Virginia
UVA Football Report Card: Handing Out Grades for Virginia vs. North Carolina
Virginia was handed its third-straight loss in disastrous fashion on Saturday, getting blown off the field by North Carolina, who had lost its previous four games, 41-14 in Charlottesville. As we break down what we saw from the Cavaliers in their defeat to the Tar Heels and what it means moving forward, let’s hand out some report card grades for various players, position groups, and other categories to help evaluate Virginia’s performance in week 9.
Anthony Colandrea: D
Eight games into the season, Anthony Colandrea has, overall, been much better at taking care of the football than in his freshman year. Unfortunately for Colandrea and the Cavaliers, his two worst games in that regard have contributed to disastrous and costly defeats – first to Maryland in week 3 (2 interceptions in a 27-13 loss) and then on Saturday against North Carolina. While Colandrea was under duress for most of the game – taking nine sacks and getting hurried five more times – he didn’t deal with that pressure very well, failing to adjust with quicker decisions and quicker throws. And though he finished 16/28 for 156 yards, Colandrea was just 3/6 for 30 yards in the first quarter and 2/8 for 43 yards in the second quarter, leading to the lopsided 24-6 halftime deficit. Then came the interceptions, as Colandrea threw his first pick in 146 passing attempts on the first drive of the second half and broke a streak of four-straight games without an interception, then had a second interception returned 84 yards for a touchdown by Jahvaree Ritzie. Virginia had a lot of problems as a team on Saturday, but Colandrea having one of his worst games of his career was one of the biggest problems.
Offensive Line: F
Injuries were a major factor, as the Cavaliers were without starters Brian Stevens and Ty Furnish, who also happen to be the starting center and backup center. But even with those injuries, this was a horrendous showing for the UVA offensive line. Virginia gave up 10 sacks and finished with only seven total rushing yards on 29 attempts. On UVA’s first drive of the game, Noah Josey, who served as the center with Stevens and Furnish out, snapped the ball over Colandrea’s head, turning a 1st and goal from the 1-yard line into an eventual field goal. Virginia still took the lead, but you have to feel the game could have gone differently if the Cavaliers had set the tone with a touchdown there. UVA’s offensive line not playing a great game was somewhat expected with the injuries, but injuries seem to be a constant for this unit, and they must find a way to play well consistently even when a starter or two is out of the lineup.
Red Zone Offense: F
For the season, Virginia is now 12/33 in scoring touchdowns on red zone trips, just 36%. This time, the Cavaliers scored six total points on three red zone trips. There was the bad Noah Josey snap that cost UVA a nearly guaranteed touchdown. Virginia also had a 1st and 10 from the UNC 12-yard line, but two incomplete passes sandwiched around a short Colandrea scramble resulted in the Cavaliers settling for another short Bettridge field goal. Then there was the biggest disaster play of the game. Virginia had 1st and 10 at the UNC 16-yard line with a chance to make it 31-14 – still likely out of reach, but maybe on the way to making the final score respectable. Instead, Colandrea was intercepted by Jahvaree Ritzie and, partially due to a lack of hustle by the Cavaliers, the 6’4″, 290-pound defensive lineman was able to rumble 84 yards down the sideline for the touchdown, formally putting the nail in the coffin. UVA’s inability to execute in the red zone continues to be one of the team’s biggest issues. With just four games left in the season, it seems unlikely it’ll ever get resolved.
Tony Muskett: A
Before you ask: no, we’re still not pining for Tony Muskett to start over Anthony Colandrea; at least not yet. With that said, Tony Elliott said he’d be “evaluating” the quarterback position moving forward into the bye week. It must be acknowledged that Muskett has played well in his late-game opportunities recently and has also had a few good spot moments this season when he came in for single plays when Colandrea had to leave the field. On Saturday, Muskett completed 8/13 passing attempts for 125 yards and a long 68-yard touchdown pass to JR Wilson. That’s the second week in a row Muskett has nearly produced as many passing yards as Colandrea in significantly fewer snaps. While that production has usually been against the opponent’s backups in garbage time, the offense has generally looked better with Muskett running the show late than it has with Colandrea over the last three or four weeks – even the Boston College win had more to do with the defense. Even if Virginia considers a quarterback change, we’re not sure that’s gonna change the team’s fortune considering the way the entire team has played during this three-game losing streak.
Overall Offense: D
By the Numbers: Breaking Down Virginia’s Loss to North Carolina
Pass Defense: F
The Cavaliers were carved up by a third-string quarterback, as Jacolby Criswell completed 19 of 30 passing attempts for 293 yards and two touchdowns. Most of that went to J.J. Jones, who went for 129 receiving yards and two touchdowns on just seven targets. The Tar Heels had 10 big passing plays (15+ yards), including touchdowns that came on 37-yard and 31-yard completions. UVA’s defensive line had zero sacks for the second week in a row.
Run Defense: C
All things considered, this was not a terrible showing for the Virginia defense against one of the nation’s best running backs. Omarion Hampton racked up 105 rush yards on 26 carries and scored two touchdowns. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, Hampton didn’t have more production in part because UNC was having so much success passing the ball and because Hampton didn’t need to even be on the field late in the game. Virginia totaled four tackles for loss, but tackling was otherwise a significant issue for the Cavaliers.
Overall Defense: D
Special Teams: A
Will Bettridge made both of his chip shot field goals. Daniel Sparks punted four times for an average of 44.8 yards, including one that went 60 yards. There were no big returns allowed and no massive miscues. Of all of the things that went poorly for the Cavaliers on Saturday, special teams were not one of them.
