Sunday, September 29, 1996

Virginia gets revenge against Texas
By HANK KURZ Jr.
Associated Press

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Tiki Barber turned another important game into his personal showcase, running for 121 yards and three touchdowns Saturday night to lead No. 19 Virginia to a 37-13 victory over No. 13 Texas.

Barber, who had 311 all-purpose yards last season in the Cavaliers' dramatic 33-28 victory over Florida State, scored on runs of 16, 26 and 12 yards in the first quarter as Virginia (4-0) dominated early.

Texas (2-2), coming off a last-play home loss to Notre Dame, trailed 21-0 before the first quarter was finished and was never in the game.

Virginia lost 18-17 last season at Austin, Texas. Phil Dawson won that one with a 50-yard field goal into the wind, Texas' first game-winning field goal on a final play in their rich, 103-year history.

This time, with 45,200 fans ignoring a driving rain and roaring every positive turn, the Cavaliers let them head for shelter by halftime.

Barber seemed to be the only player whose footing didn't suffer on a field drenched by a steady, often heavy rain. He repeatedly made Texas defenders look foolish with cutback runs that gave him plenty of room.

Virginia's defense also dominated, forcing four turnovers in the first 16:45, all of which the Cavaliers turned into points. Anthony Poindexter, Ronde Barber and James Farrior each had interceptions, extending to 33 the Cavaliers' NCAA-record streak of games with at least one interception.

Texas quarterback James Brown threw all three interceptions and fumbled the ball away, too. He left the game early in the second quarter after his third interception - by Farrior - ended Texas' first second-quarter series.

Rafael Garcia gave Virginia a 24-0 lead after 19 minutes with a 30-yard field goal. He added 46- and 28-yarders in the second half.

Texas drew within 24-10 on Priest Holmes' 1-yard run to cap the Longhorns' opening drive of the second half, but Virginia allowed little else. The Cavaliers held sophomore sensation Ricky Williams to 44 yards on 19 carries.

Richard Walton, who replaced Brown, completed 14 of 27 passes for 180 yards. He was intercepted by Stephen Phelan late in the final quarter.

Virginia punted after the game's first series, then used Tim Sherman's passing and Barber's running to turn Poindexter's first interception this season into a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Sherman hit on passes of 16 yards to Barber and 19 to Derick Byrd on the 71-yard drive. Barber then took an inside hand-off to the right side, ran into a wall of defenders and darted left, easily reaching the end zone.

Barber intercepted a pass by Brown four plays later, and Virginia quickly made it 14-0. A pass interference call against Taje Allen moved the chains 15 yards, Sherman hit Charles Kirby for 11 and Barber went the final 26.

The third drive was even faster - two plays. Set up by Jamie Sharper's recovery of Brown's fumble, the drive started with a 20-yard pass from Sherman to Germane Crowell and ended on Barber's 12-yard run on the next play.

Sherman, who had been sharing time with Aaron Brooks in an ongoing quarterback derby, played until late in the final quarter. He completed 14 of 24 passes for 180 yards, and scrambled 24 yards for a touchdown.

Dawson missed from 39 yards and hit from 37 and 22 yards. The miss was only the fifth from 45 yards or closer in 33 career attempts for the junior.