October magic can’t lift UVa

Virginia’s October magic and its short-lived lead atop the ACC’s Coastal Division vanished in rain-soaked Scott Stadium on Saturday as Georgia Tech’s triple-option monster cut the Cavaliers to ribbons.

True to form, host UVa’s best chance to pull off an upset over the nation’s 11th-ranked Yellow Jackets — and continue their home mastery over an opponent that had not tasted victory in Charlottesville since 1990 — was to win with defense.

Virginia’s touted defense could only withstand the pressure placed upon it by Georgia Tech’s vaunted running attack but so long. Getting little assistance from a sporadic offense that still lacks consistent big-play potential, the Cavaliers unraveled in the second half and watched their three-game win streak halted in a 34-9 defeat.

Ground geniuses

Georgia Tech lived up to its billing as one of the nation’s most dominant offenses, piling up 447 yards, the most against Virginia since Miami posted 448 last season. Coach Paul Johnson’s option attack rushed for 362 yards, the most against UVa since UConn’s 382 last year.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers broke the cardinal rule when facing an option offense. They didn’t keep the ball away from the Yellow Jackets, whose ball control tactics consumed 42 minutes, 43 seconds of the clock.

That’s a major no-no.

Virginia’s offense, which has had its struggles most of the season, was surprisingly ineffective against a questionable Ramblin’ Wreck defense that was ranked No. 78 nationally.

The Cavaliers owned the football a meager 17 minutes, 17 seconds. They rushed the ball a mere 12 times (for 30 yards), the fewest rushes by a UVa team in six years.

The offense offends

Still, UVa’s offensive effort on this day was less than impressive. The Cavs converted only 2 of 11 third down situations and even when they made it to the red zone three times, they bogged down and settled for two field goals. The third boot came from 49 yards out — well maybe 48 1/2, because Robert Randolph’s kick hit the crossbar and skipped through.

Mostly passing their way to Tech’s 2-, 18-, and 13-yard lines, the Cavs couldn’t find their way to the end zone for the first time in a game this season.

“We weren’t able to run the ball very well today because they weren’t respecting our passing game,” said UVa quarterback Jameel Sewell, who was 18 of 32 for 168 yards. “I have to do a better job making good throws, completing passes and not holding onto the ball too long.”

Unfortunately, that has been the senior quarterback’s M.O. It’s no secret that while he ranks sixth on the school’s career passing list and should crack the top five against Duke next week, the southpaw has struggled in reading pass coverage, and that isn’t likely to change.

With rare exception — notably in the Matt Schaub era — when Virginia has failed to run the ball, it has come up empty.

Tailback Mikell Simpson, back from an injury suffered in the third quarter against Indiana two weeks ago, seemed to run tentatively against the Jackets. He rushed six times for a paltry four yards.

That ain’t going to get it done against the No. 11 team in the nation.

Nor will Virginia’s inability to get Georgia Tech’s offense off the field. But then again, only one team (Miami) has been able to shut down the Yellow Jackets’ three-pronged attack this season.

Coming into Saturday’s game, Virginia boasted the 10th-best defense in the country in third-down situations. The Cavaliers were allowing opponents to convert only 29.3 percent of those.

Not against Tech.

There was nothing to beat their chests about. Georgia Tech was good on a whopping 8 of 17 third downs and 1 of 2 fourth downs.

It was only a matter of time before UVa defense caved to the pressure and that came on a textbook triple option drive by Georgia Tech to open the second half. Holding a slim 13-6 lead over the stubborn Cavaliers, the Jackets executed their offense just like Johnson drew it up on their first drive of the third quarter.

Tech ran 18 plays, covering 82 yards, chewing up 10 minutes and 47 seconds. Only one was a pass play. The Jackets converted four, third-down situations and one, fourth-down into first downs to keep the drive alive, resulting in a back-breaking 20-6 lead.

Virginia’s last gasp came with 12:59 remaining in the game, trailing 20-9.

With Tech tailback Jonathan Dwyer stopped cold on a third-and-seven at the Jackets’ own 37, Virginia cornerback Ras-I Dowling was called for a personal foul without explanation, a call that Groh questioned.

Georgia Tech had its first down and scored seven plays later to ice it at 27-9.

“The game was a case of third downs,” Groh said afterward. “Clearly we did not make enough third downs today to do what’s necessary to stay out on the field. We allowed them too many conversions after we had experienced good plays on first and second downs. That was really a key thing.”

The Yellow Jackets bolted into the Coastal Division lead with a 5-1 ACC record with only Wake Forest and Duke remaining on the conference schedule.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers dropped to 2-1 in league play and 3-4 overall with Duke coming to town next weekend, perhaps just in time for Virginia to rediscover its October magic.