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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Cory Woodroof

Virginia allowing 14 points in 16 seconds is by far the worst opening to a football game all year

Virginia got off to just about the worst possible start a football team could have on Saturday against Pittsburgh (-5.5).

On the first play of the game, Cavs quarterback Brennan Armstrong threw a pick-six to Panthers defensive back M.J. Devonshire to get Pitt on the board, 7-0.

Then, on the second play of the game, Armstrong, yes, threw another pick-six to Panthers defensive back Marquis Williams to put the game at 14-0 with a startling 14:44 left to go in the first quarter.

Within 16 seconds, Virginia tanked its momentum before it even had any and gave Pitt the kind of present that you’d expect to find under the tree at Christmas.

What? How does this happen? How do you throw two interceptions for touchdowns on your first two passes? How? It defies logic and reason.

Pitt went up 21-0 shortly after as the line moved to Panthers (-27.5) before the end of the first quarter.

The Cavs have been having a down year, but this had to be a new low for a team that is underperforming on expectations that came with offensive-minded head coach Tony Elliott coming over from Clemson.

This game was certainly offensive already, just not in the way Virginia was hoping for.

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