University of Virginia Library

Seven Interceptions
Doom Cavayearlings

By John Markon
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

It was Armageddon for
Virginia's previously undefeated
Cavayearlings on Friday afternoon
in Chapel Hill. North Carolina's
first year Tar Babies were able to
combine a powerhouse running
game, an elusive quarterback, and a
very alert pass defense to deal the
freshman Cavaliers a 22-12 setback.

The Carolina defense stole the
game by apprehending seven stray
Harrison Davis passes. Virginia
moved the ball adequately between
the twenties but couldn't turn the
big play. The Carolina offense also
struggled early but found the range
late in the fourth quarter to put the
game away.

The teams traded touchdowns in
the first period with Kent Merritt's
five yard run capping a Virginia
drive and a one yard burst by Mike
Shuster netting the Tar Babies a
follow-up score. The failure of
Virginia to convert an extra point
run gave Carolina a 7-6 lead at the
conclusion of the quarter.

Wahoo Field Goals

The next two quarters were
defensive in nature but two long
drives by Virginia stalled deep in
Carolina territory. Bill Maxwell
turned both into field goals, scoring
three-pointers in the second and
early fourth quarters, and the
Cavayearlings were possessed of a
12-7 advantage with 9:58
remaining.

Tar Baby Rally

It was then that Tar Baby
quarterback John Klise, a native of
Portsmouth, Va., began to rally
North Carolina. Running the ball
himself and handing off of his
backs he marched Carolina 76 yards
for the winning touchdown. A Two
point conversion made it 15-12,
UNC.

Virginia quarterback Harrison
Davis, experiencing his roughest
game of the season, tried to lead a
comeback but wasn't up to it.
Given little protection by his
offensive linemen, Davis was
constantly ducking North Carolina
rushers and threw four of his
interceptions in the final period.
The last was run back for the
remainder of the Carolina scoring
by defensive back Tom Kennedy
with no time left on the clock.

The Virginia offense, the main
reason the Cavayearlings are so
highly rated this year, couldn't
always cope with UNC's swarming
defense. In addition to Davis'
passing difficulties the Baby Cavs
got only 95 rushing yards, their
lowest total of the season. Kent
Merritt was the leading gainer with
73 yards but he failed to crack the
100 yard total for the first time this
year.

The defensive line also suffered
a let-down in form as Tar Baby
backs ripped through it for 224
total rushing yards. None of
Virginia's three previous opponents
even approached that large figure.

The Cavayearlings conclude
their season with a game Friday
afternoon at Scott Stadium against
William & Mary.