Sept. 7, 2002

By MATTHEW BARAKAT
Associated Press Writer

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Matt Schaub threw three touchdown passes, and Virginia took advantage of seven South Carolina turnovers to beat the 22nd-ranked Gamecocks 34-21 Saturday night.

Schaub, who had been inconsistent in the Cavaliers' first two games - both losses - while sharing time with redshirt freshman Marques Hagans, played nearly the entire game and delivered a strong performance.

Billy McMullen, a 6-foot-4 receiver who struggled to get open in the first two games, took advantage of South Carolina's smaller secondary, catching four passes four 72 yards, including a 35-yard TD pass and three other catches facing third-and-long.

The Gamecocks (1-1) fumbled six times and threw an interception. Three of the turnovers led to Cavaliers touchdowns, while two others happened deep in Virginia territory, stopping potential scoring drives.

South Carolina's defense, which looked suspect in a 34-24-season opening victory over New Mexico State, again gave up big yardage. The Cavaliers amassed 339 yards of total offense, including 196 passing.

The Cavaliers trailed 21-20 at halftime but took advantage of two third-quarter fumbles to take a 13-point lead. With a little over four minutes remaining in the quarter, Schaub was intercepted on the South Carolina 6 by Langston Moore, but Moore fumbled and Schaub recovered. Three plays later, Schaub hit Kase Luzar for a 5-yard TD pass.

On the next drive, Gamecocks quarterback Corey Jenkins fumbled on his own 20, and Virginia's Angelo Crowell recovered. On the next play, tight end Heath Miller, originally recruited as a quarterback, threw a 20-yard TD pass to Patrick Estes to make it 34-21.

South Carolina had several scoring opportunities in the final quarter, but turnovers deep in Virginia territory ended two drives, and a failed fourth-down conversion ended the other.

The Cavaliers, who began their season with three opponents now ranked in the Top 25, avoided their first 0-3 start since 1982.

Virginia opened the game with a 14-play touchdown drive, converting four third-down plays needing 5 yards or more. Schaub completed seven of nine passes on the drive, including a 1-yard TD catch by Miller.

The Gamecocks responded with a 52-yard TD drive, capped by a 10-yard inside screen pass to Matthew Thomas.

In the second quarter, South Carolina took a 14-7 lead on a 60-yard drive, aided by a pass interference penalty and an unsportsmanlike conduct call on Groh. The coach came onto the field and launched a tirade after officials called the interference penalty, which negated an interception by Shernard Newby.

Schaub finished 20-of-30 for 170 yards and two interceptions. Jenkins was 12-of-21 for 119 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception. He also ran 20 times for 94 yards.

Back to ACC Home

Email this article

Printer-friendly format