Virginia O struggles in loss to Duke

Virginia Cavaliers 2009 ... Head Coach: Al Groh

2009 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 5-7
2009 Record: 3-5

9/5 William & Mary L 26-14
9/12 TCU L 30-14
9/19 at Southern Miss L 37-34
9/26  OPEN DATE
10/3 at N Carolina L 16-3
10/10 Indiana W 47-7
10/17 at Maryland W 20-9
10/24 Ga Tech L 34-9
10/31 Duke  L 28-17
11/7 at Miami
11/14 Boston College
11/21 at Clemson
11/28 Virginia Tech

2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 7-5
2008 Record: 5-7

930 USC L 52-7
9/6 Richmond W 16-0
9/13 at Connecticut L 45-10
9/20  OPEN DATE
9/27 at Duke L 31-3
10/4 Maryland W 31-0
10/11 East Carolina W 35-20
10/18 No Carolina W 16-13 OT
10/25 at Georgia Tech W 24-17
11/1 Miami L 24-17 OT
11/8 at Wake Forest L 28-17
11/15  OPEN DATE
11/22 Clemson L 13-3
11/29 at Virginia Tech L 17-14

Virginia Cavaliers

Oct. 31
Duke 28 … at Virginia 17
Will Snyderwine kicked five field goals and Thaddeus Lewis connected with Conner Vernon for a 42-yard touchdown as Duke won its third ACC game in a row. Even though the Blue Devils dominated the Cavaliers, outgaining them 424 yards to 196, they didn’t put the game away until the final minutes with Charlie Hatcher returning a fumble for a touchdown 23 seconds after the Vernon score. Jameel Sewell ran for a one-yard score and threw a 19-yard touchdown pass for the Cavs.
Player of the Game: Duke QB Thaddeus Lewis completed 24-of-40 passes for 343 yards and a touchdown with an interception, and he ran for 13 yards.
Virginia: Passing: Jameel Sewell, 8-22, 86 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Rashawn Jackson, 16-83, Receiving: Joe Torchia, 3-44, 1 TD
Duke: Passing: Thaddeus Lewis, 24-40, 343 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jay Hollingsworth, 12-39, Receiving: Donovan Varner, 7-113
What It All Means: Virginia did a nice job of getting into the Duke backfield, registering six sacks, and it was strong on third downs forcing five field goals when the game could’ve been put away early with touchdowns. But the offense struggled to get the running game going and didn’t do enough to control the game and the clock, and now the bowl hopes are probably down the drain. This was when the big run was supposed to come with two straight home games, but the Cavaliers lost by a combined score of 62 to 26 to Georgia Tech and Duke. With no offensive pop and struggling play from the lines, it’s going to be hard to get by Miami and BC to stay alive. 

Oct. 24
Georgia Tech 34 … at Virginia 9
The Georgia Tech offense sputtered early in the rain with drops and ineffectiveness, and Virginia took advantage with a 6-3 lead. And then the Yellow Jacket attack kicked in with a punishing long drive, finishing with a one-yard Josh Nesbitt run, setting the tone and an 18-play drive, culminating in a one-yard Anthony Allen run helping Tech go on a 20-point run. Allen put the game away in the fourth with a 20-yard touchdown run and Nesbitt tacked on a two-yard scoring dash. Tech outgained Virginia 447 yards to 199.
Player of the Game: Georgia Tech RB Josh Nesbitt completed 4-of-8 passes for 85 yards and ran 21 times for 89 yards and two scores.
Virginia: Passing: Jameel Sewell, 18-32, 169 yds
Rushing: Jameel Sewell, 5-26, Receiving: Vic Hall, 5-51
Georgia Tech: Passing: Josh Nesbitt, 4-8, 85 yds
Rushing: Jonathan Dwyer, 24-125, Receiving: Demaryius Thomas, 3-76 
What It All Means: Virginia couldn’t find any running game against a Georgia Tech defense that’s not stopping anyone cold. The defense saved the day over the three-game winning streak, allowing just 19 points, but it didn’t have a prayer once the efficiency and speed of the Yellow Jacket running game took over. The Cavalier D couldn’t get off the field, especially in the third quarter, and the offense never found a rhythm. Next week’s game is against Duke, and it needs to be a win with Miami and Virginia Tech still to deal with.

