CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Year two of Mike London’s Extreme Makeover, began the same way as year one, with a victory over an in-state school that London used to coach.
Virginia’s 40-3 win over William & Mary Saturday at Scott Stadium before 51,956 might not have been as euphoric as last year’s opening salvo against Richmond. But it was perhaps a more promising statement about the future of the program.
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Not only did the Cavaliers get major contributions from several freshmen, they also showed that they have taken steps in remedying their most glaring weakness of 2010 – their inconsistent and home run-prone defense. The longest pass play the Cavaliers’ yielded was 24 yards, the longest run was 12.
Virginia thoroughly dominated the William & Mary offense, preventing the Tribe from crossing midfield until the fourth quarter. Allowing just 10 first downs and 169 yards, the win was befitting of an FBS school playing one from a level down.
“I thought we did what we should do when you face an [FCS] opponent,” said Virginia defensive coordinator Jim Reid. “We have more scholarships. We’re a little bit bigger. You should win this game.”
Freshmen were front and center for the Cavaliers. Redshirt freshman Kevin Parks rushed 16 times for 114 yards and three touchdowns. Another redshirt freshman, linebacker Henry Coley, matched the team high with four tackles, one a sack.
Several true freshmen from London’s prized high school class of 2011 also thrived. Darius Jennings returned a punt 27 yards to set up a touchdown. Cornerback Demetrious Nicholson set up a field goal with an interception. Clifton Richardson rushed seven times for 57 yards and a score. And David Watford (3 0f 5, 46 yards) took several meaningful snaps in relief of starting quarterback Michael Rocco (21 of 29, 174 yards).
“I looked up one time and seven freshmen were playing,” London said. “The good news is they’re young, they’re talented and they make big plays. The bad news is, they’re young, they’re talented, and they make mistakes.”
Virginia scored on its opening possession, driving 60 yards and getting a 32-yard field goal from senior Robert Randolph. Parks made it 10-0 in the second period with a 19-yard touchdown run, his first of three scores, the most by a Virginia freshman in his debut. The coming out of Parks (5-8, 195) wasn’t a surprise to London.
“He is very explosive,” London said. “He can run away from people. He can run over people.”
Parks’ touchdown – and much of the Cavaliers’ yardage on the night – was made possible by the right side of the Virginia offensive line, sophomore tackle Morgan Moses and sophomore guard Luke Bowanko. Of Virginia’s first 15 runs, 13 were to the right side.
“It wasn’t on purpose,” Virginia offensive coordinator Bill Lazor said. “Sometimes when you get stuck on a hash [mark] it works out that way.”
After playing conservatively in the first half, Virginia opened it up in the third period. On their first possession of the second half, the Cavaliers drove 97 yards. Rocco completed five of six passes on the march, including a 40-yard sideline toss to sophomore Tim Smith (7 catches, 72 yards), who made a tough catch despite tight coverage, setting up a 1-yard plunge by Parks.
Before the period was over, Jennings turned the corner on a punt return, setting up A 26-yard touchdown run by Parks for a 27-0 lead.
The 5-foot-8, 195-pound Parks showed he is ready to fill the role played last year by 265-pound short-yardage back Keith Payne. He also showed the burst to be a long-distance threat.
“I’d rather run over them,” Parks said. “Everybody thinks I’m so small, I’d rather run over them. I’ll leave [running away] to Clifton and Perry [Jones].”
In the fourth quarter, William & Mary got 68 of its yards on its lone scoring drive, with Virginia’s second-team defense on the field.
It was a reversal of fortune from the 2009 meeting at Scott Stadium, a 26-14 Tribe victory in former coach Al Groh’s final season in Charlottesville.
“The only thing they remember is that No. 2 {B.W. Webb] had an interception and ran it to the tunnel,” London said. “I showed them that clip about 50 times.”
On Saturday, Webb was one of the cornerbacks burned by Rocco.
“Two years ago we were lackadasical,” said Virginia cornerback Chase Minnifield. “We weren’t going to take this game lightly.”
