Miami holds off Virginia, wins 27-21

Virginia bogged down twice in the red zone, and that was the difference in a 27-21 loss at Miami on Saturday that could spell the beginning of the end for UVA coach Mike London.

The Cavs (3-6, 2-3 ACC) now need to win their final three games – at Louisville and at home against Duke and Virginia Tech – to become bowl-eligible.

One more loss dooms Virginia to its fifth losing season in six years with London as coach, and would seem to force the hand of athletics director Craig Littlepage in terms of dealing with London, who has one year left on his contract.

Miami (6-3, 4-2 ACC) has now won two straight under interim coach Larry Scott, who replaced Al Golden after a 58-0 ‘Canes loss to #1 Clemson last month.

Brad Kaaya was 20-for-26 passing for Miami for 286 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

UVA trailed 14-8 at the half, and took its only lead of the game with 5:28 to go in the third quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run by Olamide Zaccheaus.

Miami regained the lead with 3:08 to go in the third on a 28-yard field goal by Michael Badgley, and went up 24-15 with 12:52 to go in the game on a 1-yard TD run by Mark Walton.

Virginia had an apparent fourth-quarter touchdown negated on a questionable pass-interference call on tight end Charlie Hopkins, who was called for setting an illegal pick on a pass play that saw Canaan Severin catch a pass from Matt Johns in the end zone.

Ian Frye connected on a 37-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 24-18 with 7:08 to go. Miami answered with a backbreaking 11-play, 58-yard drive that ate 4:53 off the clock, forced Virginia to use its final two timeouts, and ended with a Badgley 39-yard field goal that made it 27-18 Miami with 2:15 left.

Johns drove Virginia to the Miami 30 to set up a 47-yard field goal by Frye that made it 27-21 Miami with 35 seconds left.

The Hurricanes recovered a UVA onside kick attempt to finish it off.

Johns was 29-of-42 passing for 280 yards and an interception.

Taquan Mizzell ran 18 times for 91 yards and caught eight passes for 40 yards for Virginia.