Field Level Media
Nov 29, 2019
Brian Delaney drilled a tiebreaking 48-yard field goal with 1:23 left as Virginia clinched its first ACC divisional title on Friday in a 39-30 win over No. 24 Virginia Tech in Charlottesville, Va.
After Noah Taylor's second interception gave the Cavaliers possession at their 35-yard line with the score tied at 30, Virginia moved down the field to set up Delaney's kick. The made field goal allowed the junior kicker to atone for an earlier missed extra point attempt.
Defensive tackle Eli Hanback scored a touchdown when he fell on a fumble in the end zone on the ensuing series 22 seconds later.
The win broke Virginia's 15-game losing streak against its in-state rival and earned the Cavaliers their first ACC Coastal Division title.
Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins rushed for two touchdowns and a season-high 164 yards on 19 carries. He passed for 311 yards and a score on 20 of 33 attempts -- accounting for 475 all-purpose yards.
Hasise Dubois caught four passes for a game-high 139 yards in the Commonwealth Cup win.
Virginia (9-3, 6-2) will play No. 3 Clemson (11-0, 8-0) in the ACC Championship Game on Dec. 7 in Charlotte, N.C.
Freshman Hendon Hooker was 18-for-30 passing for a career-high 311 yards and a score and two interceptions for the Hokies (8-4, 5-3).
Tre Turner (134 receiving yards) and Damon Hazelton (118) each had seven receptions.
Perkins opened the scoring on a 39-yard scamper, but Delaney hooked the extra point. Brian Johnson's 21-yard field goal cut the Hokies' deficit to 6-3.
But Perkins called his own number to convert another third down, bursting through the middle and sprinting 67 yards for a score to end a three-play drive with 2:32 left in the first quarter.
Johnson made it 13-6 with 2:06 left in the half with a field goal from 26 yards.
A strong third quarter by the Hokies started with Hooker's 34-yard TD run off the right side to open the second half, and Deshawn McClease's plunge gave them their first lead at 20-13 to end a 71-yard drive.
Perkins fired a 25-yard scoring pass to Billy Kemp IV to tie it at 20, but Hooker found Turner deep downfield for 61 yards and a 27-20 lead with 48 seconds left in the third quarter.
Wayne Taulapapa rumbled in from 2 yards to even the score at 27 on the third play of the fourth quarter.
Johnson's season-long 47-yard boot put the Hokies up again, but Delaney answered with a 25-yard kick at 7:35 to knot it at 30.
--Field Level Media