Back in Roanoke, freshly sated with the best generic Mexican-American food Charlottesville has to offer, we bring you some notes and quotes from Virginia's 14-7 win against N.C. State:
Clicky for our ... three ... game ... articles and Aaron McFarling's column.
Notas:
- N.C. State was held to its lowest point total since a 23-6 loss to East Carolina on Nov. 20, 1999 (Mike O'Cain's last game at Wolfpack coach). The Pack hadn't been scoreless entering the fourth quarter since its last shutout loss, a 14-0 decision against Baylor on Sept. 23, 1995.
- This was UVa's third shutout (also UNC, Duke) and fourth first-half shutout (also Maryland) of the season.
- Career bests: P Ryan Weigand, 58-yard punt; TB Cedric Peerman, 53-yard kickoff return.
- WR Fontel Mines extended his team-high streak of consecutive games with a reception to 20.
(Not much by way of notes today, unfortunately.)
Quotas:
AL GROH, head coach
“From our perspective, that game had everything that we would like. It was a clean game. We had one penalty, no turnovers. We ran the ball proficiently if not prolifically. We played real good defense, which is something we’re working hard to be able to do on an ongoing basis. And obviously we were able to finish the game strong there. So we’re very proud of the effort, very happy for the players. I thought they were very tough-minded today throughout the circumstances. The defense had to keep on playing, keep on playing, keep on playing. Offensively we had to come back and answer there at the end and they stepped up and did everything just right. That’s a [Wolfpack] team that really is cut in our image. That’s a tough-minded team that Chuck’s got over there. … We feel very good about being able to beat a team like that.”
On the defensive game plan:
“Stopping the run was critical. Because we respect those two backs a great deal, we wanted to try to turn it into a one-dimensional game with a young quarterback in there. I thought he did a real good job on that last drive. …
On the fourth-and-5 conversion that preceded N.C. State's tying touchdown:
"If we can make the play, the game’s probably over.”
TONY FRANKLIN, senior defensive back
“We knew that we could have a chance to win this game on defense.”
On the defense:
“Seems like every week we’re getting better and better.” ... “It’s a bunch of good, hard-working guys. There’s not a lot of big names like we had in past. These guys come in every day and just try to work hard, so it’s fun to be around.”
On being back with the team:
“It means a lot. After all I’ve been through, you know, the situation I had, to be back on the field and be making plays, it means a lot.”
On Groh's comments after the interception:
“He said I deserved it.”
CLINT SINTIM, sophomore outside linebacker
On N.C. State's rushing attack:
“They came out with a perimeter mentality. They didn’t show on tape that they ran a lot to the edge. I think this week they came out with the mentality to test our perimeter, test guys like me and [outside linebacker] Jermaine [Dias]. I think we did a pretty good job on it. … Guys made played on them.”
On Tony Franklin's reaction to fans' boos following N.C. State's tying touchdown:
"Tony’s just sitting there, you know, not really hearing them. Just looking straight ahead. Tony comes back in the game, gets the pick to end the game. Same fans that was booing him: ‘Oh, we love you, Tony. We love you, Tony.’ So I’m taking Tony over there. I’m like, ‘Give him a standing ovation. Y’all didn’t love him then, but you’ve got to love him now.’"
“It’s a great thing for him. Tony’s a great guy, man. Tony’s one of my favorite players on the team and I just love the way he plays football. … He came up big when you had to come up big.”
ANTONIO APPLEBY, sophomore inside linebacker
On the game plan against N.C. State QB Daniel Evans:
“We knew he was kind of young. The more pressure we could put on him, we felt as though we had the best chance to win the game. We kind of put the game in his hands and the receivers’ hands, tried to take the two backs out of it.”
On stoning the Wolfpack on the final drive of the first half:
“We hate being down there [in the red zone], but when we’re down there, we feel as though we’re prepared more than our opponents, no matter who they are, because we spend so much on that in practice.”
MARCUS HAMILTON, senior cornerback
On N.C. State converting a fourth-and-5 pass over his outstretched arm:
“I should have gone for the interception. I should have gone for it, and had I gone for it, I would have gotten the interception. I tried to tip it away instead and [WR Darrell Blackman] made the play.”
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