Missed Opportunities Cost Virginia Football In 31-14 Loss At Pitt

The Virginia football team dropped to 5-3.
Quin Blanding became Virginia football’s all-time leading tackler, but it wasn’t enough ~ Michael Ingalls

A frustrating Saturday afternoon for the Virginia football program ended with a 31-14 loss to the home-standing Pittsburgh Panthers, who kept the Cavaliers (5-3, 2-2 in the ACC) one win shy of becoming bowl eligible.

On the day when senior safety Quin Blanding became the school’s all-time leading tackler, Bronco Mendenhall’s defense could have played better. However, the inability of the offense to produce points despite having solid chances was most costly in Virginia’s demise at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Eight of Virginia’s 12 offensive drives reached the Panther 38 or better. UVA scored twice on the day.

The Hoos drove inside the Pitt 40 on its first three possessions, but those drives ended with a Kurt Benkert interception, a missed 43-yard field goal by freshman place-kicker A.J. Mejia, and a failed 4th down and 1 conversion try on the Panther 28-yard line. Three good scoring chances, zero points for the Hoos.

Pitt, meanwhile, entered Virginia territory only six times all game but came away with five scores (four TDs, one FG). The Panthers manufactured two touchdown drives on its first four possessions to take a 14-0 lead. All-American returner Quadree Henderson, who returned a kickoff for a score against the Hoos in last year’s contest, then burned Virginia for a 75-yard punt return touchdown to give the home team a 21-0 second quarter advantage.

“Really frustrating that one year there is a return, and then with the focus we put on it, then again,” Mendenhall said of Henderson’s return. “Again, much of it comes with the placement of the kick.”

Virginia finally got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Benkert to Hasise Dubois, his first touchdown on the collegiate level. Trailing by only 14 and with possession to start the third quarter, the visitors appeared to have some momentum. The Panthers took it right back, though, as its defense held UVA to a 3-and-out. The offense subsequently churned out a 10-play, 82-yard touchdown drive for a 28-7 third quarter lead.

Virginia would once again close to within 14 early in the fourth quarter. Once again Pitt had an answer, this time driving 48 yards before converting a 30-yard field goal that would be the game’s final score.

For the second week in a row, the Hoos struggled on third down, converting only 6-of-17. Virginia finished 1-of-5 on fourth down conversion tries as well, including Jordan Ellis coming up short of a touchdown on 4th-and-goal from the Pittsburgh 1 with 4:35 left in the game. Ellis, who couldn’t convert a 4th and 1 on Virginia’s third offensive possession, managed only 58 yards on 15 carries on the day.

“We’re leaving a lot of plays on the field right now,” said Benkert, who completed 22-of-42 passes for 212 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

“As players, I feel like we have to take more ownership.”

Defensively, Virginia surrendered 176 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, including 111 yards rushing to running back Darrin Hall. Panthers quarterback Ben DiNucci completed 10-of-18 passes for 134 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Blanding turned in another quality performance, racking up nine tackles, one tackle for loss and an interception as he passed linebacker Jamie Sharper to become Virginia’s all-time leading tackler. Virginia played without starting cornerback Juan Thornhill but welcomed back linebacker Malcolm Cook, who had two tackles in his first action since UConn. Defensive end Andrew Brown had three tackles-for-loss and a sacks in a strong effort.

UVA returns home next Saturday to face Georgia Tech, beginning what figures to be a daunting November schedule that also includes trips to Louisville and Miami as well as the season finale at home against Virginia Tech. Coach Mendenhall told UVA sideline reporter Jay James following today’s loss that he believes the players can play better, and that’s what he expects next Saturday.

“I don’t think confidence is where it was, but I think hope is where it was, and I think there is a difference,” Mendenhall said in his postgame press conference to the media. “My job is to tie confidence into execution, things we can control, and rather than saying, ‘our opponent did this,’ there’s so many things right now that we’re capable of doing at a much higher level that will lead back to confidence. Confidence comes when you earn it and when you win. Just matter-of-factly. That part has taken a shot. It remains to be seen if resilience will have taken a shot.”

Final Stats
Bronco Mendenhall postgame comments (video)
Highlights (video)