Virginia looks to take its ninth straight win against Maryland tomorrow, but the Terps, led by onetime Heisman hopeful LaMont Jordan, hope for revenge after a devastating last-second loss to the Cavs a year ago. The Cavaliers and Terrapins square off at noon at Scott Stadium.
Last season Virginia ended Maryland's bowl hopes with a 34-30 win on Dan Ellis' 20-yard, game-winning touchdown pass to Billy McMullen with 26 seconds left. This play capped a phenomenal nine-play, 78-yard Cav drive that took just 46 seconds.
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This year's game will feature a 3-2 Virginia team (2-1 ACC) that hopes to build on a 27-10 win against Wake Forest last weekend, and a 2-2 Maryland team (0-1) that wants to get back on the right track after getting derailed by Florida State, 59-7.
Maryland coach Ron Vanderlinden said he has his team focused on this weekend's game, not what happened last year.
"To dwell on the past, in my opinion, is a mistake, so we need to focus on Saturday," Vanderlinden said. "We need to improve and pull together and go give a great effort at Virginia. I expect a very competitive game, much like the last two years, and what we need to do is to find a way to make one more play than they do and win the game."
Vanderlinden praised the Cavalier attack, saying, "Virginia has a very challenging offense for our defense." Ellis has enjoyed a solid season so far and is already fifth in school history in career touchdown passes with 27. Junior tailback Antwoine Womack is 23rd on Virginia's career rushing chart after a 180-yard rushing performance last week against Wake Forest.
Virginia defense primarily will try to stop Maryland's rushing attack. Cav outside linebacker Byron Thweatt has rebounded from an injury-plagued 1999 season and is averaging 11.2 tackles per game.
In last year's game, Jordan broke a school record by gaining 306 yards on the ground. The effort was the third best in ACC history. Overall, Maryland gained 445 rushing yards.
"We didn't do a good job last year" against the Terp rushing game, Virginia coach George Welsh said. "It was a combination of poor tackling and getting blocked. We definitely must stop Jordan."
Jordan averages just 75.5 yards a game this season but is coming off of a 114-yard performance against Florida State last week. In that game, he had his longest run of the season, a 74-yard touchdown that stood as the Terrapins' only score.
"If Jordan rushes for 300 yards this year we are probably not going to win. We have to do everything we can to contain him first," Welsh said.
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