Virginia’s running game kept Tar Heels’ explosive offense on sidelines when it mattered

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia’s running game played a major role in the Cavaliers ability to pull off the upset against North Carolina last Saturday night.

Coming into the game, UVA was ranked No. 54 in the nation in rushing with an average of 164 yards per game. Having success against Carolina’s defense was supposed to be a challenge because the Tar Heels were giving up only 128 per game.

Everyone knew coming in that UNC had struggled against running quarterbacks and Virginia had two of ‘em in starter Brennan Armstrong and backup Keytaon Thompson. That combination plus additional rushing from Shane Simpson and Wayne Taulapapa helped bring the 15th-ranked Tar Heels down, 44-41.

Virginia rushed 51 times for 210 yards and gained 4.1 yards per attempt.

In the crucial, 15-play, 9 minutes and 2 seconds drive during the fourth quarter, which led to a field goal and put the Cavaliers up 44-34 with 4:07 to play, UVA offensive coordinator Robert Anae called 12 running plays, including nine consecutive runs in eating the clock.

It turned out that drive was the fourth-longest scoring drive in UVA football history.

That helped the Cavaliers dominate time of possession in the fourth quarter, essentially 12 minutes to only 3 minutes for the Tar Heels.

Carolina coach Mack Brown, who has never won in Charlottesville in seven tries, said it reminded him of two weeks ago when Florida State rushed for 241 yards on his defense.

“We couldn’t stop the run,” Brown said. “It was a repeat of Florida State. I thought [Virginia] blocked us better than we blocked them and that’s a credit to Virginia. It was a very, very physical game.”

The Tar Heels have struggled in physical games and UVA came ready to play in that department and never let up.

Virginia’s Simpson, a transfer from Towson, led the Cavaliers in rushing with 70 yards on eight carries (8.8 per touch). Armstrong added 66, Thompson 43 and Taulapapa 29.

“Very, very proud of [the nine-minute drive],” said Simpson, who also hauled in a 71-yard touchdown pass. “[A long drive] ruins a defense and it just sucked the life out of the defense and made sure they didn’t want to play anymore. So, that’s pretty much what that drive was.”

Simpson turned in a strong performance and showed why he was a consensus FCS All-American in 2018 prior to a knee injury in 2019.

“I’m just doing my 111,” Simpson said. “That’s what has been my motto my whole life. I actually have a tattoo on my hand that says ‘patience,’ so I’m just waiting for my moment and I have the guys around me to help me do it.”