Virginia adds to ECU's wounds

"In college football, the difference between winning and losing is a very fine line."

That's what ECU coach Skip Holtz said in a press conference Monday.

The Pirates have made the former a habit of late, dropping a non-conference contest 35-20 to Virginia [3-3, 1-1 ACC] last Saturday in Charlottesville. The loss is the third straight for ECU [3-3, 1-1 Conference USA], which was ranked No. 14 in the nation a little over a month ago.

The Cavs, fresh off a 31-0 mauling of Maryland, have looked like a completely different team the past two weeks since taking a 31-3 defeat at the hands of Duke three weeks ago. ECU, on the other hand, has been plagued by the injury bug and hasn't looked like its former self since losing a heartbreaker in overtime to N.C. State on Sept. 20.

"It was a frustrating and disappointing loss for this football team. I thought the team played extremely hard," Holtz said of the UVA game.

UVA owned the first half of the contest, totaling 328 yards of offense before intermission. Most of the yardage came from senior running back Cedric Peerman, who had touchdown runs of 79 and 60 yards to give Virginia a commanding 14-6 lead.

"They have a good running back. He took advantage of his blocking and hit his edge and went … it was hard going against him," said ECU senior defensive lineman Khalif Mitchell of Peerman, who finished with 173 rushing yards and two touchdowns against ECU.

Peerman wasn't the only one to shine in the first half. Mikell Mitchell also scored in the opening half with a 5-yard touchdown run, while a Marc Verica 30-yard pass to Kevin Ogletree concluded the 21 point second quarter for UVA. The Cavs took a daunting 28-6 lead into halftime.

"We felt like if we could get it down to a one-score game through the third quarter that we would be in good shape," Holtz said.

The Pirates were able to do just that while looking like a glimpse of the team that started the season 3-0.

A Dwayne Harris 59-yard kickoff return to open the second half, paved the way for a Jonathan Williams 1-yard touchdown run. Two possessions later it was Harris again who sparked the Pirates, with a 52-yard reception from quarterback Patrick Pinkney to move the chains downfield. Eight plays later, ECU found the end zone again behind a 10-yard pass from Pinkney to running back Brandon Simmons to cut the deficit to 28-20.

"We just got in a rhythm and everyone had that motor to work harder," said Pinkney, of the third quarter. "We got in the mindset of 'we have a chance to win this game.'"

Pinkney was 12-of-28 on the day for 196 yards and one touchdown. While he was a huge part of getting ECU back to within one score early in the fourth quarter, he also had a huge part in the Cavs' final touchdown, which slammed the door shut on the Pirates.

With just over nine minutes left in the game, Pinkney was sacked for a nine-yard loss and in the process fumbled to give UVA the ball in prime field position at the ECU 24.

"I thought it was a really positive [performance] besides the fumble," Pinkney said. "I'm not throwing any interceptions; it's just fumbles. Sometimes you can't help it--you can't see the defender--but it's all about keeping two hands on the ball and I just got to cut the fumbles down."

The ECU defense was able to contain the Cavs, but on the fourth down, a 12-yard fake field goal pass from quarterback/holder Scott Deke to tight end John Phillips put UVA up 35-20-which in the end was the winning margin.

The Pirates had a solid second half other than two fumbles and giving up the touchdown on the fake field goal. The defense, in particular, was stellar in the second half in only giving up seven points and 102 total yards.

Sophomore running back Williams was also another bright spot for ECU. In his first truly significant action of the season, Williams rushed for 95 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries.

"I was pleased with the way John played and I think he brings something to the table," Holtz said. "He is becoming a more physical runner and more confident in what he has to do in there as a football player."

UVA quarterback Marc Vercia had an efficient game in completing 25-of-32 passes for 216 yards and one touchdown.

However, while ECU lost the game in the first half, the Pirates had their chances.

"We had plenty of opportunities in this game and we just couldn't capitalize on them," Holtz said.

After forcing two interceptions and a three-and-out on the Cavs first three drives, ECU was only able to come away with six points on Ben Hartman field goals of 35 and 45 yards.

"When we get down in the red zone we have to finish," Pinkney said. "We have to put six on the board because that's the difference in the game. It's all about finishing the drives that finish the game after 60 minutes."

At the end of the day, UVA scorched ECU for 430 total yards while the Pirates were only able to muster out 285. The Cavs also led ECU in first downs--21-14--while the Pirates had the ball a little more than a minute longer in time of possession.

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.