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By Jeff White (jwhite@virginia.edu)
VirginiaSports.com
CHARLOTTESVILLE – With a convincing win over North Carolina, Virginia moved into first place in the ACC’s Coastal Division and became bowl-eligible in consecutive seasons for the first time in more than a decade.
But much has changed in head coach Bronco Mendenhall’s program since last season. When UVA defeated Georgia Tech to become bowl-eligible in 2017, fans at Scott Stadium rushed the field to celebrate.
The scene was less frenzied Saturday afternoon after Virginia defeated UNC 31-21. UVA players ran over to the north end of Scott Stadium to mix with their fellow students, and laughter and smiles abounded in the locker room, where quarterback Bryce Perkins punctuated the victory by smashing a ceremonial rock with a sledgehammer.
These Cavaliers, however, are in no way satisfied with six wins.
“We expect to get bowl-eligible,” said fifth-year senior Jordan Ellis, one of Virginia’s captains. “Our goals are higher than that. Our goal is winning the ACC championship, and that’s something that’s realistic to us.”
This is Mendenhall’s third season at UVA. After finishing 2-10 in 2016, the Wahoos posted a 6-7 record last season, when they advanced to a bowl game for the first time since 2011. With four regular-season games remaining this season, Virginia is 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the ACC.
“I think the fans, the players, we all collectively are acting different, because the program has moved to a different place that it was one year ago,” Mendenhall said.
As for what this team might achieve, Mendenhall said, “I don’t believe in setting limits … For this season, why take anything off the table?”
After becoming bowl-eligible last year, in their ninth game, the ‘Hoos closed the regular season with four straight losses. They’re determined to avoid a similar letdown this fall.
“No one really doubted whether we were going to win six [game this year] or not,” said senior wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, another team captain. “It was always [a question of], what are we going to do after we win six? I’ve been telling people this is not a time to forget how we got here, especially with what we did last year.”
On an afternoon when the Cavaliers totaled 425 yards – 208 rushing and 217 passing – their brightest stars on offense were Perkins and Zaccheaus.
Perkins, a junior who enrolled at UVA in January after transferring from Arizona Western College, rushed 21 times for 112 yards and one touchdown. He completed 18 of 27 passes for 217 yards and three TDs – one each to junior wideouts Joe Reed and Hasise Dubois and senior tight end Evan Butts.
“He’s a good football player,” UNC head coach Larry Fedora said. “He can really run, and it makes you do some things that open up some things in the passing game … There were times there when he got out on the edge, and we have some guys that can run, and he outran them.”
Zaccheaus caught 10 passes for 108 yards – both game highs – and broke a UVA record that stood for 16 years. With 213 career receptions, Zaccheaus has the most in program history. He passed former UVA great Billy McMullen (210) on Saturday.
McMullen, who spoke to UVA’s wideouts in the spring, sent Zaccheaus a direct message before the game Saturday and wished him well.
“It’s an honor, especially knowing the type of receivers that have come through this program and this university,” Zaccheaus said, “and I’m grateful for the people that have helped me get where I am today.”
With Zaccheaus, Mendenhall said, the “capability has always been there, but his drive for excellence keeps accelerating to a higher level. He’s hungrier to be better.
“He also knows — and we’ve talked really bluntly [about this] — that if he doesn’t play well, we don’t have a great chance to win. So he’s able to shoulder that, and then put it in a place where he can still focus on his game and his production and help our team.”
The Cavaliers’ defense gave up 271 passing yards, but it silenced UNC’s powerful running game. Virginia held the Tar Heels (1-6, 1-4) to a season-low 66 yards rushing. In each of their first six games, the Heels rushed for at least 161 yards.
“Our ability to play good run defense was the starting point for this [victory],” Mendenhall said.
He also liked his team’s edge in time of possession – 39:05 to 20:55. “We wanted to hold the ball as much as possible, and then generate points, and that’s exactly what happened,” Mendenhall said.
On the game’s opening possession, UVA went up 7-0 with a drive that ate up 6:47 and featured the footwork of Perkins, who rushed for 53 yards.
That created room for his teammates on subsequent drives, “because you can’t play normal defense with Bryce,” Mendenhall said.
Sophomore Brian Delaney’s 37-yard field goal pushed Virginia’s lead to 17-7 midway through the second quarter, but UNC answered with a touchdown drive.
The Cavaliers’ lead at halftime, 17-14, was anything but commanding. On the first series of the third quarter, however, the ‘Hoos forced a Carolina three-and-out, after which they needed only 60 seconds to score their third touchdown.
The drive started with a 29-yard completion from Perkins to Zaccheaus. It ended with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Perkins to Dubois, who made a terrific catch on an underthrown ball and ran untouched to the end zone.
Dubois finished with two catches for 40 yards. For the season, he has 32 receptions for 360 yards and three TDs.
“He still has a lot of work to do, and I will not let his head get big right now,” Zaccheaus said. “But obviously he’s more consistent and making plays when we need him.”
