Oct. 7, 2000

Box Score

By MATTHEW BARAKAT
Associated Press Writer

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - A perfect first quarter from Dan Ellis and three first-half touchdowns by Tyree Foreman gave Virginia a 28-3 first-half lead, and the Cavaliers held on to beat Maryland 31-23 on Saturday.

Ellis was 6-for-6 for 148 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter as Virginia took a 21-0 lead. But an injury forced Ellis out of the game in the second quarter, and the Terrapins came back within a touchdown in the fourth quarter before Virginia's ground attack locked up the win.

Virginia (4-2, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) opened the game with a 13-play, 80-yard TD drive, capped by Tyree Foreman's 4-yard run. The drive continued thanks to a fourth-and-1 dive by Antwoine Womack on Maryland's 5-yard line.

Ellis' pass completions of 41, 23 and 24 yards led the Cavaliers to their second score. Foreman's 2-yard run capped the six-play, 89-yard drive.

Byron Thweatt set up the Cavaliers' third TD of the quarter, picking off Calvin McCall's pass near midfield. Tavon Mason beat Tony Okanlawon for a 36-yard TD catch on Virginia's next play from scrimmage and the Cavs led 21-0.

Virginia led 28-3 and appeared ready to put the game away, driving into Maryland territory with less than two minutes left in the half, when Shawn Forte picked off Ellis' pass and returned it 69 yards for a touchdown. Ellis pulled while pursuing Forte and was replaced by freshman Bryson Spinner.

Ellis left the game with a strained right hamstring and did not return. He finished 10-of-15 for 208 yards and a touchdown.

The Terps (2-3, 0-2) converted on a Virginia miscue when Okanlawon picked off Spinner's first pass attempt of the game, a long bomb that gave Maryland the ball at its own 24. Five plays later, Matt Kalapinski took a screen pass 61 yards for a touchdown to make it 28-16 with 1:39 left in the third quarter. A 2-point conversion attempt failed.

Another freshman, Matt Schaub, replaced Spinner in the fourth quarter. Schaub led the Cavs on a nine-play, 49-yard drive that ended in a 48-yard field goal by David Greene.

McCall answered by leading a 79-yard TD drive. On fourth-and-9, he hit Jason Hatala with an 18-yard TD pass to make it 31-24 with 5:44 remaining.

Virginia put the ball on the ground and Maryland didn't get the ball back the rest of the game.

LaMont Jordan, who ran for a school-record 306 yards last year against Virginia, left the game twice because of injuries, the first a hip pointer. He finished with 78 yards on 20 carries.