CHARLOTTESVILLE -- All day long, Virginia was looking for a spark Saturday and, as soon as the Cavaliers got one, it quickly flickered out.

The closest UVa came to a touchdown in its 13-3 loss to Clemson was a would-be 53-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Ogletree that was nullified by offensive pass interference.

It was determined that Ogletree had used an arm to create separation from Clemson safety Sadat Chambers. Ogletree's contention was that Chambers had misjudged the ball and already had lost his balance.

All eyes turned to the Scott Stadium Jumbotron as the officials prepared to mark off the penalty.

"I took a look at it," UVa coach Al Groh said. "There appeared to be contact involved with both players. It's one of those calls that when you make it, you better be right."

So what? Right or wrong, the call was going to stand.

"If you're wrong, you've had a profound influence on the game in an incorrect way if you were the person who called it," Groh said. "I don't make those decisions. It's up to the supervisor to determine."

ACC supervisor of football officials Doug Rhoads was in the press box and watched a replay. He did not have any misgivings with the call.

"It was big," Ogletree said. "Wish it didn't go that way, but one play didn't determine the game."

A touchdown at that point would have forced a 10-10 tie with 2:16 remaining in the third quarter, provided the Cavaliers had converted an extra point.

"That was the spark," said Ogletree, whose six receptions gave him 56 for the season. "That was a touchdown. That was points that we needed. It would have been a brand-new ballgame from there on.

"I'm pretty sure the guys would have got up and rallied behind that, but there were a lot more plays in the game that could have been made."

Ogletree said it wasn't too soon for the Cavaliers (5-6 overall, 3-4 ACC) to start thinking about their regular-season finale at Virginia Tech.

"We've got to go get a win, we want to go to a bowl, we want to keep playing, so that's a playoff game for us," Ogletree said.

Trickery

The only touchdown in Saturday's game came on a 15-yard pass from Clemson tailback C.J. Spiller to wideout Tyler Grisham on the Tigers' first possession. It was the first pass Spiller had attempted in his three-year college career and the first TD reception of the season for Grisham.

By the numbers

Virginia quarterback Marc Verica had passed for more than 200 yards in six consecutive games, tying a school record held by Matt Schaub, before he was stopped Saturday at 160. ... Tight end John Phillips, who entered the game with 46 receptions, got his first catch Saturday with under eight minutes remaining.