Cavaliers rue missed chances

Virginia’s victory train pulled out of the station with eight minutes to play Saturday night, but no one was aboard.

Two and a half minutes later, the train derailed as the Cavaliers imploded, choked away their 17-12 lead and lost 28-17 to visiting Duke.

Holding the five-point lead, it appeared that momentum had swung UVa’s way when defensive back Chase Minnifield picked off a Thaddeus Lewis pass in the back of the Cavaliers’ end zone, squelching a Duke threat to regain the lead.

With 8:01 remaining in the game, all Virginia had to do was keep making first downs, milk the clock and escape with a win over the Blue Devils.

Instead, the final eight minutes were a nightmare for the Cavaliers. Rather than hold that momentum, their next three offensive series were a disaster.

Following the Minnifield interception, UVa gained possession of the ball at its own 20. After back-to-back running plays by tailback Rashawn Jackson (gaining two yards, then losing a yard), the Cavs were faced with a third-and-nine situation.

Quarterback Jameel Sewell dropped to pass but was under pressure and scrambled for three yards, forcing a UVa punt. The series consumed two minutes, 25 seconds.

Duke took a chance on its third-and-nine and Blue Devils wide receiver Conner Vernon beat UVa senior cornerback Chris Cook in press coverage on a 42-yard scoring strike that definitely shifted momentum back in Duke’s favor. The Devils led 18-17 after failing on a two-point conversion try with 3:45 to go.

Virginia’s next offensive series was even less impressive. A block-in-the-back penalty on Mike Parker put the Cavaliers back at their own 13 after the kickoff return. Sewell threw two incompletions, then on third-and-10, he was stripped by Duke defensive end Ayanga Okpokowuruk, with teammate Charlie Hatcher picking up the loose ball and rumbling into the end zone.

“Coach [Marion] Hobby was just telling us to finish our rushes,” Okpokowuruk said after the game. “We had plans on how we were going to pressure the quarterback. I just did a spin move. I didn’t think it was going to work really.

“I turned around and the quarterback was right there and when I tackled him, I went for the ball,” the Duke senior end said. “I didn’t even know it came out. I looked up and I saw Hatcher bringing it up in the end zone.”

In a mere 23 seconds, Virginia found itself down 25-17 with 3:22 to play and reeling from one disaster after another.

The next series was no better. Sewell threw three straight incompletions, two to wide receiver Jared Green (one deep), then another over the head of slot receiver Vic Hall, then was sacked on fourth down.

Duke kicked a field goal to ice its second straight win over the Wahoos.

So, during Virginia’s three critical possessions at the end of the game, all the Cavaliers could muster was minus-6 yards, five incomplete passes, a sack, and a fumble resulting in a touchdown.