Second-half slump dooms Cavs

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Showcasing a promising, new-look offense, it appeared to be the perfect storm.

In the end, it was anything but ideal and essentially more of the same for Virginia.

Collapsing down the stretch on offense, defense and special teams, the Cavaliers bid for an upset at Southern Mississippi went awry in monumental fashion during a 37-34 setback at M.M. Roberts Stadium.

The loss, which included 20 unanswered points by Southern Miss (3-0), marked the seventh straight for Virginia (0-3). It also marks the first time the Cavaliers have opened a campaign winless after three games since 1982.

“In the long run, we didn’t do quite enough,” Virginia coach Al Groh said. “[Southern Miss] did a little bit more than we did.”

The road loss ruined a day that saw the return of an offensive operation that could actually produce points, something that was missing in a 12-point loss to William & Mary and a 16-point defeat to Texas Christian.

In fact, Virginia jumped out to a 34-17 lead after quarterback Jameel Sewell raced a yard to his right and into the end zone on a designed keeper with 7:19 remaining in the third quarter.

Just 12 seconds later, however, Southern Miss was officially on the comeback trail as Freddie Parham sprinted 100 yards on the ensuing kickoff for the longest return in Southern Miss history.

“Clearly that was a big momentum-changer,” Groh said. “I saw it coming. We didn’t fit on the blocks properly at a number of spots.

“Special teams, every play it’s a jamboree.”

Virginia, which had 353 yards of total offense at that point, suddenly became stagnant. With little protection, Sewell managed to guide the offense to just 37 yards over the Cavaliers’ final 34 plays.

The Golden Eagles, who had 197 of their 344 yards of total offense in the second half, did not have the same issues.

Virginia, of course, aided USM in a critical spot.

Facing a 3rd-and-37 situation late in the third quarter, USM quarterback Austin Davis heaved a desperation pass towards wideout Andre Davis. After contact with Virginia safety Corey Mosley, pass interference was called, giving the Golden Eagles a first down that had seemed unlikely.

Five plays later, Southern Miss made Virginia’s miscue hurt as Damion Fletcher took a direct snap in the “Eagle formation” and sprinted up the middle for a 10-yard carry.

The Cavaliers helped again in the fourth quarter when they failed to convert a 4th-and-7 play at the Southern Miss 32.

After giving up an 11-yard run by Fletcher, Tony Harrison broke free for 57 yards, scoring a touchdown that gave Southern Miss its first lead at 37-34 with 8:01 left.

Virginia ran just two more offensive plays in Southern Miss territory and was unable to reach the Golden Eagles’ 25-yard line, the desired spot needed Groh said to try a game-tying field goal.

“It was a tough game,” Virginia linebacker Denzel Burrell said. “We really felt we came together as a team today. We really felt the cohesion was there, but unfortunately we couldn’t pull it off.

“It sucks for us because it is the same story. Eventually victories will come, but what we have to continue to preach right now as a team is that we can’t divide.”

In the first half, Virginia shocked Southern Miss with an offensive approach that had not been previously unveiled and was given to the players on Tuesday.

Coupled with two first-quarter fumbles by Southern Miss, it led to a 69-yard touchdown pass from Sewell to Tim Smith and a pair of field goals from Robert Randolph.

Southern Miss scored its first points in the second quarter as Fletcher reached the end zone on a 6-yard scamper.

Virginia answered.

Sewell, who finished 24 for 46 passing for 312 yards, found sophomore Kris Burd in the front of the end zone for a 29-yard scoring strike with 7:38 left in the opening half.

After Southern Miss connected on a 27-yard field goal by Justin Estes, Sewell closed out the first half with a 4-yard touchdown run just 19 seconds before halftime, giving the Cavaliers an improbable 27-10advantage.

“I don’t know how we could put ourselves in a worse situation than we did in the first half with balls on the ground, dropped passes. You name it, we did it,” Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora said. “At halftime there was not a lot of yelling and screaming. Basically it was just that we are going to find out what you are made of, what is inside you and what kind of team we have.

“Until you face adversity, you really never know and that is the first real adversity that we have faced this year.”

For the game, USM rushed for 250 yards. Fletcher, who set the program record with his 40th career rushing touchdown, was the biggest culprit — he ran 26 times for 115 yards.

“It’s very big to beat [Virginia],” Fletcher said. “They are considered a bigger school and we’re considered a smaller school. But we go out there and work hard, and we show that we can play with the best of them.”

Virginia, which played the game without quarterback Vic Hall (hip) and all but one play without cornerback Chris Cook (groin), will have a well-timed bye week to work on its newly installed offense and prep for a road game at North Carolina (3-0).

“We have to make a lot of use out of this week,” Groh said. “[UNC] is a real good team that we are playing. They are on a real good roll. We made progress, but we could have made more progress.

“Let’s not misinterpret to say that we are thrilled or pleased. [Our locker room is a] pretty hurtful place … a lot of players dramatically affected by the loss. The shame of it is not to be able to look at them laughing and smiling on the way home, which is the greatest reward in winning.”