After Virginia football’s close defeat to Louisville, we take a look back at our keys to victory for the Cavaliers, analyzing how they executed each one in their first ACC loss of the year:
If you want to read the original article: UVA Football: Five Keys to a Virginia Victory over Louisville
An Injured Virginia Secondary Rises to the Occasion
With Antonio Clary out for this game, the Virginia secondary entered Saturday depleted and needed backups to step up to the big stage. Ethan Minter did just that with an interception in the fourth quarter to help maintain the Virginia lead, a massive play by the true freshman safety, embracing the next-man-up mentality. Despite that one play, the Cavaliers secondary struggled at other times, including allowing a 61-yard gain in the air by Ja’Corey Brooks, which, thankfully only ended in a field goal. The UVA secondary gave up some big plays, but was not the primary reason this game ended in a loss.
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Pressure Pressure Pressure
The Cavaliers struggled to get pressure on Louisville’s Tyler Shough, managing to record only two sacks and one quarterback hit. Allowing Shough to have time allowed him to get into a rhythm, which, towards the end of the game, ended up being the dagger for the Cavaliers as Shough looked way too comfortable on that game-winning touchdown drive.
Need a Spark Play
Did a spark play happen? Yes
Did Virginia capitalize on the momentum? No
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Xavier Brown’s 46-yard touchdown reception to take the lead was the spark that Virginia needed. A massive touchdown in the fourth quarter put the Cavaliers ahead and in a firm position to pull off the upset against an ACC foe. Despite this, Virginia appeared to be lost offensively after the touchdown. Anthony Colandrea and Malachi Fields miscommunicated on multiple routes on drives after the touchdown, which was extremely sloppy and concerning, especially in the game’s final quarter. Virginia appeared to have almost taken their foot off the gas as their offensive efficiency faltered after the massive touchdown—a disappointing end for the Cavaliers.
Establish the Run
148 yards on the ground for the Cavaliers on Saturday, not great.
On the ground, Anthony Colandrea led the way with 84 yards rushing. At times, Kobe Pace showed flashes of the Virginia running game getting started. Still, it never truly sparked, putting more weight on the depleted wide receiver unit that struggled, especially in the critical moments.
Depleted Wide Receiver Core Steps Up
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Malachi Fields led the way with 129 yards in the air, filling the void for Trell Harris and Chris Tyree, who both missed their second game in a row. Behind Fields, Kameron Courtney, Jaden Gibson, and Andre Greene Jr. struggled to create separation on their routes, creating tough throws for Colandrea, especially on that final drive where the sophomore needed more options for where to throw the ball. UVA needs to get its WR room healthy as soon as possible.
UVA Football Report Card: Handing Out Grades for Virginia vs. Louisville
By the Numbers: Breaking Down Virginia’s Loss to Louisville
UVA Football: Five Takeaways From Virginia’s 24-20 Loss to Louisville
VIDEO: Malachi Fields, Anthony Colandrea & More React to Louisville Loss
Signs that say, “Don’t Fairfax Me” and “Vote No” are appearing in rural parts of Virginia in opposition to gerrymandered maps being voted on in a special election.
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‘Don’t Fairfax Me’: Northern Virginians fight redistricting plan
As the special election that will determine the fate of a plan to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts approaches, the state’s largest jurisdiction has started being referenced as a verb in messaging opposing the initiative.
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Signs that say, “Don’t Fairfax Me” and “Vote No” started appearing in rural parts of Virginia, Cardinal News reported. And on social media, Del. Wren Williams, whose district includes several counties in the southwestern portion of the state, defined “Fairfaxphobia.”
Early voting has been underway for weeks, but on April 21, voters will decide whether to OK a plan that would redraw Virginia’s congressional map. Currently, the state has elected six Democrats and five Republicans across its 11 districts. The proposed map could give Democrats a 10-1 advantage, experts say.
Virginia Democrats argue the step comes in response to President Donald Trump’s push for redistricting in Republican-led states. Republicans have been critical of the effort.
Williams is describing “Fairfaxphobia” as a fear that political power concentrated in Fairfax County will make decisions for the whole state and create policies impacting some communities that they can’t afford.
“We don’t want to be Fairfax County,” Williams told WTOP. “We don’t want skyscrapers. I don’t want to have to go somewhere outside and walk around to find some patches of grass to touch. I am interested in rural life, a little bit easier, a little bit simpler, a little bit more laid back, not as fast paced.”
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“Fairfaxphobia” graphic circulated to represent the fear that political power concentrated in Fairfax County will make decisions for the whole state. (Courtesy of Wren Williams)
As part of the proposed map, Williams said, “at least five districts run up and split up Fairfax County, which will eventually lead to five sitting congressional members from the county of Fairfax, and that’s just not representative of the entirety of the commonwealth.”
Jeannette, a longtime Northern Virginia resident, said people who live in the northern part of the state “are seen as an anomaly, maybe to the rest of Virginia, given our, I think, collective more liberal leaning. And I understand why they’re saying that, but I think we should separate that from the goal of the referendum.”
Dave Lincoln, meanwhile, said Friday he hadn’t heard about the signs in rural parts of the state but, “I guess it’s — we are what we are.”
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell called the campaign disappointing, because “Fairfax County does a lot for the entire state. If it wasn’t for Fairfax, our state would have the economy of Mississippi.”
The “Don’t Fairfax Me” signs say they’re paid for and authorized by a political action committee called “New Vision VA.” Dominion Energy made a $25,000 donation to the PAC, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
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Yves Fischer, who lives in Alexandria, said the messaging and advertising on the redistricting referendum are confusing.
For Tiffany, “I guess they’re saying ‘Don’t Fairfax’ Virginia, because obviously we are a much more educated, classy, professional, employed area, and we, of course, are going to vote ‘yes’ on this.”
In Springfield on Friday afternoon, Ann said she hadn’t seen or heard about the signs, but, “It should be a big ‘no.’ It’s not right. It’s not fair to most Virginians.”
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ABINGDON, Va. (WCYB) — The made in Southwest Virginia artisan and craft market returns April 11, 2026.
The Southwest Virginia Cultural Center in Abingdon will host more than 20 local artists.
Those artisans will offer demonstrations of their work and they’ll also be selling some of their crafts.
“We want to give this opportunity for community members to come out, as the weather is warming up and as spring is rolling around, to meet these makers and take home a little bit of Southwest Virginia,” Ryan Vaughan with the Friends of Southwest Virginia said.
A new West Virginia law aims to boost the state’s coal and natural gas sectors while more than tripling its electricity generation capacity to 50 gigawatts by 2050.
The measure, signed Thursday by Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey, is designed to turn West Virginia into an energy hub for the data center industry. By sending more electricity to the regional grid and leveraging his state’s relatively lax regulations, Morrisey and his allies are looking to lure data centers to the state, as well as power those beyond its borders.
“We know there’s virtually unlimited need for energy in our country,” Morrisey said at a bill signing of H.B. 5381. “PJM and our grid operators, they’re starving for states to step up and take the lead. And that’s what West Virginia is doing.”
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The new law calls for the state’s Office of Energy to produce rolling five-year plans to keep the state’s existing coal-fired power plants operating through 2050, while also developing new “baseload” energy powered by gas, nuclear, geothermal and hydrogen.
