Dowling makes his presence felt

Coming into this season, Virginia cornerback Ras-I Dowling had been touted as a guy with NFL potential. But through the first few weeks, that potential was barely visible — especially after subpar outings in home losses to William & Mary and TCU.

However, Dowling’s play has been steadily improving, and on Saturday afternoon at Scott Stadium, the junior from Chesapeake put on a show for the home fans.

Dowling had an interception, a sack and a forced fumble in Virginia’s 47-7 thrashing of Indiana.

“I feel like I wasn’t playing as well in the beginning of the season,” Dowling said. “There was no reason. Some players have their ups and downs.

“I still have things to work on, so we’ll look at the film and see what we can make better.”

Against Indiana, Dowling immediately helped set the defensive tone. On Indiana’s first possession of the game, Dowling ripped the ball away from Hoosiers receiver Terrance Turner after a short completion. Virginia safety Rodney McLeod picked it up and raced 32 yards to the Indiana 32-yard line.

“Coach [Al] Groh preached ball disruption all week,” Dowling said, “so I had an opportunity and took advantage of it.”

“It did two things,” added Groh, referring to Dowling’s takeaway. ““It established, for the defensive players, that this was going to be another good physical game for us.

“And it obviously created the type of momentum play and field position that let us get on top.”

Dowling’s interception, which came in the second quarter, paved the way for a 21-0 Virginia lead. The pick was Dowling’s first of the season and sixth of his career.

Later in the second quarter, on a 3rd-and-3, Dowling zoomed around the left side of the Hoosiers line on a blitz and crushed quarterback Ben Chappell with a vicious blind-side hit.

“This kid has really prepared diligently, literally since the last day of the season last year,” Groh said. “He probably didn’t get [the season] off with as big a bang as he would have hoped for, or perhaps as his preparation would lead us to expect, but he really has [come on].’ He was mentally strong enough to say, ‘I’m going to do better,’ and he really has.”

Mr. Versatility

Senior Vic Hall’s first-quarter touchdown reception was the first of his career. Hall has now scored touchdowns three different ways in his career via interception, reception and rushing. Hall finished the game with a team-high six catches for 85 yards.

“Clearly, he’s a really significant athlete,” Groh said. “What hasn’t Vic done?”

High marks

In a timeout near the end of the first half, Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage accepted a trophy during an on-field presentation in recognition of UVa finishing eighth in the 2008-09 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup competition.

It tied the school’s best-ever finish. Virginia, which was also eighth in 1999, finished 17th last year. It was the school’s 16th consecutive top-30 finish in the competition, which ranks the best overall athletic programs.

Stanford was No. 1 in this year’s standings, followed by North Carolina, Florida, Southern Cal, Michigan, Texas, California and UVa.

Extra points

Junior Dontrelle Inman mades his first start at wide receiver since the 2008 season opener against USC. Inman had one catch for 21 yards. ... Wide receiver Kris Burd’s 31-yard reception in the first quarter bested his career-high reception of 29 yards at Southern Miss on Sept. 19. ... Virginia scored touchdowns on its opening two drives for the first time since defeating Pittsburgh, 44-14, in Scott Stadium on Sept. 29, 2007. ... UVa led Indiana 14-0 after the first quarter, marking the first time they have accomplished the feat against an opponent since leading 14-0 at Miami on Nov. 10, 2007. ... The Cavaliers shut out an opponent in the opening half for the first time since Nov. 10, 2007 at Miami.