University of Virginia Library

Season Finale

Wahoos-To Do Or Die

By Winston Wood
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Seemingly numbed to the fact
that they are in the process of
building one of the longest losing
streaks among major college teams
this year, Virginia's erratic football
team has one more chance to prove
itself. They face an equally eccentric
Maryland Saturday in a game
that will pit two desperate, fitful
football teams, both eager to do the
other in.

Though the Wahoos have been
winless in their last five games,
giving up a total of 107 points,
curiously enough they rank tenth
nationally in total defense and
ninth in defense against the pass.
Last in the ACC, they boast two of
the leagues' top ground gainers in
Jim Lacey and Gary Helman.

Kissing goodbye to a .500
season with the loss to Tulane last
weekend, the Cavaliers will have to
coordinate all of their efforts to
pull off a win over the Terps. In the
past, certain facets of the game
have been outstanding, only for the
Wahoos to lose because of some
blunder in the last minute.

In the face of the loss to the
Green Wave, there were some bright
spots. Finding his usually potent
ground attack useless, Quarterback
Danny Fassio had the best day of
his collegiate career in the air. Once
thought to have introduced the
bounce pass to football, he hit for
eleven of sixteen passes, losing only
two by interception. Tight end Bob
Bischoff pulled in seven of those
for 117 yards in spectacular fashion.
Linebacker Paul Reid was also
a standout, with thirteen unassisted
tackles.

Maryland will be shooting for a
.500 season in conference play.
Winless in the last four outings,
they stand 2-3 in the ACC,
whipping Duke 20-7, and Wake
Forest 19-14. 2-7 overall, Maryland
will be coming out of a 48-0
massacre at the hands of Orange
Bowl-bound Penn State.

Gone from the Maryland line-up
are Billy Lovett and Ernie ,
who gained 3,000 and 2,000
respectively in their careers, and it
looks doubtful that they have any
one on their team this year to take
their place. Their leading rusher is
Tom Miller, a 197 pound sophomore
who has gained just over 500
yards this year. Not too good when
compared to the likes of Helman
with 801. Their leading scorer is
Paul Fitzpatrick, a 192-pound wingback
with twenty points to his
credit. Again, not so hot when
compared to Helman with fourth
three.

Supposedly this game will be
Virginia's "big" traditional rivalry,
but fortunately neither school follows
up or cares too much for the
"tradition." In the series that began
in 1919, the Terps hold the edge,
17-14-1. Both teams are floundering
with losing streaks, but if the
Wahoos travel to College Park
Saturday expecting a push over,
they just could make it six in a row.