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Virginia seeks rebound on road against Yellow Jackets

After UNC loss, Cavs travel to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech, triple option

As it entered last Saturday’s game against North Carolina, the Virginia football team found itself in a must-win situation.

The Cavaliers needed to get back to their early season form, which saw them knock off Louisville and Pittsburgh. They needed to show the previous week’s deflated performance against Duke was an exception and not the rule, and that this team really is a Coastal competitor. They needed to prove to the Homecomings crowd — at 45,200, the largest this season — that this was a bandwagon worth jumping back on. And with a 14-0 lead just 12 minutes into the game, it looked like Virginia would succeed.

Unfortunately, it was downhill from there. The Cavaliers gave up 28 points the rest of the way, including a late fourth quarter touchdown pass from UNC redshirt freshman backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Meanwhile, the offense could only tally one more touchdown in the final three quarters against a Tar Heel defense that is verifiably one of the worst in the nation. At the end of the day, Virginia found itself at the hands of a 28-27 defeat at home, and the Cavalier faithful emptied out of Scott Stadium with heads hung low, knowing another opportunity had been squandered.

The Cavaliers (4-4, 2-2 ACC) have veered onto the rocky path of 2012 and 2013 and face an uphill climb to reach a bowl game, let alone contend for the Coastal Division title. The most direct challenge will come this weekend, however, on the road against ACC opponent Georgia Tech (6-2, 3-2 ACC).

Virginia’s first concern is the loss of senior wide receiver Miles Gooch, who suffered a knee injury after an awkward landing in the second quarter of the North Carolina game.

“It’s a very difficult situation for him,” coach Mike London said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him as we try to make some headway into where he is and the evaluation of his knee. We won't know ‘til the swelling goes down a bit.”

Gooch added some good size at the receiver position, and leads the team with 371 receiving yards this season. Fortunately, senior Darius Jennings, junior Canaan Severin and redshirt freshman Andre Levrone have proven themselves capable of breaking free from defenders and hauling in passes.

“We're deep in the receiver position,” London said. “We're going to have to have some of these guys step up.”

Jennings is second to Gooch in total receiving yards with 345, while Severin leads the team in receiving touchdowns with three. And, though limited in action, Levrone has averaged 18.5 yards per reception.

Sporting these three qualified wideouts, along with hard-nosed senior running back Kevin Parks, who has rushed for an average of 118 yards in the past three games, and gritty sophomore quarterback Greyson Lambert, Virginia can move the pigskin and put points on the board in Atlanta.

Ranked 87th at the FBS level in total defense, the Yellow Jackets are allowing 429.4 yards per game and surrender an average of 28.3 points. But their offense, much like the Tar Heels’, compensates for this defensive weakness.

Operating under coach Paul Johnson’s signature triple-option system, the Georgia Tech attack, which averages 326 yards on the ground per contest, fourth highest in the nation, has been running around and through opposing defenses all season.

“They just run,” London said. “They do what they do. They do it like clockwork. … This is going to be a grind it out type of game, and we have to be ready for it.”

Sophomore quarterback Justin Thomas, who has rushed for more than 700 yards and thrown another 1,100, will act as the Ramblin' Wreck’s main offensive weapon. His athletic ability and autonomy as a signal caller are dangerous when put together.

“Georgia Tech is an offense that if you're poor on your assignments, execution of your assignments, they can hurt you,” London said. “What adds to that element is [Thomas]. I heard Coach [Paul] Johnson say he's the fastest they've had at the quarterback position.”

Thomas and his backfield wingman, senior running back Zach Laskey — who has tallied 595 yards on 120 carries — force defenses into overloading the edges and gaps. And this, all too purposefully, sets up play-action passes downfield.

For years, Georgia Tech has consistently produced gifted receivers, including Peyton Manning’s current go-to-target, Demaryius Thomas, and the player who is arguably the NFL’s finest pass-catcher, Calvin “Megatron” Johnson. Senior wideout DeAndre Smelter is likely to join these talented alumni and compete on Sundays in the near future.

Smelter, a load at 6-foot-3-inches and 222 pounds, has snatched 20 receptions for 462 yards and 5 touchdowns. And when Smelter is not running deep routes downfield, he is sealing lanes on the flanks for Thomas or Laskey.

Overall, Georgia Tech’s blocking scheme is as effective as any in college football — especially as receivers, like Smelter, are also unafraid to block. And the team’s offensive linemen are agile, physical and disciplined.

“Paul teaches his linemen to block within the confines of the rules,” London said. “One of the things they do is predicate [blocking] on getting you down on the ground, not only on the inside, but the outside, the perimeter. And if they do pitch the ball, they have a lead blocker out there.”

The Cavalier defense, led by senior captain and preseason first team All America safety Anthony Harris, will need to quickly identify the football, shed blockers and bring down ball carriers.

“I think the key is executing, believing in the other guy, … staying alive, getting off blocks and just running for the ball and making plays,” Harris said.

Virginia understands that Saturday is as important a game as any thus far. The Cavaliers need two more wins to become bowl-eligible, and a victory this Saturday would go a long way in restoring confidence for the team.

“We just need to focus on this week right now — focus on Georgia Tech, getting a win and then seeing where we stand,” Harris said.

Kickoff between Virginia and Georgia Tech is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, and will be aired on ESPNU.

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