Cavs’ offensive line clicks

While the emotions were similar, the descriptions varied.
Will Barker said it was his best feeling in a year. B.J. Cabbell saw it merely as greatness. Eugene Monroe thought it was trench domination.
After a rough start, Virginia’s offensive line picked up steam against Maryland, helping to guide the Cavaliers to a 31-0 victory.
In the contest, Virginia amassed 26 first downs and 426 yards of total offense.
“That game was crazy,” said Barker, Virginia’s starting right tackle. “I don’t think I have felt that good since we beat Maryland last year.
“That was a hell of a win. We all played well. We finally got it going.”
Virginia entered the contest with just one touchdown in its previous eight quarters before exploding for a pair of touchdowns through the air and on the ground.
“I feel like we were really prepared throughout the week and just all of a sudden it came together,” said Cabbell, who made his fifth career start at right guard. “I can’t explain it.
“We were headed in the right direction anyway, but with Cedric [Peerman] coming back, that was a tremendous plus.”
The Cavaliers (2-3, 1-1 ACC) entered the season with a host of new faces on their offensive line. Only Barker, Monroe and guard Zak Stair had starting experience and Stair was sidelined for the Duke game with a knee injury.
With true freshman Austin Pasztor on the field in Stair’s absence at left guard, Virginia ran for 201 yards, averaging almost five yards per attempt.
Pasztor, who prepped at Fork Union, does not turn 18 until late Novemeber.
“He did something tonight he should be proud of and clearly we’re proud of,” said Virginia coach Al Groh.
The success of Virginia’s offensive line helped drop Maryland’s defense to eighth in the league against the run.
“The whole game was great. It’s just exciting any time you beat Maryland,” Monroe said. “It was a combination of [trench dominance] and the running backs finding the holes and using their ability to get the ball down the field.
“We improved on that and we didn’t have that dimension in our game the last few weeks, but we hope to continue upon that because we did an excellent job.”