On the game’s final play, Fletcher broke two tackles en route to his 11-yard touchdown.
“We had an opportunity right there to get the ball-carrier on the ground at the end,” Elliott said. “But at the end of the day their guy in that particular moment, on that one particular play, he had a little bit more want-to, to get in the end zone, than for us to get him on the ground.”
The Wahoos saw their two-game winning streak ended and fell to 2-6 overall and 1-3 in the ACC. Four of their losses were by a combined 10 points.
Tailback Mike Hollins scored two touchdowns Saturday, and wide receiver Malik Washington caught 12 passes, tying his career high, for 152 yards.
Quarterback Tony Muskett had a pass intercepted and returned for a touchdown early in the third quarter, but he bounced back from that turnover and finished 24-for-38 passing for 239 yards.
Bettridge, who graduated from Gulliver Prep in nearby Miami, connected from 22, 23, 32 and 35 yards Saturday. He also kicked four fields against the Hurricanes last season.
“Amazing game by Bettridge,” Hollins said. “What a place to do it as well, here in Miami, his hometown. We know what he’s playing for, so I know it felt good for him and his family.”
Before the game, a moment of silence was observed in memory of Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry, the three UVA football players who were shot and killed in Charlottesville last November after returning to Grounds from a class field trip.
Perry, also a Gulliver Prep graduate, wore jersey No. 41 at Virginia, and Bettridge switched to that number this year as a tribute to his late friend.
Perry’s parents were at the game Saturday, and their presence “was kind of that extra inspiration for us to do our jobs,” Bettridge said. “As we always talk about, we’re playing for something bigger than ourselves.”
Virginia came up with two takeaways—interceptions by cornerback Sam Westfall and linebacker Kam Robinson—but didn’t record any sacks. With 138 yards rushing, the Hoos became only the second team to top 100 yards on the ground against Miami (6-2, 2-2) this season, but they also allowed six sacks (for 30 yards in losses).
“That was probably the biggest negative in the game for us,” Elliott said.
To twice have to settle for field goals are driving inside the Miami was frustrating, but against a team as talented as Miami, Elliott said, “you’re gonna take points. Obviously, you want to score touchdowns in the red zone, but the biggest thing is coming away with points, and I’m proud of the guys for that.”
In a span of seven seconds early in the second half, the Cavaliers went from leading 10-3 to trailing 17-10. First, tailback Ajay Allen capped Miami’s first possession of the third quarter with a 26-yard touchdown run. Then, on the first play of the possession that followed, Miami safety Kamren Kinchens picked off a Muskett pass intended for wideout JR Wilson and returned it 29 yards for another TD.
The Hoos didn’t panic. Instead, they responded with 10 straight points to take a 20-17 lead.
“These kids have been through a lot of stuff, and they’re mentally tough,” Virginia offensive coordinator Des Kitchings said. “They’re physically tough, spiritually tough, and it continues to show.”
Nothing has come easily this season for Virginia, which dropped its first five games. As the final month of the regular season approaches, though, the Hoos bear little resemblance to the team that repeatedly self-destructed in September.
“I think what you saw [Saturday] is a football team that’s growing and becoming more confident and really, really internalizing what it is to play a four-quarter game,” Elliott said. “My message to these guys was, this is ACC football. This is what you want. You want to be in a one-possession, four-quarter game with the ball in your hands the last time to go seal the victory … It’s tough now, it’s hurting right now, because we’re on the other side. But I believe what you’ll see is down the stretch, more confidence will be gained to where when we’re in that situation again we find a way to make the play.”
