Anthony Harris intercepted a BYU pass with 2:41 to go to give Virginia new life, and Kevin Parks scored from 13 yards out on the next play from scrimmage to lift UVa. to a 19-16 win.
Brigham Young had rallied from a 12-7 deficit entering the fourth quarter, driving 92 yards on 11 plays, capped by a Taysom Hill touchdown that gave the Cougars a 13-12 lead with 6:26 to go.
Khalek Shepherd fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and BYU recovered, and turned the miscue into three points on a Justin Sorensen 36-yard field goal that made it 16-12 with 5:02 left.
Virginia went three-and-out on its next series, and fans started heading for the exits as it looked as if BYU might be able to run out the clock.
On a third-and-six from the BYU 34, Hill was picked off by Harris, who lateraled the ball to Henry Coley, who returned the ball to the BYU 13.
Parks scored to give Virginia the lead, and the Virginia defense forced the Cougars to turn the ball over on downs, and the Cavs held off one last-ditch effort in the waning seconds to seal the deal.
Virginia’s defense harassed Hill into a 13-for-40, 175-yard day. Virginia quarterback David Watford was 18-for-32 passing for 114 yards and a touchdown with one interception.
Parks ran for 65 yards on 20 carries.
UVa. punter Alex Vozenilek averaged 41.3 yards per kick on his 13 punts, and dropped four kicks inside the BYU 20.
Placekicker Ian Frye made good on a 53-yard field goal attempt to end the first half.
Virginia (1-0) hosts #3 Oregon next Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
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