College team done in by abysmal late-game mental errors

Virginia’s football team fell to 0-4 on Friday night, losing 24-21 to North Carolina State. And if anyone is wondering why the Cavaliers are 0-4, the end of the game should answer any questions.

Trailing by eight in the final minute, Virginia needed a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie the game. The Cavaliers got the first part when quarterback Anthony Colandrea found Malik Washington on a three-yard touchdown pass. Virginia’s Ty Furnish made the ensuing two-point try much harder, though, with a dead ball unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which moved the conversion back to the 18-yard line.

Somehow, though, Virginia overcame that. Colandrea scrambled and threw a jump ball into the end zone. Receiver Malachi Fields went up and got it to tie the game.

Quite a collapse from Virginia, Part 1:

Down 8, the Cavaliers get a touchdown. They are called for a dead ball unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, moving the game-tying two-point attempt back to the 17-yard line.

Despite that, Virginia converts to tie the game. pic.twitter.com/lko7aLvAU2

— The Comeback (@thecomeback) September 23, 2023

The Cavaliers were not done with the self-inflicted errors, though.

Colandrea was flagged for taking his helmet off after the two-point try.

Part 2: Virginia QB Anthony Colandrea is penalized for taking off his helmet after the conversion.

The two-point conversion stands, but Virginia’s ensuing kickoff is from 15 yards back. pic.twitter.com/iDQyQjMEI9

— The Comeback (@thecomeback) September 23, 2023

Fortunately for Virginia, the successful conversion stayed on the board. Fortunately for North Carolina State, the penalty moved the ensuing kickoff back 15 yards. So, while the Wolfpack didn’t have a lot of time, they had great field position.

North Carolina State took advantage of that mistake and drove into field goal range. With three seconds remaining, the Wolfpack lined up for a 48-yard field goal attempt from Brayden Narveson. It was blocked by Virginia’s James Jackson, seemingly sending the game into overtime.

But Jackson was penalized for leaping.

Part 3: North Carolina State gets into position to try a game-winning 48-yard field goal. Virginia blocks it but is penalized for leaping.

The 15-yard penalty gives NC State one last chance, this time from 33 yards. pic.twitter.com/ZfqSDsjkMQ

— The Comeback (@thecomeback) September 23, 2023

Like the penalties from Furnish and Colandrea, Jackson’s was a 15-yard penalty. Unlike those penalties, though, Virginia couldn’t overcome this one.

North Carolina State lined up for a game-winning 33-yard field goal attempt. Narveson knocked the kick through the uprights, giving the Wolfpack the 24-21 win.

Part 4: North Carolina State kicker Brayden Narveson makes the 33-yard field goal as time expires.

North Carolina State wins. Virginia falls to 0-4. pic.twitter.com/R1bf96otG6

— The Comeback (@thecomeback) September 23, 2023

While the other two were hard to argue with, the penalty on Colandrea felt like a miss. The helmet was clearly jarred loose when he was knocked to the ground. He didn’t do himself any favors by not only taking the helmet off after it was jarred loose, but celebrating with his helmet still off after he got back up. Still, that’s a penalty that felt like it didn’t need to be called.

That said, it’s hard to imagine a team finishing a game worse than Virginia did. It’s one thing for a team to just not make the plays down the stretch of a close game. The Cavaliers, though, made the plays. They just turned every positive into a quick negative.

[Photo Credit: ESPN]