“We haven’t beaten anyone this year.”

“It doesn’t matter who we play, we’ll lose anyway.”

“N.C. State is way better than us.”

Before Saturday’s football game, that is all I heard from Virginia fans. Well, Virginia fans, you just beat N.C. State.

Sure, it’s not a huge shocker, but for a team that has losses to East Carolina and Western Michigan — not to mention its one-point overtime victory against Wyoming because of a missed extra point, it’s a game the Cavaliers and their fans weren’t expecting to pull off.

But this type of loss is nothing new for the Wolfpack. The team has defeated Boston College and Florida State, but has lost to Akron, Southern Miss and a trio of ACC opponents.

And it’s the mistakes and poor game management that makes these losses frustrating for the fans.

Team discipline

Not even eight minutes into the game and the team already had four penalties — two false starts. Halfway through the first quarter, State was on track for 32 penalties — a feat I wouldn’t be surprised if they reached.

“We had a few penalties on the first few drives of the game that really bogged us down,” Evans said. “We had some negative yardage plays that really hurt us.”

No kidding. And it didn’t stop there. The team finished the game with nine penalties. At one point, early in t fourth quarter, on a fourth-and-inches on its own 19-yard line, the Pack had another false start. Then another.

Maybe Amato is addressing these mistakes? After the game, as the media walked into the tunnel, reporters stood outside of State’s locker room. Then, out of nowhere, Amato’s voice is heard. As if he were berating a group of soldiers, Amato sent his orders in a voice that sounded unusually deep.

One reporter asked Evans what Amato’s talk was about.

“Everybody keep your head up,” Evans said. “You can’t dwell on the losses.”

I don’t know exactly what Amato addressed. But from his tone, I would be shocked if he was passing out cupcakes and birthday cards while telling the team to keep its head up.

Whatever the case, something has to stop the unnecessary penalties. Last year it was lining up offside, this year it’s the false starts.

First-half play

For the second game in a row, State didn’t score a point in the first half.

Asked to explain his team’s slow start, Amato pointed to Virginia’s start.

“They were pretty slow too,” Amato said. “Let’s look at it both ways.”

But he did seem pleased with the opening drive.

“We made a first down,” Amato said.

Now I like first downs just as much as anyone. But one first down just isn’t going to win you a football game.

Time-out use

Late in the second quarter, the offense still hadn’t seen much production. But after nine plays and 64 yards, State had Virginia on its heels. Then, Amato calls a timeout.

“We wanted to make sure we did the right thing,” Amato said. “I don’t think it was anything that created a loss in momentum or anything else, by any means.”

Interesting. After the time-out, sophomore running back Andre Brown lost two yards, Evans threw a two-yard pass, then a four-yard pass. Fourth down. Follow that with a John Deraney missed field goal, and the Pack still weren’t on the board.

If that wasn’t a loss in momentum, I don’t know what is.

The playcalling

Against Florida State, Marc Trestman looked like a genius. He appeared to trust quarterback Daniel Evans. He threw the long ball and mixed up the passing game with the running game. But since that game, he hasn’t given Evans much of a chance to throw the deep ball.

He gets his chance late in the game when the team is already down. And that’s when the offense is at its best.

They have been down at halftime for every game except Appalachian State, so opening up the playbook and throwing in a deep ball early in the game every now and then can’t hurt.

It might even surprise the opponent — but State wouldn’t want to take a stab at being unpredictable.

Amato claims the season isn’t over. He said he still has confidence in his team and believes they can make a bowl game.

“They ain’t gonna quit,” Amato said.

He better hope so. Because the heat is back on, and if his team doesn’t bring it in the next few weeks, his future job status will have to be in question — especially if he takes a loss against North Carolina or East Carolina.