The Virginia football team matches up with archrival Virginia Tech Saturday at Scott Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 12 p.m. Here's a glance at six key players suiting up for the game, followed by beat writer Robert Elder's three keys to a Virginia victory.
Impact Players
Virginia
Olamide Zaccheaus
The former three-star recruit has dazzled Virginia fans as a true freshman. Listed as a running back on the roster and wide receiver on the depth chart, Zaccheaus has proved his versatility this season. Against Duke, he hauled in three passes for 89 yards and a touchdown, rushed three times for 20 yards and tossed a first-quarter touchdown pass. The speedster can again add a wrinkle to offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild’s game plan this week.
Maurice Canady
In his final game in a Cavalier uniform, Canady will again draw the toughest assignments as Virginia’s top cover corner. In two-receiver sets, he will likely face Isaiah Ford — who has 816 receiving yards and nine touchdowns this season. Look for him to use his physicality against tight end Bucky Hodges in the slot as well.
Matt Johns
Coming off a career-high 344 passing yards against Duke, the key for Johns is to limit mistakes — he has nearly as many interceptions (15) as touchdowns (19) in 2015. The Hokie defense has snagged eight interceptions this season, but more impressively, surrenders just 174 yards through the air per game. This year’s rendition of defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s defense isn’t as stout as past units, but Johns still must play smart football.
Virginia Tech
Travon McMillian
Although defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta’s defense has tightened up in recent weeks, Virginia still surrenders 165 rushing yards per game. Enter McMillian, who has 880 rushing yards on the season with an average of 5.3 yards per carry. The Cavalier defense lacks speed and could be susceptible to a player with McMillian’s combination of speed and strength.
Bucky Hodges
The sophomore tight end has hauled in 33 receptions for 458 yards and six touchdowns this season. Although impressive numbers, his performance against Virginia last season is more intimidating to the Cavalier faithful. In the 24-20 Hokie win, Hodges recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown while also hauling in 50-yard reception and a nine-yard touchdown on Virginia Tech’s game-winning drive. The sophomore will seek mismatches, lining up both as a tight end and receiver.
Dadi Lhomme Nicolas
The senior defensive end was suspended during the game’s first half for his “unintentional” contact of a referee last week after he was displeased with a call in a loss against North Carolina. Although Nicolas has just one sack on the season, he can get to the quarterback — like he did with nine sacks in 2014 — and excels at setting the edge against the run. If the game is tight in the second half, expect Nicolas to be around the ball in what could be his final collegiate game.
Three keys to Virginia victory
Avoid special teams miscues
‘Beamer Ball’ hasn’t been what it used to be in recent years, but Virginia has been victimized by special teams errors for the better part of a decade. Take Virginia Tech’s blocked punt for a touchdown last season as proof. Whether it’s missed field goals, muffed punts or unexpected onside kicks, special teams have cost Virginia many games over the years. Coordinator Larry Lewis needs to have his unit prepared for Saturday.
Show offensive creativity
Fairchild’s love of the screen game is well-documented, but the Cavaliers have been at their best when they show offensive variety. Virginia took Notre Dame down the wire when junior receiver Keeon Johnson hauled in a touchdown on a double-reverse pass, and just last week Zaccheaus tossed a touchdown to redshirt freshman tight end Evan Butts. At the very least, Fairchild needs to find a way to implement his outside weapons — like Zaccheaus, junior running back Taquan Mizzell and senior receivers Canaan Severin and T.J. Thorpe — in the game plan.
Score red-zone touchdowns
Virginia has scored on 28 of its 32 red-zone possessions, but just 17 of those scores have been touchdowns. The Cavaliers showed progress against Duke, converting three of four red-zone scores for touchdowns. If history is any indication, Virginia has’t had many opportunities to score against the Hokie defense; the Cavaliers better take advantage of the few chances they have.
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