Oct. 17
Virginia 20 … at Maryland 9
In lousy conditions, Virginia was helped by four takeaways and overcame a 9-3 deficit with a 32-yard Nate Collins interception return for a touchdown and a two-yard touchdown run from Rashawn Jackson. Maryland only managed 284 yards and three Nick Ferrara field goals, but the defense kept Virginia to 201 yards of total offense and nine first downs. The Terps were killed by turnovers and weren’t able to answer over the last 17 minutes.
Player of the Game: Virginia DT Nate Collins made nine tackles with a sack and two tackles for loss
Maryland: Passing: Chris Turner, 16-38, 158 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Davin Meggett, 11-52, Receiving: Adrian Cannon & Torrey Smith, 3-34
Virginia: Passing: Jameel Sewell, 13-23, 137 yds
Rushing: Rashawn Jackson, 19-90, 1 TD, Receiving: Vic Hall, 5-53
What It All Means: Will Jameel Sewell’s ankle injury affect the offense? Virginia was able to get by Maryland with just 201 yards of offense because the defense forced four turnovers and the Terps shot themselves in the foot, but there’s a ton of work to be done to get to a bowl game and Sewell has to be under center. The offensive line struggled early on, but the O didn’t make big mistakes, got help from a pick-six from Nate Collins, and put the game away when it had the chance. With home games against Georgia Tech and a suddenly-hot Duke up next, now the Cavaliers get to show whether or not they’re for real in the ACC race. 

Oct. 10
at Virginia 47 … Indiana 7
Mikell Simpson ran for four short touchdowns and Jameel Sewell threw a 21-yard touchdown pass and ran for a score on the way to a 47-0 lead. Indiana didn’t get on the board until midway through the fourth on a 12-yard Bryan Payton run, but the Hoosier attack had been limited gaining just 272 yards. The Cavaliers outgained IU 231 yards to 82 on the ground.
Player of the Game: Virginia RB Mikell Simpson ran 15 times for 83 yards and four touchdowns, and he caught four passes for 66 yards.
Indiana: Passing: Ben Chappell, 22-33, 177 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Demetrius McCray, 13-47, Receiving: Tandon Doss, 9-76
Virginia: Passing: Jameel Sewell, 20-30, 308 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Mikell Simpson, 15-83, 4 TD, Receiving: Vic Hall, 6-85, 1 TD
What It All Means: Where was this team three weeks ago? It’s not like Indiana is Alabama, but Virginia’s offense was able to do whatever it wanted to early on, while the defense stuffed the Hoosiers and forced them to get out of their comfort zone throwing it. The offensive line came up with its best game of the year, and now with Maryland up next, there’s a chance to go on a three-game winning streak and be right back in the hunt for a bowl game, and possibly more. As bad as the season was to start, Virginia is still 1-0 in ACC play.

Oct. 3
Virginia 16 … at North Carolina 3
Robert Randolph hit three field goals and Mikell Simpson ran for a eight-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter as Virginia stunned the Tar Heels. The North Carolina offense managed just 174 yards and a 39-yard Casey Barth field goal, and while the game was close until late, the Cavs were almost never threatened.
Player of the Game: Virginia RB Mikell Simpson ran 20 times for 100 yards and a score, and led the Cavs with four catches for 45 yards.
North Carolina: Passing: T.J. Yates, 20-36, 135 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Shaun Draughn, 14-25, Receiving: Greg Little, 8-63
Virginia: Passing: Jameel Sewell, 13-24, 136 yds
Rushing: Mikell Simpson, 20-100, 1 TD, Receiving: Mikell Simpson, 4-45
What It All Means: It’s not like the defense gave any indication that it could come up with a performance like this. The defensive front was all over the UNC running game, while the secondary came up with the plays needed to get off the field. The offense wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t make any back-breaking mistakes while the offensive line came up with a solid day against a great Tar Heel front four to get Mikell Simpson and the running game going. The nation’s worst line in pass protection was a disaster, allowing four sacks, but Jameel Sewell didn’t panic and didn’t throw any picks. Can the momentum continue against Indiana? For now, just getting a big win like this should be savored after the way the first three weeks went. 

