Coming off a tough loss against No. 21 BYU last Saturday in Provo, Utah, the Virginia football team will return home this week to face a slightly less daunting Kent State team. Though the Golden Flashes (0-3, 0-1 MAC) are winless on the season and coming off a 66-0 drubbing by Ohio State, the Cavaliers know better than to overlook this MAC team. Virginia faced another opponent from the conference — Ball State — last year, and was defeated 48-27 in Scott Stadium.
“We’ve played some tough opponents — very good opponents that have had skilled players, big players and fast players,” coach Mike London said. “Now, I know our opponent is Kent State this week. But a lot of this is about us getting better, eliminating mental errors and assignments. … At this point in the season, going into the fifth game, it’s about us taking our game to another level as well.”
The team’s main focus heading into the Kent State game is, of course, to win, but players and coaches have said they also want to learn and gain more experience as a team before heading into the core of their ACC schedule. A major concern is eliminating the errors and small mistakes which add up and result in losses, like the 33-41 defeat to the Cougars.
Early in the second quarter, Virginia decided to go for it on fourth and 1 on the BYU one-yard line, but the Cavaliers were flagged for a false start penalty. This backed them up to the six-yard line, forcing the Cavaliers to settle for a field goal rather than try for a touchdown which could have given them an early two-score lead.
This play was early, but was a defining point in the game. The Cavaliers have looked great statistically all year, out-gaining UCLA, Louisville and BYU in total offensive yards, but mental errors have left the team only 1-2 in those games. That is something London and his staff have said they hope to improve throughout the year to give the team a better chance of winning close games.
The Cavaliers recorded unbelievably strong offensive stats this week — something BYU has not typically allowed. Virginia ran a school-record 102 offensive plays — the previous high set in 1968 — while logging 35 first downs, maintaining possession for 40 minutes and 55 seconds and out-gaining the Cougars with 519 yards, compared to their 332.
Virginia’s running game also came through this past weekend. BYU had previously allowed only 163 yards rushing on 79 carries (2.1 yards per rush) as well as one touchdown to the likes of UConn, Texas, and Houston. The Cavaliers posted 192 on 44 carries (4.4 yards per rush) and two touchdowns. The offense clicked in a way it had not in any of the first three games, though it still faced two turnovers and faced multiple penalties.
Sophomore quarterback Greyson Lambert suffered an injury to his right ankle Saturday late in the third quarter and was replaced by sophomore quarterback Matt Johns, who strongly managed the field, throwing for 139 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Lambert's status for the Kent State game is questionable, but Virginia fans should, at this point, trust Johns with the football.
“Greyson was in a walking boot after the game,” London said. “He was wearing it [Sunday]. … We’ll evaluate where he is at the appropriate time. So, as of right now, Matt Johns and David Watford will be guys that are getting reps in practice. … But if [Greyson’s] not [ready to play], like any other position, [we’ll have] the ‘next man up’ mentality.”
Also evident on Saturday, the defense continues to work hard despite allowing 41 points to BYU. Notably, the Cougars have an extremely talented offense and typically score high in their home stadium — in the last two seasons, they have averaged more than 35 points per game in Provo. Though the Cavaliers’ defense has aspects to improve upon, veteran players will likely help the Cavaliers return to form back in Charlottesville this week. In three games, the Golden Flashes have been outscored 106-27, while the Cavaliers have outscored opponents 137-87 across four games.
“They tell us how it is,” freshman safety Quin Blanding said. “They’re not going to just beat around the bush. They tell us if we’re doing something wrong or we need to do this, we need to do that or we just need to pick it up and get it together.”
This will be the first-ever meeting between the Virginia and Kent State. The Cavaliers will wear their throwback uniforms Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Scott Stadium, and the game is scheduled to air on ESPN 3.
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