Defensive lapses, turnovers, lack of execution on critical plays, questionable decision making. These things have cost the University of Virginia football program at one time or another this season. They all showed up in the season finale against Virginia Tech, which captured the Commonwealth Cup with a 29-24 victory over UVA in Scott Stadium.
The vaunted UVA offense led by record-setting quarterback Brennan Armstrong started well, scoring touchdowns on its first two possessions to take a 14-7 lead after the first quarter. Cavalier miscues and Virginia Tech’s ability to capitalize kept the visitors in contention, though.
Leading 14-7 and in Virginia Tech territory, Armstrong was intercepted by Tae Daley, who returned the pick 14 yards to the Tech 47. The Hokies turned the takeaway into seven points on an 18-yard touchdown run by running back Raheem Blackshear, who tore up the Cavalier defense to the tune of 169 yards on 18 carries on the day. The Virginia defense forced a 3rd-and-10 on this drive, but an apparent busted coverage allowed for a 35-yard pass from Tech quarterback Braxton Burmeister to an open Da’Wain Lofton. Blackshear’s run came two plays later.
UVA regained the lead, 21-14, with 3:32 remaining in the second quarter, on an Armstrong 5-yard touchdown run in which he bowled over three Hokies at the goal line. The play energized Scott Stadium and the Cavalier defense, which forced Tech into a 4th-and-22 on the ensuing possession. With 2:34 remaining, Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall called a timeout, his offense on the verge of having a chance to add to its seven-point lead heading into halftime. The opportunity never came as the Cavaliers brought an aggressive punt rush, and true freshman West Weeks, who had just sacked Burmeister for force the fourth-and-long, ran into the punter. Roughing the punter was the call. Tech took the gift possession and drove down the field for a 32-yard field to cut UVA’s lead to 21-17 at halftime.
“We were trying to block the punt,” Mendenhall said. “The clear instructions, right, are and were, whatever you do, stay off the punter, and we didn’t. Cost us three points.”
Aside from the interception, Virginia’s offense performed as expected in the first half. Armstrong had 236 yards passing and three touchdowns (one passing to tight end Jelani Woods, two rushing). UVA had 66 yards rushing to total 302 yards in the half. Building on a 21-14 lead was a very real possibility given the way Armstrong and the Hoos were playing and given the way they have performed this season, but the opportunity never came thanks to the special teams blunder.
The Cavaliers took the opening possession of the second half and drove 59 yards on seven plays, ending with a Brendan Farrell 34-yard field goal. Star UVA wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks dropped a sure first down on 3rd-and-7 on the play before the field goal. Despite breaking Herman Moore’s single season receiving yardage record with 55 yards on the night, Wicks had a tough day in the hands department. He dropped three passes, including a sure touchdown (though UVA did score on the drive) and two sure-fire second-half first downs.
Farrell’s field goal proved to be the final points of the night for the high-powered Cavalier offense, which closed the second half in awful fashion. In its final five drives, the Hoos had a punt, a fumble, a punt, a safety in which Armstrong was sacked and fumbled and UVA recovered in its end zone, and a turnover on downs. UVA’s standout graduate transfer Keytaon Thompson was responsible for the fumble, losing the ball while trying to get extra yardage. Thompson’s fumble, which occurred at the Tech 19, was recovered by the Hokies, costing the Hoos a red zone opportunity. Tech turned the turnover into a 38-yard field goal by John Parker Romo to take its first lead of the game, 27-24.
“I don’t think they did anything different, maybe a little bit more man,” Armstrong said when asked about Tech’s defensive strategy in the second half. UVA had a meager 94 yards of offense on its final five drives. “They ran a lot of zone, we were eating them up in the zone. Then they started going a little bit more man and they were making plays in man coverage. Not to make an excuse, but twisting my ankle (in UVA’s second offensive series of the second half). I feel like in the first half I was able to get out and make some plays, shake and bake a little bit, start putting pressure on them down the field when we extended the play. Even if they’re in a man or zone, I thought that was what we did well in the first half when we moved the ball pretty well. I just feel my ankle hindered me a little bit. I was trying to be a bit more decisive because I knew I was going to be in the pocket a little bit more.”
As Virginia struggled offensively, the visiting Hokies posted only 12 second-half points, but that was all that was needed. Tech tied the game at 24-24 on a 3-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Tayvion Robinson to Burmeister. The two connected for the team’s first score – a 61-yard touchdown pass from Burmeister to Robinson that tied the game at 7-7 – and came through again to cap off a 6-play, 81-yard third quarter march. Top Tech wideout Tre Turner was sidelined with an injury, leaving Robinson as the Hokies primary receiving playmaker. He responded with three catches for 89 yards and two scores (one pass, one receiving). Burmeister, meanwhile, completed only six passes but they went for 141 yards, a 23.5 yards per catch average. He churned out 115 yards rushing as well, helping the Hokies rack up 320 yards on 47 carries.
“It’s assignments,” Mendenhall said of his team’s defensive struggles. “You’ve got to be more consistent to play assignment-sound football when it comes to these kinds of games. We were inconsistent.”
Despite the miscues, Virginia had new life and a chance to win in the final minutes. Following the safety that put Tech up 29-24, Hokies backup quarterback Connor Blumrick fumbled and UVA defensive lineman Su Agunloye recovered with 3:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. Although still out-of-sync offensively, Armstrong and company managed to drive to the Tech 11. Virginia had 1st-and-10 at the 11 as the clock moved under two minutes. A rush by Armstrong netted two yards. Armstrong’s pass to Thompson on 2nd down appeared a bit off and was broken up by defensive end Amare Barno. On 3rd down, UVA pulled out the tricks. Armstrong rolled right and threw back left to offensive tackle Bobby Haskins, who was dropped for a 5-yard loss.
“[Virginia Tech’s defense] played it really well,” said Mendenhall. “You have to be disciplined to play the play well, and they were, and they made a nice play.”
UVA’s night was over when Armstrong overshot receiver Ra’Shaun Henry in the end zone on 4th and 13. Armstrong surpassed Bryce Perkins at UVA’s new single season record holder in total offense and amassed 405 yards passing, but he and his teammates left David A Harrison III Field with another heartbreaking Commonwealth Cup defeat. Tech ran out the clock, claiming the Cup and earning a spot in a postseason bowl game.
UVA has a bowl game of its own to look forward to, but the sour taste from the self-inflicted wounds in losses at Pitt and to Virginia Tech should linger for a while.
“It takes time just like anything, especially when you put a lot into it and you come up short,” said Mendenhall, whose team has lost four straight to finish the regular season 6-6, including 4-4 in the ACC. “Bowl games matter, and playing them every year matters, and winning them matters and that’ll be the next thing.”
– Bronco Mendenhall postgame press conference
– Highlights, Courtesy of ACC Digital Sports Network
Mendenhall is a joke practice what you preach.Earned not given he recruited the players and coaches them,so who is to blame?
A friend said he would be shocked if Armstrong didn’t transfer — to a team with defense. He said this a week ago, and I dismissed it. Now? I very much see that as an option, one that I hope isn’t chosen.