PITTSBURGH -- It seemed like the more Virginia tried to do something right on either side of the ball Saturday, the more things just kept getting worse in the Cavaliers' 38-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers.
Virginia missed its former stars on the defensive end, giving up four one-play touchdowns, as well as on offense, only scoring two field goals and a touchdown set up by an interception return.
On Pittsburgh's opening drive, senior quarterback Tyler Palko picked apart the defense with ease in a 65-yard drive, as he completed all seven of his attempts. The drive ended with a one-yard lob to tight end Darrell Strong for a 7-0 lead.
Virginia cut the deficit to 7-3 with a 48-yard field goal from junior Chris Gould at the 2:02 mark in the first quarter.
After the Panthers kicked a field goal to increase the lead to 10-3, Pittsburgh struck with 9:08 left to play in the half. On the first play of the drive, Palko delivered a 72-yard bomb to redshirt freshman Oderick Turner to increase the lead to 17-3.
Comfortable and poised from the opening whistle, Palko finished 17 for 22 for 283 yards and three touchdowns.
Safety Nate Lyles made his return to the field after a potentially career-ending neck injury Nov. 12, 2005, and helped Virginia climb back into the game before halftime. Lyles picked off a Palko pass and returned it to the Pittsburgh 13-yard line.
With time running down, senior tailback Jason Snelling ran up the middle for the Cavaliers' only touchdown of the game. This ended the half with Virginia only a touchdown behind, 17-10.
Redshirt senior quarterback Christian Olsen struggled in his debut as starting quarterback, going 17-34 for 133 yards and one interception that resulted in a Pittsburgh touchdown -- and a 24-10 Panthers lead with 8:37 left in the third quarter.
"It was just a bad play on my part," Olsen said of the play. "It was a little miscommunication between myself and the receiver. I just made a poor choice in throwing the ball."
Virginia would come back with Gould's second field goal of the day, drawing to within 11.
But Palko and the Panthers once again struck on the first play of the ensuing drive. With 4:25 left to play in the third quarter, Palko found junior Derek Kinder -- this time, heaving a 78-yard toss for another touchdown, making it 31-13.
Olsen and his wide receivers struggled all night. At the half, no wide receivers had recorded a reception, and later in the fourth quarter, sophomore receiver Kevin Ogletree dropped two passes in a row. The Cavaliers were without injured senior Deyon Williams.
With just over six minutes left in the game, coach Al Groh inserted junior Kevin McCabe at quarterback. After completing two passes, McCabe tried to shoot one to junior tight end Tom Santi, but instead it was intercepted by linebacker Clint Session and returned 78 yards for another touchdown.
"We're extremely disappointed and embarrassed with the outcome," Groh said.
Others looked at the match as just a way for the team to rebuild and improve.
"We didn't make some of the plays that we've been making all of training camp and in the past," senior tailback Jason Snelling said. "But that's football. Come Monday, we'll have to get back to the basics and get better."
Virginia's next game is Saturday at home against Wyoming.
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