It was a bitter final game at Scott Stadium for Virginia football’s seniors, losing 33-7 to Southern Methodist. The loss ensures the Cavaliers, (5-6, 2-4 ACC) will finish with a losing conference record for the third straight season.
Another abysmal offensive showing hamstrung Virginia, which was outgained 434 to 173 in total yards by the Mustangs (10-1, 7-0 ACC). Southern Methodist’s front four ravaged Virginia’s offensive line in dominant fashion. It was the lowest offensive output of the season for the Cavaliers, both in yards and points.
“I have to figure out quickly how to get this offense back in rhythm,” Coach Tony Elliott said.
Once again, the Cavaliers were unable to establish anything on the ground, held to 65 yards on 39 carries, 20 of which by sophomore quarterback Anthony Colandrea. The Mustangs’ stout interior defensive tackles were smothering presences, clogging gaps and foiling Virginia’s play calls. Additionally, the poor running game was not helped by the fact that junior running back Xavier Brown left the game early with an injury.
Unable to apply pressure to the spine of Southern Methodists' defense, the Cavaliers attempted to stress them with quick perimeter passes. These were largely unsuccessful however, as the Mustangs’ athletic second level defenders swarmed to the ball, limiting any potential yards after the catch.
When offensive coordinator Des Kitchings did dial up longer developing plays, the Cavaliers were so overwhelmed up front that Colandrea was forced almost immediately to scramble. On the few plays where Colandrea was able to avoid a sack and escape the pocket, he was unable to find receivers downfield. Cavaliers receivers merely drifted laterally, allowing Mustang defensive backs to stay in their hip pockets. Colandrea was under constant duress, ultimately getting sacked nine times.
“We didn’t do a good job protecting the quarterback,” Elliott said.
Colandrea’s experience couldn’t have been more antithetical than that of Southern Methodist sophomore quarterback Kevin Jennings. Jennings had copious time in the pocket, kept clean by the Mustangs' experienced offensive line.
After about a quarter of play, it seemed the lightbulb went off for Jennings that none of the Cavaliers’ defensive lineman were athletic enough to keep up with him. Jennings’ epiphany manifested itself in long, off-schedule, scrambles behind the line of scrimmage as he waited for receivers to come open. And unlike Colandrea’s, Jennings’ receivers did.
On one second quarter dropback, Jennings casually faded to the left for what felt like an eternity until, finally, Cavaliers converged on him. But Jennings effortlessly reversed fields and found a wide open receiver who made the catch and slipped one final tackle for good measure. It was a one play summation of Virginia’s defensive day.
It wasn’t only Virginia’s defensive line that struggled. The Cavaliers corners were constantly trailing Mustang receivers downfield, allowing Jennings to complete 75 percent of his passes for 307 yards. The Mustangs’ receiver got it done by committee, with no single player eclipsing 100 yards. Jennings went through his reads exposing the Cavaliers pervasive soft cushion technique with quick passes.
The secondary’s lone highlight came on one of these quick passes when graduate safety Corey Thomas Jr. jetted into the passing window of slant over the middle, nabbing the interception. Down by 20 at the time, the turnover seemed unlikely to spark a comeback, but it positioned the Cavaliers on Southern Methodists’ 34-yard line.
Sure enough, six plays later, Virginia’s offense turned the ball over on downs as Colandrea was sacked for a fifth time.
“We want Muskett!” chants rang down onto the field as Colandrea took yet another sack later in the fourth quarter. Coach Tony Elliott did not succumb to fan pressure, however, opting not to turn to Graduate quarterback Tony Muskett.
Colandrea rewarded his coach with an incredible scrambling touchdown pass thrown to senior receiver Malachi Fields in the back corner of the endzone. It was a fantastic individual effort, but proved to be the Cavaliers' sole scoring play of the day.
Southern Methodist took over and salted the clock, manhandling the Cavaliers up front. In the end, a 33-7 defeat was the final score.
Virginia will play its final regular season game of the season next Saturday in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech. The game will kick off at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on the ACC Network.
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