Wasted opportunities plague Virginia in 14-12, 4OT loss to Miami

By Scott Ratcliffe

Virginia let a second-straight win slip away on a number of events Saturday towards Miami, as an alternative falling 14-12 in a wild, quadruple-overtime affair at Scott Stadium.

After failing to place any factors on the scoreboard within the opening half, the Cavaliers (3-5, 1-4 ACC) tied the sport at 3-3 within the third quarter after which took a 6-3 benefit with simply over 12 minutes left in regulation on a pair of Will Bettridge area targets.

Together with a number of dropped passes that might have saved a number of drives alive earlier within the contest, Virginia got here up empty on a first-and-goal alternative late within the third, as Brennan Armstrong’s would-be landing go from a yard out bounced off of tight finish Grant Misch’s fingers and fell to the turf on fourth down.

That chance was made potential by the longest play from scrimmage — by both facet — all day, as Armstrong threw a go within the flat on third-and-3 to Mike Hollins, who made a transfer and hustled 64 yards down the house sideline and appeared to attain a landing, however was dominated out on the 1-yard line. Misch slipped ultimately zone on the next play, as Keytaon Thompson’s soar go supposed for him additionally may’ve put six factors on the board.

Nonetheless trailing by three, the Hurricanes (4-4, 2-2) acquired the ball again with a little bit over 5 minutes left within the fourth quarter and had an opportunity to place the sport away after choosing up a primary down on the UVA 3-yard line with 1:29 on the clock.

The Cavaliers stuffed Jacurri Brown on first-and-goal, nevertheless, earlier than senior free security Coen King tripped up Miami working again Henry Parrish Jr. for no achieve on the next play.

The Hurricanes have been then flagged for an unlawful substitution with 37 ticks remaining, backing them as much as the 7-yard line. King once more got here away with an enormous sort out, stopping Parrish quick on the 2-yard line on third down, and Andres Borregales knotted the rating at 6-6 with a 20-yard area objective because the fourth-quarter clock hit triple zeroes, and the sport went to additional time. King completed with 13 tackles (9 solo) on the afternoon, second solely to Nick Jackson’s game-high 14 stops (4 solo).

Miami acquired the ball first and solely picked up a yard earlier than settling for a Borregales 42-yarder to take a 9-6 lead. Fentrell Cypress II practically intercepted a Jake Garcia go on third down that might’ve given the Wahoos an opportunity to win it with a rating.

On Virginia’s first collection, Armstrong couldn’t decide up a primary down on two straight run performs, then was sacked for a four-yard loss on third down, and Bettridge nailed a 41-yard area objective to pressure a second further session.

UVA acquired the ball first in double OT, however once more needed to accept three after solely gaining a yard on three performs. Bettridge’s ensuing field-goal attempt acquired a fortunate bounce off of the left upright and in, as his financial institution shot put Virginia again in entrance, 12-9.

Miami answered with a 37-yarder to tie it at 12-all, and from there, the groups alternated on one-play, 2-point conversions from the 3-yard line till a winner was decided.

Issues once more appeared engaging for Cavalier followers after senior robust security Antonio Clary intercepted Garcia on Miami’s try, because the Hoos simply wanted to get the ball ultimately zone from three yards away to clinch the victory.

“Clary flew round, all these guys flew round,” UVA defensive coordinator John Rudzinski mentioned of his protection. “They bled for the V-Sabre, and so they bled over and again and again. That’s on all three phases of the ball.”

Nonetheless, Virginia dedicated a false-start penalty, transferring the ball again to the 8, and Armstrong’s ensuing go into the tip zone supposed for Dontayvion Wicks fell incomplete.

UVA acquired it first to start out the fourth additional time interval, and Armstrong couldn’t hook up with Lavel Davis Jr. alongside the again of the tip zone. Garcia then put issues on ice with a 3-yard keeper round the precise edge and dove in for the deciding 2-point run, leaving the Wahoo devoted shocked and deflated. It was the one play of the sport for both staff that acquired previous the objective line. The play was reviewed and confirmed, because the Hurricanes started to rejoice alongside the sideline.

