College Park, Md. - As the rain poured down in Byrd Stadium Saturday evening, no pass made for an easy catch. But Virginia needed only one reception to capture its third straight win and second ACC road victory.
It did not come from emerging sophomore receiver Kris Burd or from versatile senior quarterback Vic Hall. Neither senior quarterback Jameel Sewell nor junior Marc Verica was at the helm for the Cavaliers on their most pivotal play of the game. With less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter, Maryland senior quarterback Chris Turner fired a pass into the Virginia front-seven, and senior defensive end Nate Collins came up with the interception at the Terrapin 32-yard line. He didn't look back.
"When I caught it, I didn't see anyone in front of me," Collins said. "I was just like, I gotta get in there - I wasn't trying to look behind me - nothin'. I was just lookin' forward - I tried to glance up at the scoreboard to see if there was anyone behind me, but I was like, 'I'm just gonna run it right now,' - just looked at the pylon, and just ran for the pylon."
Collins' interception return for a touchdown was Virginia's longest "reception" of the day and gave the Cavaliers a 13-9 lead from which they, too, never looked back. Prior to the score, Virginia (3-3, 2-0 ACC) had mustered only 139 yards of total offense and just six points. In fact, even though the Cavaliers eventually outscored the Terrapins (2-5, 1-2 ACC) 20-9, they gained only 201 total yards to Maryland's 284, highlighting the importance of the defensive touchdown.
"We went into the game with a big emphasis on [turnovers], had the sun been shining," coach Al Groh said. "But we did emphasize that perhaps the elements might increase our opportunities to do so, and the guys were on it."
In a game in which the playing conditions had such a significant effect on the bounce of the ball, it seems fitting that Collins hauled in the tipped pass by chance.
"I actually don't think I was in the right spot, to be honest," Collins said. "Once it was in the air, I looked up and the ball just fell in my hands and I just took up and ran."
With a slew of Maryland players trailing him - speedy wide receivers included - the 290-pound Collins burst down the left sideline and was able to outrun his lightweight adversaries, probably because of his sizeable head-start.
"I figured someone was gonna catch up to me - I mean I'm not that fast," Collins said. "Once I got to the 10-yard line, I could hear [sophomore safety] Rodney McLeod screamin', 'Watch out, watch out!'"
Collins' interception, however, was not Virginia's only fortunate play of the victory that put the Cavaliers in first place in the ACC Coastal Division. On third-and-three during the Cavaliers' previous possession, Sewell, trying to avoid Maryland's fifth potential sack, quickly launched an up-for-grabs pass down the left sideline that found its way through two defensive backs and into the hands of sophomore receiver Burd for a 28-yard gain. Safely in Maryland territory, Virginia eventually advanced the ball to the 14-yard line, well in-range for another field goal by sophomore Robert Randolph to close Maryland's lead to three.
"Sometimes there is a little bit of good fortune, but those things happen to you when you lose games, too," Groh said. "We're not about to send it back."
Following Collins' interception, Maryland freshman kicker Nick Ferrara missed a 37-yard field goal wide-right and came up short on a 44-yarder on the team's next two possessions. Although the field conditions may have influenced the latter, Ferrara had already converted three field goals on the day, including a 48-yard attempt. Whether it was the pressure of a close-game situation or the wet field that affected the inexperienced freshman, the two misses gave Virginia the luck it needed.
Although Virginia benefited from these "fortunate" plays, it had its fair share of unlucky ones as well - the long-term implications of which may outweigh any so-called lucky play that aided the victory. With 28 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Turner took a knee to wind down the clock. Somehow, sophomore defensive end Matt Conrath injured his right ankle on the play and did not return. Then, late in the third quarter as Virginia drove deep into Maryland territory, Sewell kept the ball on second down and lunged forward to the Maryland 19-yard line to secure a first down, sacrificing his right ankle on the play. Although he laid on the field for several minutes and needed considerable assistance to walk off to the sideline, after the game the senior said he was "fine." Sewell was later diagnosed with a sprained ankle Saturday.
"Well, they both limped off - they couldn't finish," Groh said. "That probably means that they're not gonna be too sprightly tomorrow."
The wheel of fortune aside, Virginia played an inspired defensive game, creating four turnovers and limiting Maryland's threats. As he did against North Carolina with two tackles for a loss on the opening drive, redshirt freshman Steve Greer set the tone for the contest with a forced fumble on Maryland's first possession. His energy was contagious.
"That whole defensive team - they did it collectively," Groh said. "How they've stuck together and been unified and kept believing and worked. As a result, we got a little something going now."
McLeod added to the fervor by plowing his helmet through redshirt freshman running back Gary Douglas in a head-on collision in the second quarter that forced a fumble. The safety was strong in pursuit as well. During the first possession of the fourth quarter with Virginia leading 13-9, the Terrapins entered the red zone, threatening to retake the lead. On second down out of the shotgun, Turner fired a screen pass to sophomore wide receiver Torrey Smith, who was split out right with plenty of room to run. The nation's leader in all-purpose yards could not escape McLeod, however, who caught Smith by the tail of his jersey, preventing a first down at the very least - and perhaps a touchdown.
The defense as a whole contained Smith to 34 total yards - all receiving - 202.7 fewer than his season average. The combination of tight one-on-one coverage by junior cornerback Ras-I Dowling, assisted by McLeod, and using squib kicks to keep the ball away from Smith on returns rendered Maryland's best player a virtual non-factor.
"He's one of those kind of players who can take the game over," Groh said. "We saw him as that type of special player. The players really immersed themselves in what it would take to get ready to deal with a great player like Torrey."
But the game would not conclude without again feeling the presence of Collins. With Maryland pinned on its own 9-yard line by sophomore Jimmy Howell's 37-yard punt, Collins broke past the defensive line and smothered Turner at the 2-yard line for a sack to add to his interception and nine tackles, including two for a loss.
The play set up fourth-and-17 for the Terrapins, who turned the ball over on downs, leading to senior fullback Rashawn Jackson's first rushing touchdown to cap off a career high 90 yards rushing performance.
"That was a magnificent effort by our players," Groh said. "We had a target for what the mission was today, they took dead-aim on the target, they weren't gonna be distracted by anything - as a result they did something they can be very proud of"
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