Virginia Pounds Virginia Tech, Punches Ticket to ACC Title Game
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - In front of the largest crowd at Scott Stadium in over a decade, Virginia didn’t just beat Virginia Tech - they made a statement. With a 27-7 win over their in-state rivals on Saturday night, the No. 17 Cavaliers locked up a spot in the ACC Championship Game, capping off one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent conference memory.
And they did it with a little bit of everything - a trick play, a stifling defense, and a ground game that kept the Hokies guessing.
At the center of it all was J’Mari Taylor, who carved out a piece of ACC history by becoming the first running back in the league since 2021 to both run and throw for a touchdown in the same game. Taylor finished with 80 rushing yards and added a short touchdown pass on a direct snap that caught everyone - including his own quarterback - by surprise.
“It’s just confirmation of what’s possible,” said head coach Tony Elliott, who’s now seeing his vision for the program take real shape after an 11-23 start to his tenure in Charlottesville.
A Trick Out of the Bag
Virginia has shown all season that it’s not afraid to mix things up in short-yardage situations, often snapping the ball directly to Taylor. But this time, with the ball on the 1-yard line and under five minutes left in the first half, they went off-script - or rather, deeper into the script than anyone expected.
Taylor took the snap, paused just long enough to freeze the defense, and then floated a pass to tight end Josh Ennis in the end zone. It was a gutsy call, and it worked to perfection.
Quarterback Chandler Morris admitted he had to double-check the play call when it came in from offensive coordinator Des Kitchings.
“I had him re-call it, just to make sure that we’re rolling with it,” Morris said. “We’ve had that one in for a while now and I wanted to make sure I didn’t hear him incorrectly.”
Elliott gave full credit to Kitchings for timing it just right.
“You gotta keep people honest,” Elliott said. “That’s one of those plays that you want to try to call it in the right situation.
That’s what I told Des. I said, ‘Man, you pulled it out at the right time.’”
Defense Sets the Tone Early
Virginia didn’t waste time grabbing momentum. On Virginia Tech’s opening possession, a deflected pass turned into an interception, and the Cavaliers capitalized with a touchdown. From there, they never looked back.
The defense was relentless, holding Tech to just 197 total yards - a season low - and forcing seven consecutive three-and-outs during one stretch. That kind of dominance allowed Virginia to control the tempo and field position all night.
Linebacker Maddox Marcellus, filling in for injured standout Kam Robinson, turned in a performance that would make any defensive coordinator proud. He racked up nine tackles, snagged an interception, and contributed to a sack - all while stepping into a high-pressure role on rivalry night.
“To fill in on this stage and lead us,” Elliott said, “just shows the type of young men that we have in that locker room.”
Morris Keeps the Offense Moving
While Taylor was making headlines with his dual-threat performance, Morris quietly orchestrated a balanced offensive attack. The North Texas transfer threw for 182 yards and added a rushing score of his own, managing the game with poise and efficiency.
“These past two weeks, it’s been championship ball. It’s been playoff football,” Morris said. “To be able to get this one, I know this fan base has been extremely hungry to get this one.”
And he’s not wrong. Virginia had only beaten Virginia Tech once in their previous 20 meetings. Saturday night’s win wasn’t just about advancing to Charlotte - it was about exorcising a decade of frustration.
What’s Next
Virginia (10-2, 7-1 ACC) now shifts its focus to the ACC Championship Game, where they’ll face Duke - a team they already beat 34-17 just two weeks ago. That game, also in primetime, will take place next Saturday night in Charlotte.
For Virginia Tech (3-9, 2-6), the season is officially over - and not since 1987 have the Hokies finished with a worse record. Interim coach Philip Montgomery, who stepped in after Brent Pry was let go early in the season, praised his team’s resilience despite the outcome.
“They’ve been through a lot this year,” Montgomery said. “They’ve been resilient.
They’ve played extremely hard. They’ve battled.”
But in the end, effort alone wasn’t enough to overcome a one-dimensional offense that struggled all night. Outside of a late 57-yard touchdown strike from Kyron Drones to Shamarius Peterkin, the Hokies couldn’t find any rhythm - particularly through the air.
The Bottom Line
Virginia is playing its best football at the right time. The Cavaliers have now strung together back-to-back complete performances, getting contributions in all three phases and showing the kind of complementary football that wins championships.
From creative play-calling to defensive grit, this team has found its identity - and it’s one built on belief, balance, and a little bit of boldness.
Next stop: Charlotte.