... CAVALIERS CRUSH PURDUE, SILENCE PUNDITS
The Virginia Cavaliers heard talk all week in Charlottesville about how those closely following the ECFA felt the Purdue Boilermakers were a key contender in the Eastern Conference along with Syracuse. Virginia didn't seem to enter into that conversation, however. Head coach Mike London bristled a bit during last week's press conference, wondering how Purdue could be annointed Eastern champs before playing his young club.
Now, the Cavaliers certainly are in the conversation, as London's troops tied Syracuse for the Eastern lead with a 27-9 demolition of the Boilermakers. Virginia ran for 186 yards on 26 attempts, including 105 yards on just 8 carries from Perry Jones. Running mate Terence Fells-Danzer chugged for 69 more yards on 11 carries, as the Virginia ground game dominated Purdue's defense and kept talented Boilermakers receivers Cortez Smith and Keith Smith off the field for much of the game.
When they were on the field, Purdue quarterback Robert Marve couldn't have hit them if they were the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Men. Marve was just 9-for-20 on the game for 122 yards, but spent most of the second quarter missing receivers left, right, and over. Keith Smith caught just 2 for 28 yards, the second of which was for 23 yards on the last play of the game. Cortez Smith brought in just one reception for 24 yards. Tight end Kyle Adams (5 catches, 65 yards) tried to pick up the slack, but it wasn't enough.
Purdue (2-1, 1-1 Eastern Conference) did manage 53 yards on the ground, but that all came on a late drive where RB Al-Terek McBurse gained 47 yards to enter Virginia territory, then scored on a 41-yard run. Marve was sacked 3 times and lost -33 yards on 8 official carries.
The Boilermakers actually led early, converting a 37-yard Chris Quinn punt return into a 50-yard field goal. But on the next play from Scrimmage, Jones cut left, crossed field to the right, then cut left again for a 63-yard touchdown. His weaving trip through the Purdue defense made it 7-3, Virginia.
Three punts followed and Virginia got it at its 31 in the second quarter. Gaining 62 yards - all on the ground - disaster nearly struck when Fells-Danzer fumbled on a 4-yard loss back to the Purdue 11. But Virginia fell on it, and on the next play, Fells-Danzer atoned by catching an 11-yard TD pass from Verica to make it 14-3. Marve missed on 5 of 6 passes on the next drive, and UVA (2-1, 2-0 East) got the ball back at its 30 for one final play. Verica hit Kris Burd over the middle, and Purdue couldn't catch him! Burd scored on the 70-yard catch and run on the half's final play to make it 21-3.
Purdue got it to start the second half and drove to the Virginia 22. In field goal range to stay in it, that was ruined when Virginia LB Jared Detrick sacked Marve for a 15-yard loss. The 54-yard field goal attempt was no good, and Purdue got nothing. The Cavaliers added a 26-yard field goal on their next drive to make it 24-3. After Purdue failed on a 4th-and-6 from its 32 in a last gasp to stay in the game, Virginia added a 41-yard field goal to push the lead to 27-3.
Then, McBurse took over, breaking his long runs. The 2-point conversion failed, however, and Virginia recovered the onside kick.
Virginia will battle Florida in Week 4, while Purdue takes on Florida State, as both teams continue with conference play.
Ed
__________________
GO PITT!!!
|