(Photo Courtesy Matt Riley/UVa Media Relations) Bryce Perkins threw for 258 yards, but inability to mount much of a running game was a problem for UVa Saturday RALEIGH, NC – After Virginia couldn’t stop Indiana’s ground game in the second week of the season, Bronco Mendenhall went back to the drawing board. He thought he had the problem fixed. Turns out, that was only a band-aid. The Cavaliers, minus several starters missing on defense, had no answer for N.C. State’s running game at sold out Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, and paid the price, dropping a 35-21 decision to the Wolfpack. […]

Well, it’s another Friday, game day is tomorrow, so it’s time to look at the tale of the tape between Virginia and N.C. State. Weather should be close to perfect again (partly cloudy and 79 degrees at game time) and the key stat seems to be the Wolfpack’s explosive passing attack. Defensively, Virginia has better team statistics, but the Wahoos have not faced a quarterback like Ryan Finley, as the Wollfpack passing game is ranked No. 1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. To see the complete chart of “Tale Of The Tape” click on “Continue Reading” below: Saturday, September 29, […]

The popular Mailbag is back with some of our readers’ questions, answered by yours truly. If you have a question, send it to the following email address: In honor of how my old friend Bill Millsaps used to answer his readers’ when he was sports editor in Richmond, we always start ours off just like he did: The reader writes … Question from Anthony E in Las Vegas: Hey Jerry, when do you think the rest of the country will begin to notice Bryce Perkins? Hootie: Tony, I think that’s starting to pick up. I was listening to Rick Neuheisel […]

We’re into Week Five of Hootie’s ACC Power Poll, ranking the 14 league teams in order of performance in our humble opinion. If you want a lowdown on all the ACC action, reviewing last week, previewing this weekend, and the scoop on Clemson’s quarterback change, and UVa’s and Tech’s journeys to Tobacco Road, check out our audio section and look for the Ourlads ACC show with yours truly and host Greg DePalma, and some special guests who breakdown all the ACC. Now, for this week’s Power Poll. Some of the mighty have fallen: Rank, School, Overall record/ACC, Previous rank, Comment […]

Virginia’s secondary’s toughest test of the season will come Saturday in Raleigh when the Cavaliers face N.C. State quarterback Ryan Finley. Finley ranks 20th in NCAA statistics in yards passing with 1,056 in but three games, but those numbers don’t address the quality of this strong-armed, experienced quarterback who will be playing on Sunday’s. “I think he’s the best quarterback we’ve seen since we’ve been here as far as just a passer,” said UVa co-defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga of the staff’s three years in Charlottesville. “[Finley] has seen it all. He knows how to diagnose coverages, knows how to throw […]

When longtime ACC rivals Virginia and N.C. State face off for the 58th time Saturday, there will be a greater sense of unfamiliarity than in previous matchups in the series, which dates back to 1904. Ever since the league has been split into two divisions, schools can go several seasons — six in this case — between meetings. Each side admits that there may be a small amount of knowledge when you factor in scouting other like opponents on film, but more attention is being paid to the team you’re preparing for. In his 14 years as a head coach, […]

Virginia’s Joe Reed gets behind the Cardinals defense for a fourth-quarter score It took a little while for the Virginia offense to kick into gear Saturday in the ACC opener against Louisville, but better late than never. The Cavaliers moved to 3-1 on the season as Bryce Perkins returned from a brief injury he suffered late in the first half, then wowed the crowd by hurdling defenders, throwing a pair of second-half touchdowns and running for another in a convincing 27-3 victory over the Cardinals at Scott Stadium. On the third play of the third quarter, Perkins threw just his […]

Bryce Perkins has become the “Thorterback” the Virginia offense has been looking for Holly Mendenhall isn’t accustomed to getting the answer from her husband that she received Friday night, the eve of Virginia’s ACC opener against Louisville. Bryce Perkins leaps over a defender “She asked me, ‘How do you think you’re going to do?’” UVa coach Bronco Mendenhall explained to media after the Cavaliers dominated visiting Louisville, 27-3 on Saturday. “I said, we’re going to win.” Rarely does Mendenhall say that to his wife or to anyone else for that matter. His confidence showed to his team because he noticed […]

