The Sampler: Louisville

The Sampler provides Virginia football analysis.
Daniel Hamm set up Virginia’s first points with this big punt return. ~ Kris Wright

The Sampler returns after another almost at Scott Stadium. The Virginia football team nearly took down No. 5 Louisville despite being a 30+ point underdog. Unfortunately, the Cardinals came up with a clutch drive late to escape with a 32-25 win.

The latest close loss for the Wahoos came down to a fourth down play that Louisville converted and the game-winning touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson to Jaylen Smith from 29 yards away. On both plays, the Cavaliers came inches from knocking the ball away only to see it find a way to completion.

Juan Thornhill had a hand in Smith’s face on the game-winning touchdown catch and his other hand nearly deflected the ball away as well. UVA coach Bronco Mendenhall reviewed the winning pass and said Thornhill played it well, but couldn’t convert the pass breakup.

“I reran it probably 100-plus times, and it’s within inches,” Mendenhall said of Thornhill’s coverage. “He turned properly. He had enough leverage. He had enough cushion, and he got outjumped by about half an inch. The receiver pulls it down with one hand and takes two steps, and the ball either bounces off his knee, or he drops it after he goes out of the back of the end zone, but it’s as close as you can get.”

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