Quick Begin Propels Cavaliers to 48-20 ACC Opening Win Over Stanford

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Virginia fielded its first soccer group in 1888, Stanford in 1891. More than 130 years later, these universities lastly met on the soccer area, and it was not an event the Cardinal will look again on fondly.

For the second straight weekend, followers at Scott Stadium witnessed an offensive tour de pressure by the house group. The Cavaliers, who gained 700 yards in opposition to William and Mary on Sept. 13, didn’t fairly hit that mark Saturday evening in opposition to Stanford. But they have been going through a Power Four opponent this time, not an FCS foe, they usually have been loads productive in a 48-20 rout of the Cardinal.

In entrance of an introduced crowd of 36,223, Virginia completed with 590 yards on offense—384 passing and 206 dashing—and didn’t flip the ball over. Standouts abounded for the Wahoos of their ACC opener, with quarterback Chandler Morris and broad receiver Trell Harris shining particularly brightly.

Morris, a graduate switch who’s in his first season at UVA, accomplished 23 of 31 passes for 380 yards and 4 touchdowns. Three of these TD passes have been to Harris, who’s in his second yr at Virginia. Harris completed with 4 receptions for 145 yards, and his three first-quarter helped stake Virginia to a 21-7 lead.

UVA’s protection did its half, too, sacking quarterback Ben Gulbranson 5 instances and holding tailback Micah Ford to 44 yards on 13 carries. Per week earlier, Ford had rushed for 157 yards within the Stanford’s ACC opener, a 30-20 win over Boston College.

Filling in for the injured Daniel Sparks, Elijah Slibeck dealt with kickoffs and punts for the Cavaliers and acquitted himself properly.

“Just good, complementary football,” UVA head coach Tony Elliott stated of his group’s efficiency.

In bettering this system’s all-time report in evening video games at Scott Stadium to 43-22-1, Virginia by no means trailed in opposition to Stanford (1-3, 1-1).

UVA scored a landing on every of its first 4 possessions Saturday evening. At the tip of a primary half during which the Hoos gained 401 yards on offense, they led 28-14. Their benefit might have been larger, however Will Bettridge missed a 25-yard area aim try with UVA main 28-7 late within the second quarter.

Stanford capitalized on that miss, driving 80 yards for its second landing.

Morris accomplished 15 of 19 passes for 279 yards within the first half. His completions included landing passes of three, 75 and 27 yards to Harris, and Morris ran for an additional first-half rating.

UVA pulled away within the second half, getting two area targets from Bettridge and touchdowns from tight finish Sage Ennis and wideout Eli Wood.

The sport marked the 2025 debut of UVA linebacker Kam Robinson, a junior who missed the primary three video games whereas recovering from a damaged collarbone. Robinson made a team-high seven tackles and recovered a fumble that defensive sort out Jason Hammond compelled on a fourth-quarter sack. Defensive finish Daniel Rickert recorded two sacks to guide Virginia in that class.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Next up for Virginia (3-1 total, 1-0 ACC) is a go to from No. 7 Florida State (3-0 total). In a sport to air on ESPN, they’ll meet at 7 p.m. Friday at Scott Stadium, with the Jefferson-Eppes trophy going to the winner.

The Cavaliers, 4-15 all-time in opposition to the Seminoles, have gained two of the previous three video games within the collection. In the groups’ most up-to-date assembly, in 2019, UVA rallied for a 31-24 victory over FSU at Scott Stadium.

The Hoos’ first victory within the collection got here on Nov. 2, 1995, at Scott Stadium, the place they held on for a 33-28 win over the No. 2 Seminoles. FSU entered the sport with a 29-0 report in ACC play.

This would be the ACC opener for the Noles, who crushed Kent State 66-10 on Saturday in Tallahassee, Fla.