The Shadow
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (VR) – Virginia fans had to wait 19 years to see it again, but Friday night at Scott Stadium, the Cavaliers delivered.
UVA knocked off No. 8 Florida State 46-40 in double overtime, earning its first home win over a top-10 opponent since stunning the Seminoles in 2005. In front of 50,107 — the largest crowd in Charlottesville since 2023 — the Cavaliers added another signature moment to their history books while improving to 4-1 for the second straight year. It’s the first time since 2003-04 that Virginia has opened back-to-back seasons at 4-1.
Quarterback Chandler Morris tied his career-high with five touchdowns, including a career-best three on the ground, becoming the first Cavalier QB with three rushing scores since Bryce Perkins in 2019. Running back J’Mari Taylor carried the load with a career-high 27 attempts, finishing with 99 yards and a touchdown. His seven rushing scores this fall rank among the top marks in the FBS.
The Cavaliers set the tone early by forcing two turnovers in the opening quarter. Anthony Britton’s first career forced fumble was scooped up by Fisher Camac, while Mitchell Melton added a strip of his own. Ja’Son Prevard came up with two interceptions, including the game-sealer in double OT, the first two-pick game by a UVA defender since Brenton Nelson in 2020.
Virginia’s defense did something no team had managed all season — hold the nation’s top scoring offense scoreless in the first quarter. The Seminoles also failed to score on their opening drive for the first time this year. UVA has now outscored its opponents 26-9 in the fourth quarter this season; FSU’s late touchdown was the first allowed by the Cavaliers in the final frame all year.
The win carried historical weight for Tony Elliott, who has now beaten three ranked teams in his two-plus seasons at the helm. Two of those have come against top-10 opponents (No. 10 UNC in 2023 and now No. 8 FSU), making Elliott just the second coach in program history with multiple top-10 victories, joining George Welsh (4).
Offensively, Virginia kept rolling on the ground. For the fourth straight game, the Cavaliers surpassed 200 rushing yards — a streak not seen in Charlottesville since 2004. Nine different receivers also caught passes, continuing a season-long trend of spreading the ball around. Tallahassee native Sage Ennis scored the game’s opening touchdown on his third straight week with a TD reception.
Friday’s win also snapped several streaks. It was UVA’s first overtime victory since a triple-overtime defeat of Syracuse in 2015, ending a three-game skid in extra sessions. It also marked the Cavaliers’ first home win over a ranked opponent since beating No. 15 North Carolina in 2020, and their first weekday home win since toppling Virginia Tech in 2019.
Kicker Will Bettridge chipped in with six extra points and a field goal, moving into sole possession of No. 5 on UVA’s all-time scoring list (248 career points), passing program legend Thomas Jones. Linebacker Devin Neal piled up a career-high 12 tackles, while Kam Robinson added 10 stops and a sack for his fourth career double-digit outing.
When Prevard’s interception closed the door in double overtime, fans poured onto the field to celebrate a long-awaited milestone. For a program that has seen its share of struggles in recent years, Virginia made a statement that echoed through Scott Stadium: the Cavaliers can still rise to the moment.
