PITTSBURGH — In a surprising turn of events, Virginia stunned No. 23 Pittsburgh with a 24-19 victory on Saturday night, led by the impressive performances of Xavier Brown who not only caught a touchdown pass but also ran for another.
Anthony Colandrea was effective in his role, passing for 143 yards and adding 40 rushing yards as the Cavaliers (5-4, 3-3 ACC) ended a three-game losing streak and dealt a significant blow to Pittsburgh’s aspirations of reaching the ACC championship game.
The Panthers (7-2, 3-2) have now experienced two consecutive losses after a strong start to the season, which was their best since 1982. Their loss was compounded by the injury of quarterback Eli Holstein, who left in the third quarter after being hit high and late by Virginia’s Mike Diatta while attempting to slide. Diatta was subsequently ejected for targeting. Holstein went directly to the locker room for evaluation and did not return to the game.
Nate Yarnell, who had lost the starting quarterback position to Holstein earlier in the season, faced challenges in relief, completing only 4 out of 12 passes for 44 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions.
The first interception, made by Virginia safety Jonas Sanker, set up a short touchdown run by Kobe Pace, extending the Cavaliers’ lead to 21-13. The second interception occurred with under two minutes remaining, as Yarnell launched a deep pass that was intercepted by Virginia’s Corey Thomas, allowing the Cavaliers to run out the clock and secure the win.
Pittsburgh’s performance was marred by an unsettling 11 penalties amounting to 75 yards, including a crucial holding call on left tackle Ryan Baer that negated a successful two-point conversion after a touchdown reception by Gavin Barthlomew that would have tied the game. Late-game officiating did not favor the Panthers either, as Virginia managed to convert on a fourth-and-1 situation after the referees had called off the previous play due to improper alignment. This mistake allowed the Cavaliers to extend their lead with a 32-yard field goal from Will Bettridge.
The takeaway for Virginia rests on the impressive adjustments made after their bye week, as Coach Tony Elliott urged his team to reset their approach. The improved defensive performance now puts them one win away from bowl eligibility.
In contrast, concerns loom over Pittsburgh’s offense, as they seem to be faltering deeper into conference play. The unit struggled to find rhythm throughout the game, hindered by procedural penalties, dropped passes, and inadequate protection.
Looking ahead, it is anticipated that Pittsburgh may fall out of the rankings with the release of the new polls.
Virginia will next face a formidable opponent in No. 10 Notre Dame next Saturday, while Pittsburgh prepares to host No. 19 Clemson on the same day.