Virginia 42, Boise State 23
A 52-10 quarterback-shuffling disaster against Virginia Tech. A final-minute, 32-25 loss to Louisville. A blow out by Richmond. A closing-seconds loss to Notre Dame. A 56-14 demolition by Boise State. An infuriating 28-27 loss to North Carolina. A pair of 59-10 smackdowns dealt out by Oregon and Clemson. The list of recent soul-crushing defeats for the Virginia football team -- both by close scores and not-so-close scores -- is long.
So let's enjoy this one, Wahoo fans.
UVa turned the tables Friday night, trouncing Boise State and getting some revenge for that humiliating loss in Charlottesville in 2015 for the biggest win for the Cavaliers since taking down No. 21 Louisville, 23-21, at Scott Stadium in 2014. Kurt Benkert completed 19 of 29 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns, the best a beautiful 64-yard completion to Andre Levrone, who had five catches for 141 yards and two scores. Benkert was sacked just once. Doni Dowling had two catches for 39 yards and a score. Jordan Ellis had his first 100-yard rushing game as he hit the century mark on the nose with 24 carries, tallying two touchdowns. Olamide Zaccheaus had two carries for 64 yards, including a long 56-yard scamper for a TD on a jet sweep. The defense was stout, too, giving up just 14 points until the closing minutes. Quin Blanding led the defense with 10 tackles, one for a loss. Micah Kiser had nine stops and two pass breakups. Juan Thornhill had nine tackles and a breakup. Brenton Nelson had a pick after also getting one against Connecticut. Andrew Brown (one), Chris Peace (one), Steven Wright (one), and Charles Snowden and Elliott
Brown (half each) collected sacks.
Let's enjoy this one, Wahoo fans.
We can wonder if Boise State just isn't as good as it used to be. It did take a ranked Washington State team to triple overtime already this season, but it probably isn't what it once was. But the Broncos have been extremely solid on their home field for years. Decades even. This was just the Broncos' seventh loss at home since 2000 and their first double-digit defeat on the smurf turf since 2001. They had won 32 consecutive against nonconference foes at home in the regular season, a streak spanning 17 seasons. And the team which pulled off the memorable 2007 Fiesta Bowl upset of Oklahoma hasn't had fewer than eight wins in a season since 1998 and has won at least 10 games 14 of the past 18 seasons. Even if Boise State isn't its usual self, Virginia did not win a squeaker. It did not come from behind. It dominated the action almost start to finish. Consider that after Boise State took a 7-0 lead with 12:02 left in the first quarter, Virginia outscored the Broncos, 42-7, until 2:07 left in the game.
No matter how you look at it, it is a solid victory. Could it be a program-changer? Maybe. Right now, let's stick with big win and hope the 'Hoos continue to take steps forward.
We can wonder if Virginia can actually get to six wins and bowl eligibility. We can worry about where the three other wins might come from. But if the team plays like this consistently, several winnable games are left on the schedule.
But let's take a deep breath. Virginia has a bye next week. There's plenty of time for speculation and for beginning to think about what this means for the rest of the season when Virginia hosts Duke in its ACC opener Oct. 7.
This was UVa's first nonconference road win since 2011 (Indiana) and the most points it has scored in such a triumph since 2004 (44-14 against Temple). The Cavaliers played a team with a national brand on national television on the road and won. By 19. And Virginia is 3-1 for the first time since 2007. Let that soak in. As fans of UVa football, we've been through a lot. So make sure you enjoy this one.
A 52-10 quarterback-shuffling disaster against Virginia Tech. A final-minute, 32-25 loss to Louisville. A blow out by Richmond. A closing-seconds loss to Notre Dame. A 56-14 demolition by Boise State. An infuriating 28-27 loss to North Carolina. A pair of 59-10 smackdowns dealt out by Oregon and Clemson. The list of recent soul-crushing defeats for the Virginia football team -- both by close scores and not-so-close scores -- is long.
So let's enjoy this one, Wahoo fans.
UVa turned the tables Friday night, trouncing Boise State and getting some revenge for that humiliating loss in Charlottesville in 2015 for the biggest win for the Cavaliers since taking down No. 21 Louisville, 23-21, at Scott Stadium in 2014. Kurt Benkert completed 19 of 29 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns, the best a beautiful 64-yard completion to Andre Levrone, who had five catches for 141 yards and two scores. Benkert was sacked just once. Doni Dowling had two catches for 39 yards and a score. Jordan Ellis had his first 100-yard rushing game as he hit the century mark on the nose with 24 carries, tallying two touchdowns. Olamide Zaccheaus had two carries for 64 yards, including a long 56-yard scamper for a TD on a jet sweep. The defense was stout, too, giving up just 14 points until the closing minutes. Quin Blanding led the defense with 10 tackles, one for a loss. Micah Kiser had nine stops and two pass breakups. Juan Thornhill had nine tackles and a breakup. Brenton Nelson had a pick after also getting one against Connecticut. Andrew Brown (one), Chris Peace (one), Steven Wright (one), and Charles Snowden and Elliott
 |
| Kurt Benkert led Virginia to its best win since 2014 against Louisville and first non-ACC win on the road since 2011 (Indiana). |
Let's enjoy this one, Wahoo fans.
We can wonder if Boise State just isn't as good as it used to be. It did take a ranked Washington State team to triple overtime already this season, but it probably isn't what it once was. But the Broncos have been extremely solid on their home field for years. Decades even. This was just the Broncos' seventh loss at home since 2000 and their first double-digit defeat on the smurf turf since 2001. They had won 32 consecutive against nonconference foes at home in the regular season, a streak spanning 17 seasons. And the team which pulled off the memorable 2007 Fiesta Bowl upset of Oklahoma hasn't had fewer than eight wins in a season since 1998 and has won at least 10 games 14 of the past 18 seasons. Even if Boise State isn't its usual self, Virginia did not win a squeaker. It did not come from behind. It dominated the action almost start to finish. Consider that after Boise State took a 7-0 lead with 12:02 left in the first quarter, Virginia outscored the Broncos, 42-7, until 2:07 left in the game.
No matter how you look at it, it is a solid victory. Could it be a program-changer? Maybe. Right now, let's stick with big win and hope the 'Hoos continue to take steps forward.
We can wonder if Virginia can actually get to six wins and bowl eligibility. We can worry about where the three other wins might come from. But if the team plays like this consistently, several winnable games are left on the schedule.
But let's take a deep breath. Virginia has a bye next week. There's plenty of time for speculation and for beginning to think about what this means for the rest of the season when Virginia hosts Duke in its ACC opener Oct. 7.
This was UVa's first nonconference road win since 2011 (Indiana) and the most points it has scored in such a triumph since 2004 (44-14 against Temple). The Cavaliers played a team with a national brand on national television on the road and won. By 19. And Virginia is 3-1 for the first time since 2007. Let that soak in. As fans of UVa football, we've been through a lot. So make sure you enjoy this one.
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