Chris Graham leads AFP’s live coverage from Scott Stadium as UVA (8-3, 5-2 ACC) and #24 Virginia Tech (8-3, 5-2 ACC) battle for the ACC Coastal Division championship today at noon in Charlottesville. Check here for in-game play-by-play, stats and analysis from Team AFP.
UVA vs. Virginia Tech
- Series: Virginia Tech leads series, 58-37-5
- Last meeting: VT, 34-31, ot (2018)
- Broadcast: ABC
- Announcers: Dave Fleming (play-by-play), Jim Mora (analyst), Paul Carcaterra (sideline)
- Line: Virginia Tech -3
- ESPN Football Power Index: Virginia 64.5% win probability
Game Notes
- Friday’s game is a winner-take all contest for the ACC’s Coastal Division crown.
- A UVA win on Friday will give the Cavaliers their first-ever appearance in the ACC Championship game.
- A UVA win on Friday would also make Virginia the seventh-different Coastal Division champion dating back to 2013.
- UVA and Virginia Tech last met for a winner-take all contest for the ACC Coastal Division crown in 2011. They also met in 2007 in another winner-take all meeting for the Coastal Division.
UVA Team Notes
- QB Bryce Perkins is one of two players in the nation, joining Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts, to pass for 2,625+ yards and rush for 520+ yards so far this season. Perkins is No. 1 in the ACC and No. 16 in the nation with 3,161 yards of total offense.
- ILB Jordan Mack, a Campbell Trophy finalist, is No. 6 in the ACC with 7.5 sacks and is No. 1 among the league’s linebackers (No. 7 among the nation’s linebackers).
- WR Joe Reed has 2,989 career kick return yards and is averaging 29.0 yards per kick return while in a UVA uniform. He is the only player in FBS history to have 2,700+ career kick return yards and a career average per kick return of 28+ yards. He is also the only FBS player with 100+ career returns and a career kick return average of 28+ yards.
Virginia Tech Team Notes
- Tech has posted back-to-back shutouts for first time since 2005 – the first time an ACC team shut out another ACC foe in consecutive games since Maryland did it in 1978.
- Dating back to the fourth quarter of a 36-17 win vs. Wake Forest on Nov. 9, Tech owns an 86-0 scoring edge in its last nine quarters.
- Virginia Tech is seeking its 16th consecutive victory in the annual Commonwealth Cup Clash against UVA after posting a wild 34-31 OT home win last year.
- VT is 19-1 in its last 20 games vs. UVA. The next-closest team in terms of in-state dominance over an in-state FBS rival over that span is Oklahoma (16-4 vs. Oklahoma State).
AFP Pregame Coverage
- UVA Football: The unbearable lightness of #BeatTech
- Bryce Perkins: The last play, a year later
- Bronco Mendenhall talks Virginia Tech, preparation for Rivalry Week
- Chris Graham details how UVA can beat Virginia Tech: Podcast
- What UVA Football fans need to know about Virginia Tech
Game Coverage
First Quarter
- Bryce Perkins 39-yard TD run on the opening possession. Perkins converted two third-and-longs with runs on the drive. Extra point is wide left. ‘Hoos lead 6-0, 12:14/1st.
- Bryce Perkins had 70 yards on the ground on that drive.
- Virginia D forces a three-and-out on Tech’s first possession. ‘Hoos take over on offense at the UVA 24.
- Bryce Perkins intercepted on a third-and-2 pass. Personal foul on the return. Tech drives at the Hokie 44. Perkins was hit as he threw.
- UVA D defense stiffens after a Tech first-and-goal at the 7, holds the Hokies to a 19-yard field goal. UVA 6, Virginia Tech 3, 3:26/1st.
- Lamar Jackson, sorry, being told that was Bryce Perkins, with a 67-yard TD run. UVA 13, Virginia Tech 3, 2:32/1st. Perkins has 137 yards on the ground.
Second Quarter
- Tech fumble on a potential third-down conversion gives UVA the ball at the ‘Hoos 41.
- UVA drive stalls after a pair of just unfathomable calls. Divine Deablo should have been called for unnecessary roughness for tackling Hasise Dubois all the way to the bricks behind the UVA bench, then tossed for punching Joe Reed, but instead, the call was offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Then on third down, Dubois was called for offensive pass interference, when he was being held from the 10 yard line into the end zone. UVA eventually had to punt.
- UVA D holds, forces Tech three-and-out.
- UVA three-and-out. Perkins sacked on first down, Looking to go to Reed, who was covered. Set the offense behind the chains.
- Snowden with the second-down sack, another three-and-out for the Tech offense.
- UVA drive starts at the ‘Hoos 10. Tech D holds on third-and-1. Tech returns the punt to the UVA 28.
- Joey Blount intercepts a third-down pass in the back of the end zone. His right foot was in bounds. Obvious on replay. Call on field: incomplete. Replay: call stands. Tech field goal, 13-6 UVA. The fix is in.
- UVA offense goes three-and-out. Tech has 1:40 to try to get a score,
- Half: UVA 13, Tech 6. Total offense: UVA 211 Tech 149. Perkins: 138 yards rushing, 2 TDs.
Third Quarter
- Tech gets the ball to open the second half.
- Hendon Hooker keeper for a 34-yard TD run. Noah Taylor bit on the read-option play fake. Game tied at 13, 12:52/3rd.
- The UVA offense gives us a rather listless three-and-out.
- Hazelton third-down conversion catch overturned on review. Wow. That actually happened.
- Another UVA three-and-out. Six possessions in a row ending in punts.
- Deshawn McClease 1-yard TD run for Tech. Hokies lead 20-13, 4:42/3rd. The UVA D is obviously gassed: Tech has run 51 plays to UVA’s 34. This story seems to be writing itself now.
- Bryce Perkins 25-yard TD pass to Billy Kemp. Big answer drive. UVA went tempo to catch Tech D off guard. UVA 20, Tech 20, 2:24/3rd.
- Hendon Hooker 61-yard TD pass to Tre Turner. Tech leads 27-20, 0:48/3rd.
- End three: Tech 27, UVA 20. Hokies had 224 yards total offense in the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
- Wayne Taulapapa 1-yard TD run on third-and-goal. UVA 27, Tech 27, 13:30/4th.
- Brian Johnson 47-yard field goal. Tech regains the lead, 30-27, 10:58/4th.
- 67-yard pass from Perkins to Dubois on the first play of the drive set up UVA with first-and-goal. Tech D stiffens, limits UVA to a 25-yard Brian Delaney field goal. UVA 30, Tech 30, 7:35/4th.
- Noah Taylor interception at the UVA 35. ‘Hoos first and 10, 4:47/4th.
- Brian Delaney 48-yard field goal. UVA 33, Tech 30, 1:23/4th. I can’t feel my hands.
- Mandy Alonso sack in the end zone, recovered by Eli Hanback, 39-30 UVA, 1:01 left.
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