Return of the quarterback

Prior to trotting onto the field for what proved to be one of just two touchdown drives in Saturday’s Spring Football Festival, Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell huddled with a collection of teammates.

He hugged each player, thanking them for keeping faith in him during his absence from the program for the two semesters that preceded.

That, however, would be the last huddle for Sewell.

No, the southpaw senior did not get injured. With first-year offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon’s new no-huddle offense on display, calls came from the sidelines for the six quarterbacks that played in a contest that included four turnovers.

The emotional moment for Sewell was symbolic on a picture-perfect afternoon at Scott Stadium that included an announced crowd of 7,954.

Sewell, like linebacker Darnell Carter and cornerback Chris Cook, was back in uniform as a full-fledged member of the Virginia football program.

“I just wanted to let them know that I was back,” Sewell said of his chat with his teammates. “Before we ran out onto the field I hugged every player and said, ‘Let’s go man; let’s just ride.’

“They did that for me.”

Sewell, who has played in 24 games at UVa, had help on the lone scoring drive that he led.

Senior running back Mikell Simpson — suddenly explosive after a dismal 2008 campaign that included a season-ending injury — had carries of eight and five yards, respectively, before breaking a 48-yard scoring scamper.

Oddly enough, Sewell was the second person to reach Simpson to celebrate in the end zone after the game’s first score.

“I was excited,” Sewell said. “It was natural. I just ran. I don’t know what went into it, but I saw him breaking it and I just ran. I just wanted him to know that I appreciate it. I really do.”

Simpson finished with five carries for a team-best 64 yards for the Cavaliers’ offense, which tallied with 124 rushing yards on 57 rushing attempts.

“He was back,” Sewell said of Simpson, who finished with five carries for 64 yards. “He was definitely back and it was good to see that he is definitely back.”

Most importantly, Simpson’s elusive ability was on display.

“I think we saw ample example that Mikell’s playing much faster than we all saw him play last year,” Virginia coach Al Groh said. “Whatever happened between [2007 and 2008], somebody else was living in that jersey.”

The only other score for Virginia came on a 21-yard pass from quarterback Marc Verica to Raynard Horne, a tailback that has been slotted at wideout.

“It is a new play that we haven’t really had in the past, just kind of a wide receiver screen,” said Verica, who finished with 148 yards on 14-for-19 passing. “Raynard is really perfect for that play. He is really tough to bring down. If you get him the ball in space he has enough speed to break it. That’s what he did. It was exciting to see.”

The loudest cheer of the day, however, was given to Vic Hall as he ran onto the field to open the game at quarterback.

The converted cornerback completed 11 of 16 passes for 98 yards. The speedster also rushed three times for a yard, which was deceiving.

As is practice at what Groh described as half of the nation’s programs, quarterbacks are not allowed to be tackled. They need to be merely touched to have an official blow the play dead.

Hall also avoided throwing an interception.

Sewell, Verica and walk-on Kyle McCartin were not as fortunate.

On 2nd-and-7 at the defense’s 36-yard line, Sewell threw a floater towards Javaris Brown that defensive back Mike Parker picked off and returned 23 yards.

Sewell, who completed 7 of 11 passes for 61 yards, did get his share of contact on the play.

“I just got hit as soon as I released the ball,” he said. “I didn’t get even get to really throw the ball. It impacted everything that I did.

“That’s what I have really been waiting for. I wanted a little contact. Nobody has hit me in 17 months. I just needed to get some contact and I’m glad it happened.”

Sewell had further contact on the play as he sprung from the ground to leap onto the back of Parker.

“When I threw it I heard the crowd roar and I was like, ‘Ok, here we go,’” Sewell said. “I was still sitting on the ground and I saw somebody running and I said, ‘Oh my gosh.’

“I just jumped out and tried to dive. I should have been up anyway. I shouldn’t have been sitting down.”

Verica’s interception also came with the offense driving for a touchdown. Inside the defense’s territory, safety Rodney McLeod stepped in front of a pass and returned it 11 yards.

“He made a great break on the ball and as we have discussed, he’s a big addition to our secondary back there at the safety position,” Groh said.

Trey Womack added an interception off an errant pass thrown by McCartin, and cornerback Dom Joseph recovered the lone lost fumble in the game.

While the turnovers impressed Groh, a pair of blocked punts sent a message about the importance the program is placing on special teams. Former Kansas State coach Ron Prince was brought during the off-season to lead an operation that struggled in years past.

Sophomore wideout Jared Green and McLeod blocked kicks by punters Jimmy Howell and Nathan Rathjen, respectively.

Groh said that he was “very pleased about the two blocked punts” as well as “two pressured punts following that out of 10,” but noted that long snapper Danny Aiken did not play after having his wisdom teeth removed.

“That’s a big step up from what we have seen in the past,” he added.

During the 15-practice period in the spring, Virginia placed a strong emphasis on special teams, Green said.

“We are just working on how do we get to the point where it is non-stop,” he said. “Every time that we do it, they know Virginia’s coming because they are going to block this punt.”

Virginia opens the 2009 campaign on Sept. 5 at home against William & Mary.