UVA Football, trailing 13-7 at halftime, got me thisclose to switching the remote to my favorite Saturday night entertainment, Grit TV, and a shoot-em-up Western.
I had little confidence that the Cavaliers would, or could, make halftime adjustments to get back in the game with 18th-ranked Pitt.
I wanted heads to roll.
Bench quarterback Anthony Colandrea.
Athletics Director Carla Williams should fire head coach Tony Elliott at halftime.
Then someone, anyone, should fire Carla Williams. Again, at halftime.
Confession time.
I did indeed switch to Grit TV, only to find the movie was one I had seen about 200 times.
So, reluctantly I switched back to the ACC Network to watch the second half of the Virginia-Pitt game.
Knowing, I was going to see the same outcome, again, for about the 200th time.
Except it wasn’t.
In Virginia’s first eight games this season, the Cavaliers were outscored 85-23 in the third quarter.
Pitt had reversed a 7-0 deficit, scored 13 straight points, and held a 13-7 lead, and was looking to add to its lead.
Often, games have numerous key plays or turning points.
Not this one.
Midway through the third quarter, Pitt moved the ball down to the Virginia 30.
The Cavaliers defense forced the Panthers to a field goal attempt.
Pitt kicker Ben Sauls lined up for a 47-yard attempt that would have given the Panthers a two-score lead.
And then, it would be downhill for UVA from that point on.
But, on that play, the game pivoted.
Jonas Sanker, coming from around the edge, got enough of a touch on the ball to deflect it harmlessly to the ground.
The Cavaliers immediately drove the field to score a touchdown, to take a 14-13 lead that they would not relinquish.
UVA won the third quarter 14-0.
Did I mention that entering the game the Cavaliers had been outscored 85-23 in the third quarter this season?
The 14-0 third quarter may not seem like much, but to me, it was huge.
It’s an indication that the team might be getting better.
Saturday, Virginia was able to turn the game around in the third quarter and position the team to win a game against a good opponent.
And indeed, Pitt is good.
The Panthers, despite getting walloped last week by SMU, entered the evening 3-1 in the ACC, and 7-1 overall.
Considering what had happened earlier in the day, Georgia Tech upsetting Miami, the Panthers controlled their own destiny toward an appearance in the ACC Championship Game.
A win in Charlotte, and Pitt would have been headed to the College Football Playoff.
So, yes Pitt had a lot to play for.
The upset was Virginia’s third road win of the year, the first time the program has accomplished three or more road wins since 2011.
It was also UVA’s second road win against a ranked opponent in as many seasons, having beaten UNC in Chapel Hill in 2023.
Yep, for all the criticism of Elliott, progress is being made.
Even more reason for encouragement was that Virginia’s offensive showing Saturday in the Steel City was far from spectacular.
Far from it.
Offensively, the Cavaliers did enough to win.
Virginia’s total yards of 340 doesn’t stand out, until you do a deeper dive.
It was a balanced attack of 170-170 split between the run and the pass, which kept the Pitt defense on its heels all night.
The Virginia ground game was effective against a strong Panther defense.
Xavier Brown and Kobe Pace both averaged over four yards per carry and both scored touchdowns in the red zone.
Who gets the credit for the resurgent running game?
Obviously, the offensive line, the much-maligned O-line, opened some big holes all game.
While Anthony Colandrea was sacked six times, some of those were simply him running out of bounds, behind the line-of-scrimmage.
Elliott challenged his team to hit the reset button after an embarrassing home loss to UNC and then a bye week.
The Cavaliers were up to the challenge, with a vastly improved defensive effort and a balanced offensive attack and improved to 4-0 under Elliott after a bye.
While Saturday’s effort was anything but perfect, there’s no questioning the Cavaliers’ effort against the Panthers.
With three tough games remaining, beginning Saturday against another CFP contender, Notre Dame, the road just gets tougher for UVA.
But for now, Virginia is still traveling that road.
And keeping me away from Grit TV.
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