MEDICAL REPORT: Sixth-year senior Malcolm Cook, who’s in Virginia’s rotation at inside linebacker, did not suit up Saturday, and his availability for next weekend is certain. His classmate Tim Harris started at cornerback but suffered an injury midway through the first quarter and didn’t return to the game.
Better news for Virginia was inside linebacker Jordan Mack’s return to practice this week. Mack, who’s been out since Sept. 22 with a shoulder injury, was in uniform Saturday and warmed up with the team, though he didn’t play.
Mack, a three-year starter, is “very close” to returning, Mendenhall said. “What a great time to have him back and re-emerging. He will continue to gain momentum and be more and more healthy as we go down the stretch.”
GAME BALLS: Perkins and Zaccheaus, who added 30 yards on two carries, are obvious choices. Other standouts for the Cavaliers against UNC included:
* Delaney, who was perfect on four extra points, made his only field-goal attempt, and had touchbacks on four of his six kickoffs.
* Senior punter Lester Coleman, who twice pinned the Tar Heels inside their 20-yard line.
* Ellis, who suffered an ankle injury late in the first half against Duke last weekend and didn’t practice until Thursday. He carried 16 times for 64 yards against UNC.
“I knew he was tough, but I didn’t expect him to play as much as he did,” Mendenhall said. “So I was really impressed, and not only with him. Hasise was beat up as well. Both those guys, they were impressive today. Because they were hurting pretty good.”
* Bratton, who made four tackles, on one of which he combined with sophomore linebacker Rob Snyder for a 1-yard loss.
“Darrius played great,” Mendenhall said.
* Snyder, who had six tackles in his fourth start. He’s steadily improved since taking over for Mack next to Zane Zandier in UVA’s 3-4 defense.
Snyder is at the point “where you put him in, and we hardly even notice that other linebackers are gone,” Mendenhall said at his postgame press conference. “It’s great. In fact, he was the last player I just went and shook hands with before I came in here. I’m proud of him.”
* Sophomore outside linebacker Charles Snowden, who had three tackles and knocked down two passes.
* Senior outside linebacker Chris Peace, whose six tackles included a sack on which he forced a fumble that junior cornerback Bryce Hall recovered.
* Hall, who also made six tackles and broke up two passes.
“He’s the best corner in the ACC,” Zaccheaus said, “and [UVA’s wideouts] get to practice against him every day. If you can get open and get separation against him, then you should have confidence to do that during a game.”
THEY SAID IT: Mendenhall’s press conference lasted 13-plus minutes, after which numerous players with reporters. Among the noteworthy postgame comments:
* Ellis on Zaccheaus: “O’s one of the best football players I’ve played with in my whole career. The thing I admire the most is the way he goes about his business. He’s not a look-at-me guy. He’s just humble and goes about his business. I definitely respect that, and I try to be like that. We feed off each other.”
* Bratton: “I just try to keep a positive mindset and do whatever the team needs me to do. If Tim goes in, I just make sure I keep motivating him and motivating Bryce and all the DBs out there. Because we’re a unit. We play as a team.”
* Snowden: “The players hold each other accountable almost as much as the coaches do. I think that’s been where the biggest difference has been [this season].
Almost as soon as last year ended, the leadership of this team really came together, and they set the tone for what they want the rest of us to do, and we’ve all fallen in line.”
* Perkins on being selected to break the rock in the locker room: “It felt good, but I was never really worried about that. The win is good enough, to be honest.”
* Mendenhall: “I’m just thrilled for our team. I’m thrilled that the new standard is being fulfilled, and part of that, again, means that we expect to win football games. We expect to play in the postseason. It’s not something to marvel about or wonder about, it’s something that is real and it does happen. And that this team is doing that and has done it now back to back, I think is a significant accomplishment, and it’s worth pausing to consider what that means for Virginia football.
“I think there are roots being established, I think there’s momentum being generated and I think the expectation is shifting now to winning football at Virginia.”
* Mendenhall on Perkins’ poise in the pocket: “If any of us were that fast, we’d probably be like that too. Who’s going to catch you?
“I think he knows his ability, and he knows how close [defenders] can get, and they can get pretty close and still not catch him.”
HOME SWEET HOME: The Cavaliers’ next road game is not until Nov. 17, when they visit Georgia Tech in Atlanta. The second of three straight home games for UVA (6-2, 4-1) comes Friday night against Pittsburgh (4-4, 3-1). ESPN2 will televise the 7:30 game.
The Panthers have won three straight over the ‘Hoos and lead the series 7-3.
Pitt won a wild one Saturday at Heinz Field, rallying to defeat Duke 54-45.
The Cavaliers’ homestand concludes Nov. 10, when they take on Liberty at Scott Stadium. The starting time for the game is likely to be announced Monday. Virginia and Liberty never have met in football.
The Flames (4-3), off this weekend, play at Massachusetts next Saturday.