“We simply wanted to make yet one more play than they did, and so they made a play there on the finish and we didn’t make a play,” mentioned Virginia head coach Tony Elliott. “But it surely looks like that’s been the theme with us offensively, is we’re simply leaving factors on the sphere.”

Virginia gained simply 96 whole yards within the first half (26 passing, 70 speeding) and solely transformed 4 first downs, going 2 for 7 on third down. The Hoos solely had the ball for 12:16 and punted on all 5 first-half possessions.

Regardless of all of that, the UVA protection saved the Cavaliers within the contest, limiting the U to three factors whereas coming away with 3 sacks and 5 tackles for loss throughout the primary half-hour.

The offense lastly acquired going to start out the second half, as Armstrong accomplished a 30-yard toss to Thompson on the third play from scrimmage after halftime.

On the subsequent snap, Davis snuck behind the Hurricanes’ secondary and was large open, however needed to come again to safe the catch of the underthrown Armstrong supply. Nonetheless, the play went for 47 yards and gave Virginia a first-and-goal at Miami’s 3-yard line, however the Hoos misplaced 7 yards on a botched jet sweep earlier than Armstrong was stopped for no achieve on third down, and got here away with only a area objective.

“Positively not the result that we wished, and the fellows are going to be sick once they watch these 4 or 5, possibly six performs that might have made an enormous distinction within the sport that we didn’t make,” mentioned Elliott.

On the afternoon, the Cavaliers wound up with 327 whole yards, whereas holding Miami — which was enjoying with out beginning quarterback Tyler Van Dyke — to 272. Armstrong accomplished 15 of his 25 passes for 208 yards whereas additionally main the staff in speeding with 67 web yards on 20 carries.

Recreation Stats

Scoring Abstract
Miami      0 3 0 3 8 — 14
Virginia    0 0 3 3 6 — 12

Second Quarter
UM (0:00) — Andres Borregales 38-yard area objective. Miami 3, Virginia 0.

Third Quarter
UVA (10:42) — Will Bettridge 27-yard area objective. Virginia 3, Miami 3.

Fourth Quarter
UVA (12:11) — Will Bettridge 24-yard area objective. Virginia 6, Miami 3.
UM (0:00) — Andres Borregales 20-yard area objective. Virginia 6, Miami 6.

Additional time
UM — Andres Borregales 42-yard area objective. Miami 9, Virginia 6.
UVA — Will Bettridge 41-yard area objective. Virginia 9, Miami 9.
UVA — Will Bettridge 41-yard area objective. Virginia 12, Miami 9.
UM — Andres Borregales 37-yard area objective. Virginia 12, Miami 12.
UM — Jake Garcia two-point rush. Miami 14, Virginia 12.

Participant Stats

Dashing
UM — H.Parrish Jr. 24-113; J.Brown 5-28; L.Stanley 3-18; R.Brinson 1-(minus-3); J.Garcia 5-(minus-9). Whole: 38-147. UVA — B.Armstrong 20-67; P.Jones 7-28; M.Hollins 2-16; X.Brown 4-8. Whole: 33-119.

Receiving
UM — C.Younger 5-46; W.Mallory 3-22; B.Smith 2-16; X.Restrepo 1-11; F.Ladson Jr. 1-10; J.George 1-9; Ok.Smith 1-7; H.Parrish Jr. 1-4. Whole: 15-125. UVA — M.Hollins 1-64; L.Davis Jr. 1-47; Ok.Thompson 5-41; B.Kemp IV 5-28; D.Wicks 1-14; S.Wooden Jr. 1-9; X.Brown 1-5. Whole: 15-208.

Passing
UM — J.Garcia 15-29-125-0-0; J.Brown 0-3-0-0-0. Whole: 15-32-125-0-0. UVA — B.Armstrong 15-25-208-0-0; Ok.Thompson 0-1-0-0-0. Whole: 15-26-208-0-0.

Recreation Notes

Miami Quotes

Cavaliers’ protection places them in place in loss to Miami

Column: UVA’s red-zone woes proceed to mount; go the Pepto please

UP NEXT
The Cavaliers will look to bounce again subsequent Saturday when Coastal Division-leading North Carolina involves city (Midday, ACC Community).