Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 30, 2019 35 BY BRYAN DRISKELL VIRGINIA RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE Breaking down the Virginia run game isn't the easiest thing to do. Overall, the numbers for the Cavaliers' ground attack are average. Virginia ranked 82nd nationally after its 3-0 start, averag- ing just 155.0 rushing yards per game. The Wahoos averaged 173.2 yards per contest in 2018, which ranked 60th in the country. Virginia racked up 216 yards and 6.2 yards per carry in its 52-17 victory over Football Champion- ship Subdivision opponent William & Mary, but in wins over Pittsburgh and Florida State the Cava- liers averaged merely 124.5 yards and 3.8 yards per carry, which would rank the offense 99th if projected over its first three games. What makes the Cavaliers dangerous, though, is the presence of senior quarterback Bryce Perkins. In 2018, Perkins was one of just two quarterbacks to pass for more than 2,600 yards and rush for more than 900 yards. The other was Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, the 2018 Heisman Tro- phy winner and the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Perkins led the Virginia offense with 158 yards through its first three games, rushing for at least 44 yards in each contest. Notre Dame was a quality run defense in 2018, ranking 36th in the country while giving up 139.5 yards per game and 3.8 yards per rush. Its start to the 2019 season wasn't nearly as good, with the Irish giving up 249 rushing yards to Louisville and 212 to New Mexico. Notre Dame ranked 107th in the country while giving up 4.96 yards per rush. Opposing quarterbacks rushed for 95 yards in the first two contests, with Louisville quarterback Jawon Pass compiling 67 yards in the opener. That makes the matchup against Perkins concerning for the Irish defense. Advantage: Even VIRGINIA PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE Perkins hasn't been as sharp as a passer to start the season. He ranked 29th in the nation a season ago with a 147.45 passer rating, which was fueled by a 25-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Perkins' completion percentage was 66.0 percent after three games, but he threw four interceptions against just five touchdowns during that stretch. His pass efficiency rating of 130.61 ranked 79th, and his average of 6.7 yards per attempt ranked 84th in the land. Virginia is hoping his finish in its 31-24 comeback victory over Florida State Sept. 14 is the start of a On PaPer Through three games, senior wide receiver Joe Reed was the Cavaliers' leading pass catcher with 19 grabs for 175 yards and two scores, plus he contributed a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown. PHOTO COURTESY VIRGINIA MEDIA RELATIONS GAME PREVIEW: VIRGINIA