Miami dominated the second half to break open a close game en route to a 34-14 win over UVA in Charlottesville on Saturday.
The Cavs (2-8, 1-5 ACC) trailed 17-14 at halftime, but the Hurricanes (6-4, 3-3 ACC) extended the lead on a 44-yard field goal by Michael Badgley on the first drive out of the locker room, and extended it to 27-14 with 3:25 to go in the third on a 77-yard touchdown pass from Brad Kaaya to Ahmmon Richards.
A Mark Walton 15-yard touchdown run with 11:15 to go in the game added the final bit of insurance for UM, which became bowl-eligible with the win.
Virginia, in losing its fifth straight, couldn’t get out of its own way in the second half, fumbling the ball away four times and turning the ball over on downs on a late-game drive that got into the red zone.
Miami outgained UVA 450-289, and held the ‘Hoos to 82 yards rushing.
Virginia quarterback Kurt Benkert was 16-of-27 passing for 143 yards and a touchdown before being lifted in the fourth quarter in favor of last year’s senior, fifth-year senior Matt Johns, who threw for 64 yards on 3-of-7 passing in mop-up duty.
Taquan Mizzell ran for 89 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown rushing, and caught three passes for 27 yards.
Kaaya was 14-of-29 passing for 228 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Walton ran for 111 yards on 16 carries.
Richards had 100 yards receiving on three catches.
Linebacker Micah Kiser had 12 tackles and an interception for the UVA defense. Quin Blanding had 10 tackles from the safety position for the Cavs.
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