Coach Can’t Defend Virginia Offense

Virginia Coach George Welsh doesn’t want to rely so much on his defense to win. But with two road shutouts in the first four games, not much has been needed from the Cavalier offense.

Virginia’s defense forced eight turnovers Saturday and Aaron Brooks atoned for a poor passing performance with a 57-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter as 11th-ranked Virginia defeated Duke, 24-0.

It was the first time since 1943 that Virginia, 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, had two road shutouts in the same season. The other shutout came at Auburn in the season opener.

“We’re not a completely dominating defensive team, but we’ve learned to hang in there and we’ve got guys who can make plays for us,” Welsh said.

Safety Anthony Poindexter had two interceptions, recovered two fumbles and caused a fumble as Virginia won for the ninth time in the last 10 games against Duke (2-2, 0-2). The Blue Devils have lost 20 consecutive ACC games and were shut out for the first time in 55 games.

“I didn’t feel like I was around the ball all day,” Poindexter said. “They spread us out pretty well, throwing screens here, screens there. I was lucky to get a couple of plays.”

Virginia needed the defensive effort. The Cavaliers, while getting 405 total yards, were only four for 16 on third-down conversions.

“Usually the way we’ve played the last couple of weeks you lose one of those,” Welsh said. “We’re managing to win and I think the opposition is helping us. We have to be sharper on offense.”

Brooks, the ACC’s top-rated passer, was 13 for 35 for 165 yards. His touchdown run--on a broken pass play--gave Virginia a 10-0 lead with 2:47 left in the third quarter.

“I thought [the touchdown run] was a great individual effort by Aaron,” Duke Coach Fred Goldsmith said. “We harassed him all day. We had him back there with two or three chances to tackle him.”

In the first half, Brooks threw his first interception in 166 passes, was stopped on a fourth and inches on a sneak at the Duke 17 and had two potential touchdown passes dropped in the end zone by Terrence Wilkins.

Wilkins later had a 32-yard punt return that set up a 12-yard touchdown run by Thomas Jones with 1:10 left in the third quarter, giving Virginia a 17-0 lead.

Antwoine Womack had a 47-yard touchdown run with 4:46 left in the game.