By Barney Breen-Portnoy Cavalier Daily Senior Associate Editor DURHAM -- Thanks to a dominant defensive effort, Virginia halted its two-game losing skid Saturday with a 37-0 victory over Duke at Wallace Wade Stadium.
"We're happy for the players that they have something to really be pleased with themselves about," Virginia coach Al Groh said. "Obviously, a lot of them stepped up with some fine individual play today as well as unit play. It looks like all three units did something to contribute to the victory so that's certainly very positive."
The Cavaliers (2-3, 1-1 ACC) held the Blue Devils (0-4, 0-3 ACC) to 100 total offensive yards. Virginia's defense was most effective against the run as Duke moved backwards on the ground, totaling -21 rushing yards at an average of -0.6 yards per rush.
"It was a real team effort and what we've been looking for," junior defensive end Chris Long, who made three tackles, said. "Pitching a shutout was obviously a point of emphasis when we saw that we had that opportunity. I think this game reflected a great week of preparation so we're happy."
Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis was harassed all day by Virginia defenders, as he was sacked seven times and threw three interceptions while completing 11 of 25 passes for 121 yards. The Cavaliers recovered two of Duke's six fumbles.
Virginia's defense set the tone for the day on the first play from scrimmage. Sophomore inside linebacker Jon Copper sacked Lewis for a loss of seven yards and the next two passes fell incomplete, forcing Duke to punt the ball from its own nine-yard line.
Sophomore defensive back Mike Brown started at punt returner for Virginia and did his work on that first return, scampering 22 yards to Duke's 27-yard line.
After getting sacked on the first play from scrimmage, redshirt freshman quarterback Jameel Sewell completed passes to wide receivers Kevin Ogletree and Emmanuel Byers to set up a first-and-ten situation at Duke's 15-yard line. A delay-of-game penalty pushed Virginia back to the 21-yard line which is where the Cavaliers utilized a bit of trickery to get on the scoreboard. Byers received the handoff from Sewell and ran to the right before firing off a 21-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Fontel Mines, who was wide open in the end zone.
"We just put that play in this week," Byers said. "I'm just glad we executed it and got points on the board. We needed that to start the game."
On Duke's next possession, Virginia's defense stopped the Blue Devils when Duke coach Ted Roof made a questionable decision to go for it on fourth-and-one at Duke's own 29-yard line. Six plays and 15 yards later, junior Chris Gould knocked through a 31-yard field goal to give Virginia a 10-0 lead.
After Duke went three-and-out on its next drive, junior fullback Josh Zidenburg notched his second punt block of the season, giving Virginia the ball on Duke's one-yard line. Senior tailback Jason Snelling capitalized on the situation with his third touchdown run of the season, giving the Cavaliers a commanding 17-0 lead with 6:07 remaining in the first quarter.
"With that particular punt formation they didn't have a personal protector back there, so I knew if I beat the snapper I'd be home free and that's basically what happened," Zidenburg said.
Just before halftime, Virginia added to its lead with a stellar defensive play. Lewis fumbled the ball after being hit by sophomore linebacker Clint Sintim. Redshirt freshman defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald picked the ball up and deftly returned it 23 yards for a touchdown.
Fitzgerald's fumble return marked the first touchdown scored by a Virginia defensive lineman since 1996.
After a scoreless third quarter, Virginia added two fourth-quarter touchdowns -- a 12-yard pass from Sewell to tight end Tom Santi and a two-yard run by redshirt freshman tailback Mikell Simpson -- to complete the 37-0 win.
Sewell finished the day 14-20 for 108 yards and one touchdown. Backup quarterback Christian Olsen got into the game for one drive late in the fourth quarter and was 1-2 for 21 yards.
Snelling led Virginia's running backs with 92 yards on 18 carries.
Senior wide receiver Deyon Williams saw his first action of the season but played sparingly as he hauled in one catch for four yards. He had been out with a stress fracture to his right foot.
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