Sept. 19
at Southern Miss 37 … Virginia 34
Virginia got out to a 13-0 lead helped by a 69-yard Tim Smith touchdown pass, but Southern Miss chipped back with a six-yard Damion Fletcher touchdown run and a two-yard Ryan Hanks scoring catch to keep it close, but Jameel Sewell’s second short rushing score of the day gave the Cavs a 34-17 lead. But Freddie Parham answered with a 100-yard kickoff for a touchdown to spark a run of 21-unanswered point with Fletcher running for a ten-yard score and Tory Harrison giving the Eagles the lead for good on a 57-yard dash.
Player of the Game: Southern Miss RB Damion Fletcher ran 26 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
Southern Miss: Passing: Austin Davis, 14-26, 130 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Damion Fletcher, 26-115, 2 TD, Receiving: Tory Harrison, 3-34
Virginia: Passing: Jameel Sewell, 24-46, 312 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Dominique Wallace, 11-35, Receiving: Kris Burd, 6-79, 1 TD
What It All Means: At least the Cavaliers showed a sign of life. But even when everything was going the team’s way, it couldn’t come up with the big stops needed late to get what would’ve been a strong road win. While the 0-3 start, and the seven-game losing streak, is a disaster, there’s a chance to start anew in ACC play at North Carolina. The line play has to be night-and-day better, and the offense has to be more consistent, but if Jameel Sewell can throw as well as he did against the Eagles, the Cavs will have a fighting chance.

Sept. 12
TCU 30 ... at Virginia 14
TCU dominated in a game that wasn't nearly as close as the final score with the spread giving the Horned Frogs a 24-0 lead after three quarters, and three Ross Evans field goals giving the Horned Frogs a 30-0 lead before late in the fourth quarter. The Virginia points came in garbage time with Jameel Sewell hitting Javaris Brown for a 56-yard score and to Tim Smith on a 26-yarder. Virginia gained just seven first downs, with four of them coming in the fourth quarter.
Player of the Game: TCU DE Jerry Hughes made 11 tackles and a sack
Virginia: Passing: Jameel Sewell, 8-18, 120 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jameel Sewell, 21-35, Receiving: Javaris Brown, 2-57, 1 TD
TCU: Passing: Andy Dalton, 15-21, 177 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Joseph Turner, 10-66, 1 TD, Receiving: Bart Johnson 3-32
What It All Means: The team is a complete and utter disaster. TCU might be good, but at home, the Cavaliers need to have some semblance of an offense. Nothing happened against the swarming Horned Frog defense with just seven first downs and 177 yards, and most of the production coming too late. There isn't any rushing production, with Mikell Simpson gaining just 32 yards on eight carries, and things aren't going to get much better with Southern Miss up next.

Sept. 5
William & Mary 26 ... at Virginia 14
Virginia turned it over seven times, with B.W. Webb coming up with three interceptions with a 50-yard game-sealing touchdown, in the shocking upset. Brian Pate hit four field goals for the Tribe as part of a run of 19 unanswered points. Virginia started out the scoring with a 34-yard run from Vic Hall, and got an eight-yard scoring dash from Jameel Sewell for a 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter, but that was it. Along with the seven turnovers, Virginia committed eight penalties while William & Mary committed 12.
Player of the Game: William & Mary's B.W. Webb intercepted three passes.
William & Mary: Passing: R.J. Archer, 23-44, 184 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: R.J. Archer, 9-46, Receiving: D.J. McAulay, 5-51
Virginia: Passing: Jameel Sewell, 9-17, 80 yds, 3 INT
Rushing: Vic Hall, 8-54, Receiving: Mikell Simpson, 6-28
What It All Means: Much will be made about how this is the end of the Al Groh era, but he has a way of pulling out huge wins when he absolutely needs them. The problem is the quarterback situation with no production from any of the options against William & Mary and far too many turnovers. 12 first downs, 268 yards of total offense, and 5-of-17 on third downs is unacceptable, but on the plus side, the defense wasn't awful. However, the D might have to come up with scores next week or the Cavaliers could be shut down cold by TCU.