Cardiac Cavs Strike Again: Virginia Grinds Out Gator Bowl Victory to Cap Historic Season
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Another game, another heart-stopper. The "Cardiac Cavs" nickname didn’t just stick this season - it defined it.
And on Saturday night, Virginia football lived up to the billing once again, grinding out a 13-7 win over Missouri in the Gator Bowl. The final dagger?
A clutch end-zone pass breakup by safety Devin Neal with the game hanging in the balance.
It was a fitting finish for a team that’s made a habit of living on the edge - and thriving in it.
“My heart was racing on that pass,” said offensive lineman McKale Boley, who watched the play unfold from the sideline. “I saw the receiver and thought, ‘Oh God, he’s open.’
Then Devin came in and knocked it down. I’m so happy.”
That moment didn’t just seal the win - it sealed Virginia’s place in the record books. With the victory, the Cavaliers became the first team in program history to hit the 11-win mark. And they did it with the same formula that’s carried them all year: gritty defense, timely plays, and a battle-tested mentality that refuses to flinch when the pressure mounts.
O-Line Dominance Sets the Tone
While Neal’s late-game heroics will get the highlight treatment, Virginia’s offensive line deserves just as much credit for this win. The unit kept a clean pocket all night, not allowing a single sack, and opened up running lanes for Harrison Waylee and Xay Davis to keep the chains moving. The Cavaliers controlled the clock, especially in the third quarter, where they dominated possession and kept Missouri’s offense on ice.
“We’re about all of it,” Boley said of the O-line’s performance. “I think we’re a physical group.
We shouldn’t be talked down upon. We’re a F.I.S.T.: five individuals strong together.
That’s our identity.”
That identity was on full display in Jacksonville. Virginia didn’t light up the scoreboard, but they didn’t need to. They won the line of scrimmage, protected the quarterback, and leaned on a defense that came up with the big play when it mattered most.
Battle-Tested and Built for the Moment
This wasn’t the first time Virginia had to dig deep in the final minutes - and it showed. While other teams might tense up in high-leverage situations, the Cavaliers seem to settle in.
“We keep getting into these situations,” Boley said. “But that’s just a testament to the team we are.
We’ve been battle-tested. A lot of teams haven’t been in situations like this as much as us, so that’s why we’re able to pull out these wins.”
It’s not the kind of season you draw up on a whiteboard. It’s the kind you earn - one close game at a time.
As for Boley, he says he’ll take the next few days to decide on his future. But whether he stays or moves on, this team already etched its place in Virginia football history.
The Cardiac Cavs did it again - and this time, they made history doing it.