Diamond Cavs get their due

Thank goodness for the Virginia baseball team.

Just before kickoff, the squad raised the “Power of Orange” flag behind the north end zone. The team, which made it to the College World Series for the first time in school history this past spring, was also honored with a video clip on the stadium’s new video board, as well as an on-the-field tribute at the end of the first quarter.

In what wound up being a shocking home loss to William & Mary, the ovation for the tributes were some of the loudest of the game.

More honors

Virginia coaches Brian O’Connor (baseball), Brian Boland (tennis), Dom Starsia (lacrosse), Jason Vigilante (track and field) and Mark Bernardino (swimming) were all honored for their achievements during a second-quarter timeout. O’Connor was national coach of the year, while the others were ACC coaches of the year.

Local Tribe

William & Mary featured a number of players from the Central Virginia area, including quarterbacks R.J. Archer (Albemarle) and Michael Graham (Monticello); defensive backs Terrell Wells (Louisa County) and Ethan Lee (Buckingham County); linebacker Sheldon Alexander (Woodberry Forest); wide receiver Eric Robertson (Albemarle).

The shanks

When William & Mary kicker Brian Pate missed three first-half field goals, nobody was probably more surprised than Pate. The senior from Fredericksburg missed three (in 16 attempts) all of last season.

Butter fingers

Virginia had several opportunities in the first half to make interceptions, but simply could not catch the ball. Chris Cook, Chase Minnifield and Denzel Burrell all dropped passes that seemed catchable.

Last season, Virginia finished with just 11 interceptions, which ranked ninth in the 12-team ACC.

Sultan of swat

Virginia nose tackle Nick Jenkins blocked the second field goal of his career when he deflected Pate’s second-quarter attempt. Jenkins’ other block came last season against Richmond.

Hall highlights

When Virginia starting quarterback Vic Hall completed a pass on the Cavaliers’ opening drive, it marked his first completion since the 2007 game against Connecticut, when he tossed a 35-yard pass to Chris Gorham.

Hall’s first-quarter touchdown run marked the second time in his last two games he has recorded scoring dashes of more than 30 yards. He darted for a 40-yarder against Virginia Tech in the finale last year. He also had a 16-yarder against the Hokies.

Extra points

Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell’s second-quarter rushing TD was his first scoring run since he rushed for a pair of scores against Virginia Tech during the 2007 season. … Four Cavaliers made the first start of their career: linebacker Steve Greer, receivers Kris Burd and Javaris Brown and offensive tackle Landon Bradley. …  True freshman Dominique Wallace got the first carry of his career during the third quarter. … Saturday’s game marked the start of the 120th season in Virginia football history.