Virginia Drops First Contest of 2024 to Maryland

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The Virginia Cavaliers went into halftime ahead by six points Saturday night, but that lead evaporated quickly in the second half. In its first game at Scott Stadium since 2012, Maryland outscored UVA 20-0 in the final two quarters to secure a 27-13 victory.

Virginia, which was looking to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2019, turned the ball over four times against its former ACC rival. The Terrapins (2-1), meanwhile, had no turnovers on a night when they stretched their non-conference winning streak to 14 games.

The Terps sacked quarterback Anthony Colandrea only once, but they applied intense pressure for much of the game and succeeded in disrupting the Cavaliers’ offense. In the second half, Maryland totaled 250 yards on offense, to only 82 for UVA.

The Wahoos had an opportunity to gain separation in the first half, but their inefficiency in the red zone proved costly. Three times in the first 30 minutes, the Hoos drove inside the Maryland 15-yard line, but they were able to turn those possessions into only six points, on field goals of 19 and 29 yards by Will Bettridge.

After Maryland scored a touchdown with 54 seconds left in the second quarter, however, Virginia struck back in stunning fashion. Colandrea opened the Cavaliers’ 71-yard touchdown drive with a nine-yard run, and he ended it with a daring 10-yard scramble. He crossed the goal line with one second left on the clock, and Bettridge’s extra point sent UVA into the break with a 13-7 lead.

Virginia’s lone TD drive also included a 13-yard run by tailback Kobe Pace and a pass from Colandrea to tight end Tyler Neville for a 39-yard gain to the Maryland 10.

Colandrea finished 21-for-37 passing for 247 yards, with two interceptions. He also lost a fumble on a third-and-goal run that ended UVA’s first trip into the red zone in the first quarter.

After each of Virginia’s first three turnovers, its defense kept the Terps from scoring. After the fourth, though, Maryland drove 52 yards for a touchdown, and the Cavaliers found themselves down two touchdowns with 7:10 to play.

Three UVA players finished with double-digit tackles: safety Antonio Clary (14), linebacker James Jackson (12) and safety Jonas Sanker (11). Defensive tackle Jahmeer Carter recorded Virginia’s only sack, corralling quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. for a 10-yard loss in the third quarter.

UP NEXT: In its second road game of the season, Virginia (2-1) plays Coastal Carolina (3-0) next Saturday at 2 p.m. at 20,000-seat Brooks Stadium in Conway, S.C., about 15 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach. The game will air on ESPN+.

This will be the first meeting between these programs. Coastal was scheduled to play at Scott Stadium in 2022, but that game was canceled after the shooting on Grounds.

The Hoos will host the Chanticleers in next year’s season opener.

Coastal defeated Temple 28-20 on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Virginia Team Notes

• Virginia drops to 32-46-2 all-time against Maryland, and has lost each of the last four matchups. It marked the first meeting between the two schools in Charlottesville since 2012.

• Maryland was limited to seven points off UVA’s four turnovers (two fumbles, two interceptions). The two fumbles lost by Virginia were the first two of the season.

• The Virginia defense was credited with eight pass breakups. It marks the second time in the last 26 games UVA had eight or more pass breakups (8 vs. Duke – 2023).

• Went over 100 rushing yards for the second time in three games.

• Virginia held a lead over Maryland at halftime for the second consecutive year.

• UVA was held scoreless in the second half for the first time since last year’s meeting against the Terps.

• The Cavaliers offense produced three plays over 30 yards in the contest and now have 11 on the season.

Virginia Individual Player Notes

• Antonio Clary set a career-high 14 tackles, including one for-loss to go along with two pass breakups.

• Jonas Sanker had 11 tackles putting him over the 200-tackle mark for his career.

• Wide receiver Kameron Courtney recorded his first career catch, a 33-yard reception in the first quarter … he finished with two receptions for 36 yards.

• Quarterback Anthony Colandrea put UVA up 13-7 with :01 left in the first half with a 10-yard rushing touchdown, his second rushing TD of his career. He finished with 247 yards passing, his 10^th career 200-yard game.

• Jahmeer Carter upped his career total to 2.5 with a takedown behind the line in the third quarter. It was his first sack since North Carolina on Oct. 21, 2023.

• Trell Harris’ diving 45-yard catch in the first quarter is the longest of his career. Harris led all UVA wideouts with 72 yards receiving on the night.

• Tyler Neville’s 39-yard catch in the second quarter is the longest of his career. Neville finished with three catches for 57 yards.

• Jam Jackson had a career high nine tackles and also was credited with two pass breakups.

• Chico Bennett matched a career-high with eight tackles. He also had eight at Louisville last season.