By the Numbers: Breaking Down Virginia’s Loss to North Carolina
Virginia Football Suffers 41-14 Loss vs. North Carolina
Five Takeaways from Virginia Football’s 41-14 Loss to North Carolina
Virginia vs. North Carolina Live Score Updates | NCAA Football
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — West Virginia has plenty of state symbols, be it the black bear as the state animal, the cardinal as the state bird or the rhododendron as the state flower, but did you know that the Mountain State also has its own official gun?
The Hall Flintlock Model 1819 was first manufactured in Harpers Ferry by John H. Hall in 1811 and was adopted by the United States Army in 1819, making it the first breech-loading rifle ever adopted by a country’s military.
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Model 1819 Hall Breechloading Rifle presented by Congress to Gustavous A. Bird for his participation in the Battle of Plattsburgh 9/11/1814 by John C. Bird via the Smithsonian Institution -
Model 1819 Hall Breechloading Rifle presented by Congress to Gustavous A. Bird for his participation in the Battle of Plattsburgh 9/11/1814 by John C. Bird via the Smithsonian Institution
All of this information is listed in Senate Concurrent Resolution 7, which was introduced and passed during the 2013 West Virginia Legislative session, and officially recognizes the Model 1819 as the official firearm of the State of West Virginia.
On top of being created in West Virginia, the resolution also points out that the rifle saw use during the Civil War, an event that directly led to West Virginia’s statehood.
While having an officially recognized state firearm may seem far-fetched, West Virginia is not the only state that has one. As a matter of fact, a fifth of the states in the country have officially designated a state firearm, including West Virginia’s neighbors in Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In this world of college football, with the transfer portal and recruiting battles, bad blood is present more than ever before between head coaches.
That’s not the case between the Virginia Tech head coach and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, however. In fact, Franklin revealed at ACC Kickoff on Thursday that the two are actually close friends, dating back to their time at the Nike trip that various coaches take over the summer.
“Dabo’s my guy,” Franklin said on Thursday. “We go way back. We’ve been on the Nike trip for a long time. His wife and my wife are friends.”
The long-time Penn State head coach is making the move to the ACC after being fired from the Nittany Lions in October. 12 seasons of being with the program had Franklin hold a 44-21 record against top 10 opponents, an impressive record for a new conference foe of Swinney’s.
But when that trip comes around, there’s a camaraderie between Swinney and Franklin and both of their wives. In fact, the two hang out with each other instead of the other coaches at times. It simply comes to an “edgy” time in college athletics that raises tempers.
“I’m going to be honest, I wouldn’t say we’re necessarily like the type of people that love a lot of other coaches and a lot of other programs,” Franklin said. “It’s hard when you just compete year-round.”
On Swinney’s end, there are a few who could immediately come to mind among Clemson fans. Perhaps the most recent would be Ole Miss coach Pete Golding, who played the most significant role in the tampering of former linebacker Luke Ferrelli.
It’s a select list of coaches who make the good side of the Tigers’ head coach, and Franklin is certainly on that list. On the other hand, Hokies’ head coach has Swinney on his own shortlist.
“Obviously, tremendous respect for what he has built at Clemson and what he’s done at Clemson, and what he’s done for the ACC,” he said.
The two will see that close relationship face off at Memorial Stadium this upcoming season. Clemson will host the Hokies on Oct. 24 in what could be a potential title-eliminator for the ACC Championship.
Of course, the last game that we’ve seen the Tigers play in was against Franklin’s former team in Penn State at the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. That game ended in a 22-10 contest that saw a foundation of Franklin players end Clemson’s season in disappointment.
Swinney will see many of those players once again in October, including starting quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, in that contest. The anticipated Hokie starter recorded 260 yards and two passing touchdowns on the Tigers in the Bronx that day.
Although friends become foes, another ACC coach has given Swinney his flowers for what he’s been able to do for the conference. In the upcoming moments, Franklin will look to prepare his team to prove itself on one of the biggest stages in the ACC, while Swinney looks to put his team back at the top of a conference he’s dominated for over 15 years.
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MARTINSVILLE, Va. (WSET) — Extreme drought conditions in parts of Virginia have prompted an emergency drought warning for a wide swath of the region, including Bedford, Campbell, Charlotte, Franklin, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Patrick, Pittsylvania and Roanoke counties, along with the cities of Danville, Roanoke, Salem and Martinsville.
The governor has warned that if conditions worsen, she will activate mandatory nonessential water-use restrictions.
In Martinsville, city leaders have issued a voluntary water conservation notice and are urging residents and businesses to cut back where they can. The request comes as local businesses that rely heavily on water say the drought is already affecting day-to-day operations.
SEE ALSO: Botetourt County residents adjust daily routines as voluntary water restriction continues
John Hughes, owner of John’s Car Wash, said the dry conditions have hit his business hard in recent weeks. “For the last 3 weeks, it’s been hitting pretty hard. We done three yesterday and haven’t done anything today with the drought and hot weather. Yeah, I’m really concerned about it,” Hughes said.
Restaurants are also feeling the strain. David Kitzmiller, an owner of Be Wiched, said water is essential for routine tasks such as washing dishes and preparing some menu items.
“We use a lot of water for washing dishes and some of our recipes if they limit us in anyway defiently can’t produce and its a scary aspect,” Kitzmiller said.
Kitzmiller added that cutting back is not always realistic for businesses that must meet sanitation needs. “Not really feasible for a business that depends solely relies on water to wash their dishes, so that can’t definitely be an impact there,” he said.
City leaders emphasized that the conservation request is voluntary for now, but they are encouraging everyone to do their part by taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet when it is not in use, washing only full loads of laundry, and limiting outdoor watering whenever possible.
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