Boston College tops Virginia in college football

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Two plays, and only a few inches, separated the Virginia football team from victory over Boston College on Saturday.

On the Cavaliers' final offensive play, quarterback Jameel Sewell was stopped a few inches shy of the 11-yard line -- or at least that's where the officials spotted the ball. On a quarterback sneak by the Eagles at the goal line earlier in the fourth quarter, Boston College scored the go-ahead touchdown -- or at least that's where the officials spotted the ball.

Both required reviews. Both went against Virginia. Both told the story in the Cavaliers' 14-10 loss to Boston College at Scott Stadium. Virginia (3-7, 2-4) was eliminated from bowl contention, ensured of its second consecutive losing season and third in four years.

"It was close enough to review Boston College's touchdown, it was close enough to review the last play of the game there," Coach Al Groh said. "For probably less than a total of six inches in the game, that was the difference of the two teams. But it turned out to be enough."

The play that left the Cavaliers irritated was Sewell's run, which came on a fourth and one with 26 seconds remaining at the Boston College 12-yard line. Virginia had already brought the ball 67 yards without a timeout, but it needed just 12 more to win the game and one more to keep the drive alive.

The play was a designed pass, with Sewell in the shotgun. As Sewell dropped back and quickly scanned the field, he spotted an open lane -- not an open receiver. Sewell figured he could pick up the first down and the Cavaliers would have a few shots at the end zone. The plan was stymied by Boston College defensive tackle Kaleb Ramsey near the line of scrimmage. There appeared to be brief confusion about the spot. A measurement was called, and the Cavaliers came a few chain lengths short.

"I thought I had it," Sewell said. "Looks can be deceiving."

Virginia did not score an offensive touchdown in the entire game. In 21 quarters, the Cavaliers' offense has scored just four touchdowns. Offensive struggles have been a consistent theme through the latter part of Groh's tenure at Virginia, which seems increasingly likely to end after this season -- his ninth at his alma mater.

Nonetheless, his players have not stopped playing for him and Groh actually came out of Saturday's game encouraged by improvements. The teams played near equal; Virginia had 298 yards to Boston College's 303 and both teams averaged 4.3 yards per game. The difference was that Boston College's offense scored two touchdowns, whereas Virginia's only touchdown came from its defense.

With his teammates turning into blockers, cornerback Chris Cook returned a third-quarter interception 58 yards for Virginia's first points, tying the score at 7. It also energized a crowd of 44,324 that remained supportive of its team despite a season that had all indications of fading into irrelevance.

Even with Virginia's offensive struggles, Groh lauded Sewell for taking the field. He finished 21 for 41 with 221 yards and an interception despite practicing only once in the past two weeks -- on Thursday of this week -- and missing last week's loss to Miami. With backup Marc Verica ruled out with a concussion and his own career winding down, Sewell felt he needed to play.

"I was familiar with the game plan, I was familiar with what they were doing, staying locked in just in case I had to play," Sewell said.

Virginia can only play for pride now that the team can no longer reach the postseason, and Groh's fate seems unlikely to hinge on whether the Cavaliers finish with seven losses or nine losses. They can only reflect on a season that has too frequently included games similar to Saturday's, when winning seems possible but the Cavaliers come up short -- even if it's by a few chain lengths.

"It hurts," Sewell said. "It hurts a lot."