When Virginia Needed It The Most, The Defense Came Through

On a night when the Virginia offense struggled to get much going, it was the Cavalier defense – and special teams – that came through on multiple occasions with timely big plays that led to a crucial 16-13 win against 16th-ranked Miami.

The reigning Coastal Division champion Hurricanes rolled into Scott Stadium averaging 41.5 points a game, but the ‘Hoos came through time after time and play after play with clutch stops, sacks, pass breakups and interceptions to move to 4-2 on the season and 2-1 in the ACC.

Coach Bronco Mendenhall had high praise for his defensive unit and coaches after the memorable win.

“It’s huge,” the coach said of what the defense contributed to the victory. “It looked like they wanted to play and they were anxious to play regardless of the circumstance and they felt confident. I sensed that during the week and that they delivered was phenomenal.”

The defense held the Hurricanes to 14 total yards in the first quarter, setting the tone with a 4th-down stop on Miami’s opening drive as Tim Harris and Eli Hanback combined to limit starting quarterback N’Kosi Perry to one yard when he needed two.

The Cavaliers forced a three-and-out on Miami’s next possession before a pair of interceptions on the following two UM drives chased the redshirt freshman Perry out of the game, his first start on the road.

“One of our key goals as a defense when we go into a game is that we want the second quarterback come into the game [in a 2-QB situation],” said second-year safety Joey Blount, “and just make plays and cause turnovers. And when we saw [backup Malik Rosier] come in, we knew that they’re trying to find something new – whatever they’re doing is not working – and that fired us up.”

It wasn’t just the interceptions themselves, but what the Wahoos did with them afterwards that stood out. Blount ran the first pick back 31 yards, while Juan Thornhill’s 62-yard scamper, finding lanes and weaving his way inside the Hurricanes’ 10-yard line set up the lone Wahoo touchdown two plays later, early in the second quarter.

When Miami got the ball back, Virginia forced another three-and-out thanks to a Bryce Hall breakup on third down.

Bryce Perkins threw his third interception of the half on the next snap, giving the ‘Canes a short field as they started from their own 48, but the Wahoo defense stood strong yet again. On a 3rd-and-8 from the UVa 20, Zane Zandier and Mandy Alonso teamed up for a sack, holding Miami to a field goal.

Miami’s final drive of the first half started at its own 15-yard line, and it looked like trouble when running back Travis Homer busted one loose in the open field on second down.

“I had a cover-three zone, so I was on top of my receiver so I kind of had an angle when I saw [Homer] break out, and as soon as I saw him go loose, I just kind of clicked in,” said Hall. “I was like, ‘I gotta go, I gotta go.’ So I just put my head down, pumped my arms, pumped my legs and gave it all I could and just ran him down and luckily I was able to push him out of bounds and save a touchdown.”

Three plays after the 70-yard gallup, on a 3rd-and-5 from the UVa 10, Brenton Nelson knocked away a pass in the end zone intended for Michael Harley and the ‘Canes settled for a field goal.

“At the time it was like, ‘Dang, we just gave up a big play,’ but man, our defense held that stop and we had each other’s back and it felt really good to see how we could corral out of that,” Hall admitted. “It came down, at the end of the game, that’s when you really appreciate those plays the most.”

The ‘Hoos held Miami to just 1 for 6 on third downs in the first half and 4 for 11 on the night. The Hurricanes had a long six-minute drive to start the third quarter and were knocking on the door at Virginia’s 24-yard line, but Charles Snowden and Malcolm Cook stuffed Trayone Gray for no gain on a huge 4th-and-1 to keep it a 7-point contest.

“They just kept answering the bell,” Mendenhall said of his defense. “Miami is a turnover-producing, momentum-gaining, change of possession-exploiting team – our defense answered and didn’t allow that to happen.

“They squelched the momentum before it ever got away from us. My hat’s off to our coaches and players – secondary especially – making just tons of plays down the field.”

Thornhill had a rough night in the 44-28 loss at Miami last season, and he admittedly took it personal.

“Last season, I feel like I didn’t play as well,” Thornhill said in Monday’s press conference prior to the game. “They threw the 50/50 balls and I really didn’t make the play on a ball – I was hurt at the time and I really wish I could get that game back, so I feel like I’m going to have to make a statement in this game and just come out ready to play.”

Mission accomplished, statement made. Thornhill, who Sunday was named Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, snagged his second interception of the game off of a tipped ball with 8:53 to go.

“Last year, I felt like I was the reason for us losing that game,” said Thornhill, whose second interception return netted 24 yards, “so this year, I wanted to be the reason why we won the game. So I was out there playing my heart out every single play, just trying to make as many plays as possible.”

The ‘Hoos accumulated 117 interception return yards (39 yards per return) and broke up five Miami pass attempts. Zandier led the team with nine total tackles, as he was one of seven Cavaliers with at least five stops on the evening.

Miami’s leading wideout Jeff Thomas, who entered the game averaging 24.8 yards per catch and three touchdowns, was held to just one five-yard reception.

There were bigtime plays made by the UVa special teams as well, with Brian Delaney’s three field goals and Evan Butts’ onside kick return of 30 yards that helped lock up the win.

The best part of it all was the final result, seeing the fans rush the field under the lights to celebrate a win over a ranked opponent on national television.

“There’s nothing like it,” said Blount with a smile. “That reminded me of last year against Georgia Tech when we clinched a bowl berth and it’s just a huge game and a testament to our culture changing here, and a new standard has finally really begun.”

Hall agreed.

“Man, that was awesome,” Hall said of the storming of the field. “To see everybody just so happy and full of joy, especially my first year we went 2-10, and to come from that and you used to see fans leaving at halftime, games weren’t going so well, so it’s just exciting that we can help change the culture of this thing.”