CHARLOTTESVILLE — Virginia won a slugfest with one of the ACC’s early-season championship favorites on Friday night at Scott Stadium.
UVA upset No. 8 Florida State 46-38 in double overtime to claim a signature win for head coach Tony Elliott in his fifth season with the program. It was the Cavaliers’ first top 10 victory at home since 2005, which also came against the Seminoles.
Cavaliers quarterback Chandler Morris rushed for three touchdowns, including the 4-yard go-ahead score in the second overtime period, and he connected with wide receiver Trell Harris on a 2-point conversion pass for some extra insurance.
On Florida State’s turn in the second overtime, wide receiver Duce Robinson bobbled a third-down pass in the end zone that was originally called a touchdown but overturned by officials.
Cavaliers defensive back Ja’Son Prevard intercepted quarterback Tommy Castellanos on fourth down to set off a celebration this place hasn’t seen in many years. Many of the announced crowd of 50,107 streamed out onto the field as “The Good Old Song” played.
“I saw everyone hanging off the bleachers and things like that. When they rushed, I wasn’t surprised at all,” said Cavaliers safety Devin Neal, who had a team-high 12 tackles. “I was just enjoying the moment, taking pictures with people, dapping up fans. Man I love this. This is what it’s all for here.”
Virginia (4-1, 2-0) made an emphatic statement about the trajectory of its football program. Those expecting the Cavaliers to tail off against a heavyweight contender were sadly disappointed.
“It’s awesome,” Morris said. “Just understanding how hungry this university is, and then too, just understanding what we have in the locker room. We have a great team. The staff went out and got great players and great people, too. It’s awesome for us. It’s awesome for this university. It’s awesome for our locker room, the staff and just everyone involved.”
UVA absorbed every blow thrown at it by FSU (3-1, 0-1). The Cavaliers gave up 21 straight points over a four-minute, 20-second span in the second quarter to blow a 14-0 lead, but they regrouped to go ahead again in the third quarter. They gave up the game-tying touchdown with 36 seconds left in regulation but held on in overtime to score the second win over a top 10 foe in the Elliott era.
“It felt like a championship kind of game, and that’s what we desire to be as a program,” Elliott said. “That’s where we want to go, but we’ve all got to do it together.”
Morris survived three interceptions to add his name to the Pantheon of UVA quarterbacks to topple FSU. That select group also includes Mike Groh, Marques Hagans, Mike Rocco and Bryce Perkins. Morris passed for 229 yards and delivered touchdown throws to tight end Sage Ennis and running back Xavier Brown.
“He’s a warrior,” Elliott said of Morris. “He’s a warrior. I’m just so happy for him. It’s why he came here.”
The Cavaliers went toe-to-toe with the vaunted offense of the Seminoles that entered the contest first in the Football Bowl Subdivision in points per game (58.0) and total yards per game (628.7).
“That’s the No. 1 offense in the country,” Ellott said. “They scored 70 and 60 (points in their previous two games). They beat Alabama. All we wanted to do was find a way to get enough stops to give our offense one or two more possessions than the other team. We’re going to celebrate that one.”
J’Mari Taylor (99 rushing yards and a touchdown) led a UVA attack that churned out 211 yards on the ground. The Cavaliers have surpassed 200 yards rushing in each of their last four games.
Florida State won the yardage battle 514 to 440, but the Cavaliers hunkered down when they needed.
UVA’s defense gave up some big yardage plays, but it also forced three turnovers, two of which it turned into touchdowns. Linebacker Kam Robinson had 10 tackles and a sack. Prevard had two interceptions, including the one to end the game.
“I feel like just wearing them down over time and just getting that win meant a lot to the defense as a whole,” Neal said. “It was a whole team effort.”