VIRGINIA
   Correspondent
UVa earns respect against UCLA in opener
<p>Take away the 2nd quarter and the Hoos pull a huge upset in Week 1. Unfortunately for Virginia, all four quarters count and the offense completely imploded in the 2nd. There was supposed to be no QB controversy this year with touted metro Atlanta product 2nd year Greyson Lambert slated to be the starter under center all year. That changed quickly after two #picksixes sandwiched a #scoop&score. I just had to make a reference to the hashtags that ESPN feels the need to promote for some reason - I actually have no issue with the "picksix", but "scoopandscore" is over the top and it's painful/awkward listening to the announcers use it. I know this makes me sound like one of the crotchedty muppets Waldorff and Stadler, but so be it! Anyway, back to the game, which changed quickly once back-up 2nd year QB Matt Johns (only on the field as a holder normally) entered the game and led the Hoos on a scoring driving with a long TD throw not long before half to make it 21-10. In fairness to Lambert, his arm was hit while he was throwing on the first TD by UCLA's top D-lineman and it wasn't his fault a receiver fumbled inside the UCLA 30 (wasn't down by an eyelash), but he made a terrible read and throw for the 3rd TD and his day was done.</p>
<p>The UVa D played a great game all day long harassing and hurrying UCLA QB Brett Hundley who was coming off a very strong '13 campaign, which was capped by a Bowl win over the VT Hokies (just had to get that in). Hundley has been mentioned in Heisman talk, but he'll need more protection from his O-line to get in that conversation after last week. The one drive that he led UCLA on proved decisive in a 28-20 win. I thought that UVa coach Mike London had lost his mind after calling three straight running plays deep in UCLA territory late in the game, but my Dad tells me the 3rd down play-call was a pass and the young QB Johns misunderstood the play that was signaled from the sideline. London did have a gutsy 4th down play call earlier that I didn't agree with at the time, but they converted and that led to a score. All in all, it was strong performance for the 21 point underdog Wahoos.</p>
<p>Expect UVa to get in the win column this Saturday against London's former squad - the Richmond Spiders, however, it will likely not be easy. Richmond is a strong FCS school that has given UVa fits recently.</p>
Archives
By | Title | Date | |
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Arod | UVa pulls major upset over Louisville | 9/20/2014 4:51:54 PM | View |
Arod | UVa earns respect against UCLA in opener | 9/4/2014 10:37:28 PM | View |
Arod | No respect - UVa picked last in ACC Coastal Preseason vote! | 7/24/2014 11:28:35 AM | View |