Cavs Overcome Adversity, Yellow Jackets

Nate Lyles suffered a scary injury but appears to be fine.

Four suspensions. A frightening injury. A blown lead. A ranked opponent. The Cavaliers faced more than their fair share of adversity today at Scott Stadium, but as Al Groh said, “They didn’t blink. They didn’t flinch.”

Instead, Virginia used a gutty effort by its depleted defense, a balanced offense directed by Marques Hagans, two long field goals by Connor Hughes and – for once – a strong fourth quarter to overcome its troubles and put away #24 Georgia Tech, 27-17. The Cavs (6-3, 3-3 ACC) are now bowl eligible for the fourth straight year with tough games remaining against #8 Virginia Tech and #3 Miami.

“I’m really very admiring of the guts and the effort and the determination that these kids showed here tonight,” said Groh, whose team is 5-0 at home this season and has won 21 of its past 23 at Scott Stadium.

The crowd of 60,061 helped energize the ‘Hoos, who were playing without two defensive starters and two others suspended Thursday for an unspecified team rules violation. Virginia still zipped to a quick 14-0 lead on touchdown runs of 15 and 18 yards by Wali Lundy.

Sophomore safety Nate Lyles suffered a scary injury during Georgia Tech’s next drive when his head snapped back as he tried to tackle P.J. Daniels. The game was delayed about 10 minutes and many of the Cavaliers gathered in prayer as Lyles was strapped into a stretcher and carted off the field. He managed to give a thumbs-up sign as the cart whisked him into the locker room. Groh, after getting word from doctors, later reported that Lyles will stay overnight in the hospital for observation but appeared to be fine. Groh called it “the best news of the evening.”

Marques Hagans led two late scoring drives after GT tied it.

Marcus Hamilton made an interception on the first play after the delay and Hughes kicked a 48-yard field goal to give Virginia a 17-0 lead, but it didn’t last long. The Yellow Jackets (6-3, 4-3 ACC) drew within 17-10 at the half on a 1-yard touchdown run by Tashard Choice and a 48-yard field goal by Travis Bell. They tied the game on Reggie Ball’s 24-yard strike to Damarius Bilbo midway through the third quarter.

Having lost the momentum, the Cavs took it back. Hagans and Jason Snelling keyed a clutch drive that ended with a 47-yard field goal by Hughes. Bell then missed a 44-yarder for Tech, prompting Groh to rush into his offensive huddle.

“I told them, ‘Here’s the opportunity now for you, fellas. You’ve got to be like a shark smelling blood,'” Groh said. “And they took the ball and finished it off.”

The Cavaliers marched 73 yards in eight plays, with Snelling carrying five times for 36 yards. On third and 8, Hagans found Deyon Williams open down the middle for a 20-yard touchdown pass, making it 27-17 with 9:03 remaining.

“That was the dagger drive,” said Williams, who caught 10 passes for 107 yards. It was also the only score of the fourth quarter. Virginia had been outscored 59-30 in the final period of its first eight games.

“We weren’t going to let this one get away,” said senior defensive end Brennan Schmidt, who also filled in at nose tackle. “We were a little thin, but we knew we had enough to win.”