#TeamAFP is in the press box at Scott Stadium for today’s matchup between Virginia (1-0) and Illinois (1-1, 1-0 Big Ten). The game kicks off bright and early at 11 a.m. and airs on the ACC Network. Follow for live updates, commentary and analysis.
Pregame Coverage
ACC Network is making me get out of bed early
If you’re wondering why UVA kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday with Illinois, you can thank the ACC Network, which is trying to offer its handful of viewers a quadruple-header of second-rate games.
Deep dive into UVA-Illinois breakfast buffet
#TeamAFP’s Scott German and Chris Graham, ahead of ordering the french toast special, break down tomorrow morning’s UVA-Illinois Power 5 matchup.
Ra’Shaun Henry: Mr. Touchdown
Ra’Shaun Henry is the 2021 Cris Carter. Chris Berman would love him. Cue highlight: “All Ra’Shaun Henry does is catch touchdowns!”
Virginia getting a lot of production from the QB room these days
Bronco Mendenhall, a numbers guy, a defense-first guy, doesn’t come across as the kind of coach who would sign off on having multiple quarterbacks on the field at the same time.
Scott German: Reminiscing with Virginia football great Ray Savage
Ray Savage finished his illustrious Virginia football career earning All-America honors at defensive end/outside linebacker in 1989.
What UVA Football fans need to know about Illinois
There were two minds as to how Virginia would approach its game plan on offense last weekend.
Will the nickel be Virginia’s base D this season?
Virginia, in its 43-0 season-opening win over William & Mary, went with the 3-3-5 as pretty much its base defense. Was that a sign of what Bronco Mendenhall wants to do on that side of the ball this season?
Virginia vs. Illinois: Time, TV/streaming info, game notes
Virginia (1-0) will host Illinois (1-1) at Scott Stadium on Saturday with a breakfast kickoff – at 11 a.m., thanks to the fine folks at the ACC Network.
Cavaliers, Fighting Illini continue series for first game outside of the Sunshine State
This coming Saturday morning (11 a.m. ET kickoff) Illinois will face an ACC opponent for the 10th time, including two postseason games against Virginia.
Live Coverage
Where is everybody?
If there’s 30,000 people here, I’ll eat my hat. This is on the ACC and ESPN.
Quick strike first drive
Jelani Woods has a 41-yard catch on the first play from scrimmage, then scores on a 32-yard pass from Brennan Armstrong. If Illinois is going to play single safety and leave the middle of the field open, he’s going to have 200 yards through the air today.
Quick strike second drive
Um, hmmm. That was four plays, 80 yards, 28-yard TD pass from Armstrong to Dontayvion Wicks. The first drive was four plays, 76 yards.
You like that?
Illini finally get a stop
UVA picked up a fourth-and-one at the Illinois 32, but the drive stalled from there, and Justin Duenkel missed from 46 yards.
Illinois finally adjusted midway through that drive to drop more guys back into coverage, and Armstrong was incomplete into deep coverage on the new set of downs on first down, then checked down and was incomplete to Keytaon Thompson on third down.
Three-and-out
Armstrong checked down to Mike Hollins on a go route incomplete on first down. Probably should have been a defensive PI, but no call.
On third down, he went deep for Ra’Shaun Henry. Had Woods open over the middle, but didn’t see him.
First quarter quick summary
Brennan Armstrong threw for 171 yards and two touchdowns, propelling UVA to an early 14-0 lead over Illinois after one quarter.
Virginia outgained the Illini 210-39.
The UVA D allowed just one Illinois first down.
Illini get on the board
After the field goal miss, Illinois drove 72 yards on eight plays, picking up a third-and-one near midfield to extend the drive, scoring on a 33-yard pass from Artur Sitkowski to Deuce Spann. We’re at 14-7, 11:09 on the clock in the second quarter.
Feels like the worm has turned
Illinois has taken away the deep stuff. BA is going to have to dink and dunk, and the O line is going to have to get the running game going.
Duenkel misses again
UVA drives to the Illinois 9, but the drive stalled, and Duenkel was wide right from 31.
Fake snap under center?
Seven plays, 62 yards, the TD coming on a look I’ve never seen before. Third-and-four from the Illinois 6, Keytaon Thompson, in motion across the formation, ran under center, deked as if he were about to take the snap, then went back in motion.
Brennan Armstrong found a wide-open Dontayvion Wicks in the end zone.
The Illinois defense looked befuddled as to what was going on.
I’m with them.
Quick halftime wrap
UVA leads 21-7 at the break. The ‘Hoos have a 338-121 advantage in total offense. The game is as close as it is because of two missed field goals.
Brennan Armstrong was 14-for-21 for 251 yards and three TDs.
Illini with the quick strike to open the third quarter
Chase Brown runs 21 yards for a TD 2:01 into the third quarter. That was a four-play, 75-yard scoring drive.
Today’s official attendance
They say 36,036. I demand an audit.
UVA responds
Nice nine-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a solidly executed 2-yard TD pass from Armstrong to Billy Kemp IV, who lined up in the backfield and sprinted out into the flat to take the pass.
Armstrong also caught a pass on the drive, an 18-yarder from Dontayvion Wicks.
Big three-and-out for the D
The UVA D gets the stop on third and long. Noah Taylor, dropping back in coverage, broke up the pass on third, which would have been short of the first anyway.
The first-down play, a play-action, was also well-defensed. None of the three receivers on the route had any light.
Big game for Taylor so far
Four tackles, one sack, one pass breakup.
KT for the TD
Nine plays, 74 yards, capped by an 8-yard TD run by Keytaon Thompson, who has five catches for 68 yards, four runs for 24 yards and a TD.
Armstrong is 23-of-31 for 333 yards, four TDs and a 207.0 passer rating.
‘Hoos lead 35-14, with the clock at 4:06, third quarter.
Third quarter quick sum
Armstrong is now 24-for-32, 368 yards, four TDs, 212.9 passer rating.
UVA has a 504-200 advantage in total offense.
Ground games: 22 runs, 11 by actual running backs (118 yards total, 61 by the backs).
Armstrong’s fifth TD
A hobbling Brennan Armstrong threw his fifth TD pass of the day, a 3-yarder to Wayne Taulapapa, and that should be it for the first-teamers.
UVA 42-14, 6:02 on the clock in the fourth quarter.
BA: 27-of-36, 405 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT (on a tipped ball), 209.8 passer rating.
He also had 31 yards on five carries on the ground and he had an 18-yard catch.
Live Coverage by Chris Graham
Share
Chris Graham