Young U.Va. alumni (from left) Mary Ann Goode, Ray Ramirez and Carrie Leon celebrate on the Hill In the first half of Virginia’s ACC opener against Louisville Saturday, the offense managed just six points on a pair of first-year kicker Hunter Pearson field goals, after starter A.J. Mejia misfired wide right from 32 yards out on the opening possession. Charles Snowden (11), Aaron Faumui celebrate big play on D The Cavaliers needed a lift after failing to convert otherwise over the opening 30 minutes of play, and it was the UVa defense that provided the spark as the ‘Hoos (3-1, […]

Well, it’s Friday morning, game day is tomorrow, so it’s time to look at the tale of the tape between Virginia and Louisville. Weather should be close to perfect (partly cloudy and 78 degrees and game time) and the stats seem to favor the Wahoos. They’ve gained considerably more yards on offense than Louisville, and given up fewer yards and points than the Cardinals. Both teams are 2-1, but as Hootie pointed out in an earlier piece, the explosive Louisville offense of the past is not the same one they will be bringing to Charlottesville. Could be a great opportunity […]

Bryce Perkins against Ohio last week When Virginia coordinator Robert Anae and quarterbacks coach Jason Beck were scouting the Ohio defense, they must have been champing at the bit to unleash Bryce Perkins “the passer,” on the Bobcats’ secondary. Until last Saturday, Perkins was known more for beating you with his legs than his arm. His performance in Vanderbilt Stadium, in a game moved to Nashville because of potential hurricane issues, Perkins showed that teams better not sleep on his passing skills. UVa’s junior quarterback completed 25 of 30 pass attempts for 379 yards and three touchdowns against Ohio in […]

Scattershooting around the ACC, while betting that most of you are sitting around wondering when the last time a Virginia running back had the kind of success that Jordan Ellis had last Saturday in Nashville … Ellis, a senior from Suwanee, Ga., carried the ball 19 times for 171 yards and three touchdowns against Ohio in that game played at a neutral site due to the threats of hurricane activity. Before you get overly excited, remember the numbers were put up against Ohio, which ranks 80th out of 129 FBS teams in rush defense. Still, it was a memorable performance […]

Rank, School, Overall record/ACC, Previous rank, Comment: Clemson, 3-0/0-0 (1). Tigers have won an amazing 46 of their last 50 games. Shouldn’t have any trouble making it 47 out of 51 against Georgia Tech this weekend. Wondering if Clemson’s big hoss in the middle, Ferrell, who leads nation in sacks per game, and sixth in tackles, might just wreck Tech’s option. Virginia Tech, 2-0/1-0 (2). The Hokies, who sat out last week’s action due to Hurricane Florence, will play their new best friend, Old Dominion this weekend. The two teams are scheduled to meet 13 times through 2031. ODU is […]

At this time a year ago, Louisville’s offense was terrorizing most anything in its path. Elusive quarterback Lamar Jackson, the Heisman Trophy winner from 2016, was actually putting up video game-like numbers that rivaled and sometimes surpassed his Heisman year. Wow, have things changed. Jackson is now with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, and Louisville is surprisingly struggling mightily on offense. The Cardinals come to Charlottesville’s Scott Stadium this Saturday with a 2-1 record, but it hasn’t been easy in terms of scoring points. In fact, Louisville ranks 11th in the 14-team ACC in scoring per game (21.7) and dead last […]

It’s always sunny in Arizona. No, that’s not an advertisement by that state’s Chamber of Commerce. Instead, it came from Arizona-bred Bryce Perkins during Monday’s Virginia football interviews. Perkins was asked about the whole bizarre hurricane thing, UVa having to relocate its home game to Nashville, Tenn., to avoid the threat of Hurricane Florence over the weekend, something the junior quarterback was totally unfamiliar with. When a reporter asked him if he’d ever been involved in a game being moved because of a hurricane, Perkins took full advantage of the situation. “Never,” the QB smiled. “I’ve barely been around rain.” […]