Ladies and Gentlemen, Your First Place Virginia Cavaliers

For the second time in three weeks, Al Groh just made sure his offense didn't lose the game, and put the game in his defense's hands.  Nate Collins made good on that gameplan in a muddy slogfest at College Park.  Twerps fans might say the better team lost, but Maryland wasn't better in the stat that often determines games (turnover margin was 4-1), and where it matters most: on the scoreboard. 

Some observations:

• It appeared that, like last week, it might be a costly win for the Hoos.  QB Jameel Sewell looked like he twisted his knee pretty good, but said he was fine after the game.  Matt Conrath might be a different story, but no update on either just yet. 
• After Collins' heroics late in the third quarter, QB Marc Verica threw one more pass the rest of the game.  I couldn't have been happier with the play-calling.  Like Groh's decision to punt late in the first half from the Terps' 35, Groh was simply playing the hand he's been dealt (or more appropriately, the hand he's dealt himself as a recruiter).
• In the absence of Mikell Simpson, Rashawn Jackson was pretty good.  I wouldn't call him magnificent, as Groh did (I'd expect that a guy as big as Jackson would run over people more, but I'm nitpicking). But he was rugged when he needed to be, specifically when his number was called ten straight times in the fourth quarter to salt the game away.
• Just as important to the Hoos' offense was QB, turned WR, sometimes CB, and occasional PR Vic Hall, who has developed into his roomate's favorite target at wideout.  Hall led the Hoos with 5 catches for 53 yards, and Sewell targeted #4 whenever the Hoos needed a play.
• The Turtles outgained the Hoos 284-201 and had 17 first downs to Virginia's 9.  But QB Chris Turner looked downright awful in the elements.  So it was a little puzzling to me why the Terps didn't run more (their usual M.O. notwithstanding).  I guess when your RBs put the ball on the ground as much as they do, that'll change your play-calling, which was run-dominant early.  Still, it makes no sense that Maryland threw more than they ran when they were running at four yards a clip in a mosh pit.  Virginia, meanwhile, had a much more sensible 38 run-26 pass split. 
• Virginia didn't often get to Turner (only one sack), but harassed him all day, and the secondary was sound.  On top of his game-winning TD, Collins had the team's only sack, two tackles for loss, and led the Hoos with nine tackles.  Not bad, eh?
• Finally, it was nice to see that coaching head-scratchers aren't limited to the Cavalier sideline.  With 1:54 on the clock and one timeout left, Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgen actually ran his punt team onto the field on fourth down in a 13-9 game.  Granted it was 4th & 18 from their own two, but if you punt, you're essentially conceding defeat in a 4-point game.  Virginia saved him by calling timeout (hard to blame them -- I'm sure they were just as confused as I was by the call), at which point Fridge thought better of it and sent his offense back on the field.  Amazes me that head coaches, epsecially those who don't call plays anymore like Fridge, can't seamlessly handle these situations.  But I guess that's why Maryland is 2-5.