UM at Virginia: Matchups to Watch
By David Villavicencio
HurricanesSports.com
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes have won five straight games and are 2-0 in the ACC, but they know they have a tough road test this weekend in the Virginia Cavaliers.
Coming off a thrilling 28-27 win over Florida State at Hard Rock Stadium in its annual rivalry game last time out on Oct. 6, No. 16/15 Miami continues its month of October with a trip to Charlottesville, Va., for a matchup with Virginia on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from Scott Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
The Hurricanes carry a 9-6 lead in the all-time series vs. the Cavaliers, and have won three straight matchups in the series dating to 2015. Miami trails the series, 4-3, in games played in Charlottesville, but captured a 34-14 win over the Cavaliers in its last trip to Scott Stadium in 2016. A pick-six helped Miami overcome a slow start in the most recent meeting in 2017, with UM outscoring UVA, 30-7, in the second half of a 44-28 win.
Virginia is under the direction of third-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall, who has compiled an 11-19 record in his time at the helm of UVA. The Cavaliers enter Saturday’s game coming off a bye week. They are off to a 3-2 start but lost, 35-21, last time out at NC State on Sept. 29. The Cavaliers’ offense is led by quarterback Bryce Perkins (1,125 yards, 11 touchdowns), halfback Olamide Zaccheaus (501 receiving yards, six TDs) and running back Jordan Ellis (478 rushing yards). Defensively, UVA is led by linebacker Chris Peace (5.5 tackles for loss), cornerback Bryce Hall (9 PBUs) and safety Joey Blount (32 tackles).
Here are three matchups to watch in Saturday’s game.
Miami’s defense vs. Virginia’s backfield
The Hurricanes’ defense has proven to be among the elite units in the country, entering this weekend’s game at Virginia ranked in the top 10 nationally in several defensive categories. Miami is the national leader in both opponent third down conversion percentage (19.8%) and team tackles for loss per game (12.0). The Canes are also second in total defense at 237.3 yards per game, third in passing yards allowed (137.3), sixth in turnovers gained (14) and seventh rushing defense (100.0).
All 11 starters for the Canes have made a major impact at one time or another this season, but seniors Gerald Willis III and Jaquan Johnson have emerged as the leaders of this outstanding group. However, the Canes will face a tough test across the line of scrimmage on Saturday. The trio of quarterback Bryce Perkins, halfback Olamide Zaccheaus and running back Jordan Ellis is as dangerous as any around the ACC.
“They have found a quarterback, and I think that’s the thing that stands out,” Miami defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said. “One way you can tell is they’re 10th in the country on third down conversions. He’s obviously a threat running the ball, and for sure, we’re going to talk about that, but…he can really throw it. That’s why they’re really efficient in the throwing game. They’ve sort of changed their personality from what they were a year ago. They’re a lot different formation [-wise]. They’ve got every personnel group in the world. They’re just unorthodox. They’re different than what you see week in and week out. They instantly came in and caught our guys’ attention. Not to mention what happened in the game last year. They have our full attention, for sure.”
Perkins is one of 10 FBS quarterbacks since 2000 to record 1,100+ passing yards, 340+ rushing yards, 11+ passing touchdowns and 3+ rushing touchdowns through the first five games of the season. Zaccheaus is the only active player in the nation with at least 2,000 career receiving yards (2,196) and 450 career rushing yards (490). There is no other active player that even has 1,500 career receiving yards and 450 career rushing yards. Ellis has rushed for nearly half of UVA’s 959 yards through five games in 2018. Stopping this trio will go a long way towards the Hurricanes earning a win on Saturday.
Miami’s wide receivers vs. Virginia’s defensive backs
A week ago, the Canes were up against a talented FSU defensive backfield and found success, with receivers catching three of Miami’s four touchdowns in a victory over the Seminoles. This group will be another one to watch this week as they face a gifted group of Cavaliers defending the pass. Sophomore Jeff Thomas has been electric for Miami, hauling in a team-high 16 catches for a team-best 396 yards and three touchdowns. Fellow sophomore Mike Harley isn’t far behind with 15 catches, while redshirt junior Lawrence Cager’s six receiving touchdowns are a team-high.
“I’d be surprised if wasn’t doing what he’s doing,” Miami offensive coordinator Thomas Brown said of Thomas. “I think he could’ve peaked a little earlier than he did last year like I’ve mentioned several times on him changing his practice habits. He did a phenomenal job in the spring time, summer time, fall camp and even now of being competitive, understanding the correlation of how well he works in practice and how it directs to game day and making plays when we need him the most.”
But the Hurricanes will go up against a very good Cavaliers secondary. Bryce Hall’s nine passes defended lead the ACC and are fourth nationally, while fellow cornerback Darrius Bratton ranks second in the conference and 13thin FBS with six PBUs. Bratton and Hall are one of two FBS duos with at least 15 combined passes defended so far this season. Safety Juan Thornhill has four PBUs to also crack the ACC’s top ten. Joey Blount’s 32 tackles lead the team, while Thornhill is second with 31 stops. A year ago, Thornhill had an interception and two PBUs against the Canes.
Miami QB N’Kosi Perry vs. Virginia’s defense
Perry has been impressive since getting extended playing time against FIU in Miami’s fourth game of the season. The redshirt freshman torched the Panthers for 224 passing yards and three touchdowns, while completing a career-high 68 percent of his 25 passes. Perry entered for Miami’s third series vs. FIU and eventually compiled the longest scoring drives of 2018 by yards (87) & time (7:11), and tied the season long for a scoring drive by play count (14).
The Ocala, Fla., native made the first start of his career vs. North Carolina (Sept. 27) and finished 8-for-12 for 125 passing yards & one score. He is ranked second in the ACC in pass efficiency (158.5) with 11 TDs and three picks this year and is tied for second in the ACC with 11 TDs. In his second start vs. Florida State (Oct. 6), Perry threw for a career-high four touchdown passes and no picks to help complete an epic second-half comeback.
“I think he just scratched the surface,” Brown said. “I think the sky’s the limit for him. One thing I love about N’Kosi is that he’s normally pretty poised, confident guy. I wouldn’t say laidback because he’s got some really good juice, great energy, pushes the tempo well, encourages guys and he’s obviously super accurate. He throws a really good ball and can also escape out of the pocket as well.”
Virginia’s defense ranks third in the ACC in total defense, holding opponents to 324.6 yards per game. The Cavaliers have limited opposing quarterbacks to 198.4 passing yards per game and will look to keep Perry in check on Saturday. Linebacker Chris Peace, who has a team-high 5.5 tackles for loss, will look to pressure Perry while he tries to find holes in the UVA secondary. The redshirt freshman QB will need to be poised and focused as he tries to read and attack the Virginia defense in his first road game as Miami’s starting quarterback.
“Just continue what we’ve been doing, being poised,” Brown said. “It’s important for us this week to know what he should be doing. They’re coming off a bye week. They’re already somewhat of a confusing defense and very smart guys, get lined up very well and disguise very well. Trying to make stuff simple for him so he can play full speed, have confidence and execute.”
