Return troubles crop up again

Virginia’s troubles in the punt-return game have become almost laughable.

At times last season, Vic Hall showed poor judgment calling for fair catches. In UVa’s loss last week to William & Mary, the senior didn’t look any better.

On Saturday, Chase Minnifield — filling in for the injured Hall — was equally poor.

In the first quarter, the sophomore inexplicably called for a fair catch on his own 3-yard line. As Minnifield came off the field, he was chastised by the Virginia coaching staff.

Later in the quarter, Minnifield, perhaps frazzled by his first returning experience, faked a fair catch at about the 10-yard line. The ball was downed by TCU at the 3.

Late in the fourth quarter, Minifield redeemed himself somewhat when he caught a punt and flipped the ball to teammate Ras-I Dowling on a reverse. The play went for 35 yards and set Virginia up for its second touchdown.

Smith scores

Freshman wide receiver Tim Smith caught his first college touchdown pass, a 26-yarder late in the fourth quarter that cut the lead to 30-14.

“It felt good,” said Smith, who is from Chesapeake. “There’s a big difference from high school to college.

“But this is what I came here for — to be a playmaker and to catch the ball. When I get the opportunity, I have to make the most of it.”

Smith said the score came on a slant-and-go route.

“He didn’t really bite, so I just went back out and Jameel [Sewell] put the ball on the money.”

Kicking debut

Virginia kicker Chris Hinkebein made his season debut on Saturday. The sophomore from Charlotte, N.C., handled the kickoff duties.

Robert Randolph had done the kicking off against William & Mary.

Empty seats

There was a noticeable amount of empty seats on Saturday, mainly in the upper tier of the stadium and on the hill where the students sit. The crowd of 48,336 was the smallest at Scott Stadium since a game versus Buffalo in 1999.

Smalls switches

With the injury to quarterback Vic Hall, wide receiver Riko Smalls moved back to quarterback, temporarily, for Saturday’s game. The redshirt freshman from Plano, Texas took snaps from center during pregame warm-ups.

Questionable call

TCU’s first scoring drive of the game was aided largely by a penalty — a somewhat questionable one. Virginia safety Corey Mosley was called for a personal foul after hitting Horned Frogs wide receiver Jimmy Young after Young had dropped a pass deep downfield.

The penalty, which came on a third-and-9 from the Virginia 36-yard-line, paved the way for a TCU touchdown run by Jeremy Kerley two plays later.

Roger that

Former Virginia basketball standout Roger Mason Jr. raised the “Power of Orange” flag moments before kickoff. Mason, now with the San Antonio Spurs, led UVa in scoring his junior season before leaving school early for the NBA in 2002.

Streak intact

With the late touchdown by Javaris Brown, Virginia extended its streak of not being shut out at home. The last time UVa was blanked came in a 55-0 loss to Clemson in 1984. The Cavaliers went on to set the record for most ACC games without being shut out, which now stands at 153.

Hunter in the books

Former Orange County High star Quintin Hunter caught his first collegiate pass — a 13-yard reception from Jameel Sewell with under a minute to play.

Extra points

Freshman wide receiver Tim Smith and junior tackle Isaac Cain made their first career starts. … After not playing against William & Mary last week, senior fullback Rashawn Jackson started the game at running back. … Sophomore punter Jimmy Howell had his longest punt of the season (51 yards) at end of the first quarter. … Senior cornerback Chris Cook had a career-long 22-yard kickoff return in the second quarter. … TCU plays at another ACC school, Clemson, on Sept. 26.