For the second consecutive year a decent outing by the Virginia defense kept the Hoos in a game against Duke but another woeful performance by the offense ensured another Cavalier defeat. As the small crowd of long-suffering Duke fans hugged and exchanged high-fives in the stands, the Virginia football team muddled into the locker room Saturday evening to contemplate another miserable loss and begin what figures to be another difficult month in a season that finds UVa on the brink of a third losing campaign in four years.

The deficiencies in the passing game and game management of the coaching staff present during the first seven games continued to slow the Cavaliers against the Blue Devils. Despite holding Duke, averaging 30.6 points over its previous three contests, to 21 points, there were more critical breakdowns in an area considered to be the team’s strength – the defensive backfield. Virginia, as it did a week ago against Georgia Tech, repeatedly gave up big plays to the Devil offense. With four games remaining and a visit to 16th-ranked Miami looming, the Hoos are trying to remain confident while searching for answers to problems that have plagued this outfit for nine weeks.

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