Only a small number of Virginia fans probably circled Oct. 13 as a big game for the Cavaliers when the 2007 football schedule came out. Tomorrow's 3:30 p.m. game at Scott Stadium against Big East foe Connecticut, however, now looms large in the minds of Virginia players and fans alike.
Although the Cavaliers cannot say too much about the Huskies specifically, they do know that Connecticut is undefeated, a status that carries a lot of weight.
"We know that they are a good team [and] that they are undefeated," sophomore offensive tackle Will Barker said.
It is with this knowledge that the Cavaliers understand what kind of measures they will need to take to defeat the Huskies Saturday.
Noting Connecticut's staunch defense, junior offensive tackle Eugene Monroe said the game "is going to take a high level of preparation."
The Huskies' defense is the strength of the team. It ranks fourth nationally in total defense and scoring defense, allowing only 250.6 yards per game and 11 points per game.
Additionally, Connecticut has a 1.80 turnover margin, meaning that it has nine more takeaways than giveaways.
"They are one of the top teams in the country in terms of takeaways, especially interceptions, so that's certainly got our attention," Virginia coach Al Groh said.
The first thing that Groh mentioned about the Huskies, however, is their sharp special teams play, especially the return game.
"In the priority of how we see things, [the Huskies] have an excellent return game with two very explosive return men," Groh said. "They've already got one 97-yard return for a touchdown this year. As we saw in a number of games around the country this weekend, just one of those kind of plays throws everything ... out of kilter."
The hype surrounding Connecticut's defense and special teams does not mean the Huskies' offense is a joke -- far from it. The offense has managed to put a lot of points on the board (36.6 per game) and it has only scored under 34 points once.
The Huskies turn to junior quarterback Tyler Lorenzen for most of their yardage.
Much like Virginia sophomore quarterback Jameel Sewell, Lorenzen is a dual threat, having rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown in addition to passing for 216.6 yards per game and six touchdowns.
"He's a very good player," Groh said. "He's really been the catalyst to a lot of their success. [The coaching staff] turned him loose [against Duke] and they've never slowed him down."
Six-foot-five and 226 lbs, Lorenzen has shown a solid ability to scramble. Groh said the junior can move outside the pocket and prove tough to bring down. In five games, Lorenzen has rushed for 243 yards.
On the ground, Connecticut likes to use three running backs consistently: sophomore Donald Brown (71.6 yards per game, five touchdowns), sophomore Andre Dixon (88.3 yards per game, one touchdown) and junior Lou Allen (23.8 yards per game, five touchdowns).
Despite good records, neither Virginia nor Connecticut is gaining much attention nationally. This could be because of their weak schedule strength: the combined record of the opponents both teams have played thus far is 18-34. Each team is receiving votes in various top 25 polls, but overall, this game appears to be flying under the radar across the country.
It is with this lack of respect that the Cavaliers play with a chip on their shoulder every week.
"I feel that we need to prove every week to others and to ourselves that we're a team to reckon with," Barker said.
Read More
Payton Cormier breaks Division I goals record
By Michael Liebermann | 20 hours agoCormier has forever cemented his legacy as one of the greatest lacrosse players in NCAA history.
Cavaliers advance to NCAA Championship with second place finish at Baton Rouge Regional
By Stephen O'Dea | 21 hours agoVirginia will head to the National Championship in Carlsbad, Calif., with a chance to make history.
Thank you, Reece Beekman
By Ben Istvan | YesterdayBeekman will leave Charlottesville as the program's all-time leader in steals.
