University of Virginia Library

Troup's Passing Routs Keydets

Soph Hits 13 Of 14,
VMI Surrenders 49-10

By Randy Wert
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Propelled by a 28-point
third quarter explosion,
Virginia's Cavaliers thrashed
Virginia Military 49-10 as if
trying to prove a point to the
slim crowd of 16,000 fans on
hand at Scott Stadium.

Soph quarterback Bill
Troup, operating with the cool
of a veteran, sparked the
previously punchless Wahoo
offense, completing 13 of 14
passes for 154 yards and two
touchdowns and running for
another score. Virginia rolled
up over 450 yards total offense
while the Cavalier defense, led
by safety Bob McGrail, held
the Keydets and various
quarterbacks to 124 yards,
allowing only four penetrations
into Virginia territory.

Virginia spotted VMI seven
points with only eight seconds
gone in the game when Dave
Sullivan, receiving the opening
kickoff, fumbled the ball into
the end zone where an alert
Keydet recovered it for the
score. It looked like one of
those Cavalier-of-old days
when the ensuing kickoff was
again fumbled away with VMI
taking over the ball on the 30.
A stiff Virginia defense forced
the Keydets' Don Cupit to
attempt a field goal which
went wide.

The Wahoos got on the
board when Troup capped a 59
yard ball-control drive with a
13 yard strike to Bob Bischoff
in the corner of the end zone.
Jim Carrington added the first
of his seven extra points to tie
the game. A key fourth down
dive by Gary Helman at
midfield for the first down
kept the march alive. After
yielding a 38 yard field goal to
Cupit, Troup led the Wahoos
43 yards to pay dirt with
Helman going in for the TD.

Pep Talk

After hearing George
Blackburn's halftime talk with
a 14-10 lead, the Cavaliers
began the rout with a nine yard
Troup to Joe Smith aerial on a
drive beginning on the Virginia
40. Earlier, Smith had caught
another scoring pass which was
disallowed due to offensive
pass interference. Heads-up
defense produced the next
three scores as Russ Bauda
blocked a VMI punt which was
recovered by Billy Williams on
the Keydet six. Helman picked
up his second touchdown on
the next play to put Virginia
out in front 28-10.

VMI ran one play with the
kick and fumbled to Paul Reid

Photo By Rick Smith

Second-Year Man Bill Troup Sets To Pass On Crucial Third Down Play With Virginia Behind 7-0

Troup Had Sensational Starting Debut With 13 Of 14 Pass Completions, Two TD Passes, One TD

on the 26. Troup proceeded to
connect with Sullivan on a
picture perfect 25 yard aerial
to the one foot line where
Sullivan caught the ball falling
out of bounds. Troup kept the
ball, bulling in for the score on
the next play. Another one
play fumble by the Keydets
was pounced upon by Bob
Bressan at the 13 where Dave
Bratt did most of the work to
the goal line, scoring from two
yards out with three minutes
to go in the third quarter.
Score, Virginia 42 — VMI 10.

With most of the starters on
the bench in the fourth period,
the scoring spree dropped back
a gear. Responding to screams
from defensive coordinator
Don Lawrence, McGrail, who
had six unassisted tackles (not
bad for a deep back), raced
onto the field to receive a punt
and no sooner had his
chin strap snapped than he was
on his way to a 41 yard
touchdown scamper.

Cutback Jim Lacey was the
game's leading rusher with 92
yards in 8 carries including an
O. J. Simpson-type 68-yard
jaunt, cutting and slashing his
way to the Keydet six. Helman
netter 75 yards on 17 attempts
for better than four yards an
effort.

Sullivan overcame his early
game butterfingers and hauled
in four passes to lead all
receivers with 75 yards. The
Cavaliers managed 23 first
downs to VMI's eight, but like
the Keydets, lost three fumbles