Hoos Earn First ACC Win at Miami

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – For the third-straight season, ACC foes Virginia and Miami met at Hard Rock Stadium. This one, unlike the games in 2019 and ’20, went the Cavaliers’ way.

In a nationally televised Coastal Division game, UVA pulled out a 30-28 victory Thursday night when Miami’s Andy Borregales missed a 33-yard field-goal attempt as time expired. His kick hit the left upright and bounced away, triggering a frenzied celebration by the Wahoos.

Virginia (3-2 overall, 1-2 ACC) never trailed Thursday night. The Cavaliers led 16-7 at halftime and 27-14 late in the third quarter. But the Hurricanes’ offense, stymied by Hoos in the first half, heated up after intermission.

After Brendan Farrell’s second field goal, this one a 30-yarder, pushed UVA’s lead to 30-21 early in the fourth quarter, the Canes drove 75 yards for a touchdown that made it a two-point game.

The Cavaliers’ next drive stalled, but Jacob Finn’s punt pinned Miami back at its 9-yard line with 5:36 left. That didn’t faze the Canes (2-3, 0-1), who methodically advanced up the field before calling a timeout with 2 seconds left to set up what appeared to be a chip shot for Borregales.

For UVA, quarterback Brennan Armstrong completed 25 of 44 passes for 268 yards and one TD. He was intercepted once, a turnover that Miami quickly turned into a touchdown.

Running backs Wayne Taulapapa and Mike Hollins each ran for a TD, and Virginia’s most versatile player, Keytaon Thompson, had a sensational night. Thompson rushed three times for 47 yards and caught four passes for 55 yards.

Wide receiver Billy Kemp caught nine passes for 81 yards. Another UVA wideout, Dontayvion Wicks, had only two receptions, but one is sure to be showcased on SportsCenter.

In third quarter, on second-and-17 from the Miami 37, Armstrong threw a long pass to the end zone that was nearly intercepted. As the defensive back came down with the ball, however, it came loose and landed on Wicks’ back. As Wicks rolled over, the ball popped up, and he grabbed it for an unforgettable touchdown.

NOTES

• Virginia snapped a five-game road losing streak and picked up its first road win since Nov. 2, 2019 at North Carolina.
• In its first appearance on ESPN Thursday night football since 2012, UVA improved to 7-6 all-time in the primetime slot.
• The victory at Hard Rock Stadium was Virginia’s first since 2011. The Cavaliers had dropped six-straight games in the facility, including the 2019 Orange Bowl (to Florida).
• Virginia improves to 11-12 in night games under Bronco Mendenhall and 2-2 this season.
• The Cavaliers are 8-10 against Miami in ACC regular season action.
• Virginia recorded its second safety of the season. Virginia hasn’t been credited with two safeties in a season since 2012.
• Virginia rushed for 181 yards, the most in an ACC contest since totaling 262 against Boston College last season.
• The 30 points were the most against Miami since 2014, a 30-13 victory in Charlottesville.
• Virginia held Miami to 372 yards of total offense, including a season-low 203 yards passing. The 203 yards passing were the fewest by an ACC opponent against UVA since Louisville’s 161 in 2020.
• The Cavaliers held Miami to 10 yards of total offense in the first quarter.
• The touchdown for Wayne Taulapapa in the first quarter was his 20^th of his career and 19^th rushing score of his career.
• With a team-high 62 yards rushing, Taulapapa eclipsed 1,000 yards for his career, the 45^th Cavalier rusher to reach 1,000 yards.
• Miami native, Mandy Alonso had career-highs sacks (2) and tackles for losses (3). He made the tackle on the first quarter safety.
• Dontayvion Wicks caught two passes for 75 yards and a touchdown all in the second half. He has a touchdown in four-straight games and leads the team with five on the season.
• Billy Kemp IV has caught a pass in 20-straight games after catching a game-high nine passes for 81 yards in the contest.
• Kemp jumped four spots on UVA’s top-10 list for career receptions and now sits in sole possession of eighth place with 136 career catches.
• Specialist Brendan Farrell was successful on the first two field goal attempts of his career in the contest. He connected for kicks of 43 and 30 in the second half.
• Olusegun Oluwatimi made his 25^th straight start and 28^th of his career. Fellow offensive lineman Ryan Nelson has now started 42-straight games.
• Nick Grant was credited with a career-high, three pass break ups.
• Joey Blount led the team with eight tackles and added a pass break up. Six of his eight tackles were solo.
• Sophomore LT Jonathan Leech made his first career start.