Virginia Cavaliers at Syracuse Orange Preview

By Tim Chase  |   Friday, September 16, 2005  |  Comments( 0 )

College Football
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The Virginia Cavaliers of the ACC hook up with the Big East's Syracuse Orange in a non-conference matchup this Saturday at the Syracuse Carrier Dome. The 25th ranked Cavaliers carry a (1-0) record into their contest with the Orange thanks to a 31-19 victory over Western Michigan in the season opener. Although Virginia prevailed versus the Broncos, they committed 3 turnovers and yielded 271 passing yards to the backup quarterback Robbie Haas. Coach Al Groh knows his squad must perform better on both sides of the ball to be successful this week as well as in the rugged ACC.

The Virginia Cavaliers are led on offense by senior signal caller Marques Hagans who had an impressive showing in the opener with 252 yards passing, 2 touchdown passes and one touchdown on the ground. Hagans will team up with backup tailback Cedric Peerman who takes the place of the incumbent Wali Lundy who injured his ankle early in last week's contest. Peerman, originally 4th on the depth chart, had a combined yardage total last week of 173 yards. Defensively the Cavaliers look to their speedy defensive ends to set the tone. James Wyche is the linchpin of this line as he registered 10 tackles and 1 sack in the season opener. Another headliner from week 1 is linebacker Kai Parham. Filling in for the heralded, but injured Ahmed Brooks, Parham led the team with 9 tackles and 1 sack.

The Syracuse Orange (1-1) followed up a lackluster opening season loss with a 31-0 shutout of the Buffalo Bulls. While the Bulls did not provide much in the way of an opponent, having been shutout in their past 3 regular season games, Virginia will prove to be much more stout. While quarterback Perry Patterson adjusts to the newly implemented West Coast offense Syracuse is going to lean heavily on running back Damien Rhodes whose 236 yards and 4 touchdowns led the way in the romp over Buffalo. Coach Greg Robinson, a former defensive coordinator for both the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL, has developed quite a defensive unit. Against the Bulls last week they allowed a mere 123 yards from scrimmage, forced 2 turnovers and 11 punts. Thus far this season the defensive unit has yet to surrender an offensive touchdown.
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