passed for 2,111 yards and 14 touchdowns in just eight games this season.
Schaub's favorite receiver this season has been Pearman, who has 50 receptions for 401 yards and three touchdowns. Behind Pearman in receptions has been tight end Heath Miller with 47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns. Miller leads all ACC tight ends in receptions and reception yards and was recently named a semi-finalist for the Mackey Award.
Georgia Tech's defense is led by senior linebacker Keyaron Fox with 117tackles, sophomore defensive end Eric Henderson with 11 sacks and junior free safety James Butler with five interceptions.
Behind Fox in tackles this season is senior linebacker Daryl Smith with 102. Groh commented on the outstanding play of this duo this season.
"They're senior players and they both have speed," Groh said. "They both have good instincts and they take good paths to the ball. Bot
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