Verica overcomes shaky start to lead comeback

The stats were not pretty.

In fact, Marc Verica entered the third quarter of Saturday’s game with as many incomplete passes as those that found receivers.

That all changed in the fourth quarter and the overtime session that followed during Virginia’s miraculous 16-13 victory over No. 18 North Carolina.

“The first half couldn’t have gone worse for us,” Verica said. “I was making bad decisions, we were being penalized and we just couldn’t move the ball. Coming out we knew we had to stay focused and execute and put ourselves in a position to win.”

Verica, who was making his fifth career start, completed 24 of 38 passes for 217 yards and did not throw an interception against a defense that led the nation with 14 picks

It is Verica’s second-best performance in regards to yardage and marked his third straight 200-plus yard performance.

Verica is now 3-2 as a starter.

Childs play

When Virginia linebacker Antonio Appleby left the game in the first half with an apparent foot injury, junior linebacker Darren Childs was thrust into the lineup alongside Jon Copper.

“I didn’t know Antonio went out until I looked over and Darren was right beside me on regular [defense],” Copper said. “I didn’t see Antonio running on the field on the next dime play, so I knew he was out.”

The California native, who entered Saturday’s game with just one tackle this season, had five first-half stops and finished the game with a career-best 10 tackles.

“Darren’s had a good consistent year for us so far,” Copper said. “He knows what to do when he gets out there and today he just had an excellent game.”

Childs was not on the pre-game depth chart. Terrence Fells-Danzer was listed behind Appleby.

Picking it off

Virginia intercepted a pair of passes in the contest, helping the Cavaliers win the turnover battle against the nation’s best team in turnover margin.

Senior safety Byron Glaspy collected a pass from North Carolina quarterback Cam Sexton on the second play of the second quarter and returned it 35 yards. It was the second interception of Glaspy’s career; the first came at Miami last year.

In the third quarter, nose tackle Nick Jenkins added an interception. The redshirt freshman snagged a pass from Sexton at the UNC 38 and rumbled forward four yards.

Jenkins said it was his first interception at any level.

It marked just the second time this season that UNC had thrown a pair of interceptions.

Hall of Fame power

Former Washington Redskins cornerback Darrell Green raised the Power of Orange flag before the game.

Green was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer. He was introduced by his son, Jared, a redshirt freshman wide receiver at Virginia. Jared also introduced his father at his Hall of Fame induction.

“That was exciting. That was fun,” Jared Green said. “Like he always says, ‘It’s about me.’ He is my biggest fan and one of UVa’s biggest fans.”

The younger Green made his mark on the game, catching a 26-yard pass in the third quarter. It was the longest play of his career.

Extra points …

Virginia cornerback Ras-I Dowling joined Appleby on the sidelines after the first drive. UVa coach Al Groh said he was told it was an issue with Dowling’s back. He did not return and was replaced by the combined efforts from Chase Minnifield and Mike Parker. … John Phillips, a senior tight end for Virginia, had his first career rush in the first half. The play did not net yardage and, ironically, was called incorrectly in the huddle. “I don’t think we will see that again,” Phillips chuckled. … Virginia wideout Kevin Ogletree surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in his career. He finished with six receptions for 72 yards and becomes the 28th player in school history to accomplish the feat. … Clint Sintim registered Virginia’s lone sack of Sexton. The outside linebacker has had a sack in four straight games and has 25 career sacks.