Final: Virginia 30, Pitt 14

We’re here at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh for the Virginia football season opener against Pitt. The Cavaliers prevailed, 30-14, to move to 1-0 on the season:

Individual Statistics

RUSHING: UVA — Wayne Taulapapa 10-66; Bryce Perkins 18-44; PK Kier 5-19. PITT — A.J. Davis 8-25; Todd Sibley Jr. 7-23; Kenny Pickett 12-16; V’Lique Carter 1-8; Vincent Davis 2-6.

PASSING: UVA — Bryce Perkins 20-34-0-181. PITT — Kenny Pickett 21-41-2-185. 

RECEIVING: UVA — Joe Reed 7-34; Hasise Dubois 4-45; Terrell Jana 3-29; Tanner Cowley 2-27; Chris Sharp 2-8; Terrell Chatman 1-33; Wayne Taulapapa 1-5. PITT — Maurice Ffrench 6-54; Taysir Mack 6-33; Tre Tipton 3-26; Will Gragg 3-4; A.J. Davis 2-65; V’Lique Carter 1-3.

Attendance — 47,144.

Game Statistics

First Quarter

Virginia won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. The Wahoo defense forced a three-and-out, as Mandy Alonso got his mitts on a Kenny Pickett pass on 3rd down.

The Cavalier offense moved quickly down the field, highlighted by a 19-yard pass from Bryce Perkins to tight end Tanner Cowley. Perkins later hit Joe Reed on the sideline for a tiptoe grab, which was reviewed and upheld.

Another play went under review (three plays later) as Perkins kept the chains moving on a crucial 3rd-down run. Perkins was gobbled up on 3rd & 7 from the Panthers’ 12-yard line and the ‘Hoos settled for a 39-yard Brian Delaney field goal with 8:17 left in the quarter. Wahoos 3, Panthers 0.

Pitt picked up just three yards on its second offensive series, and UVA sophomore Noah Taylor blocked the ensuing punt, giving Perkins and the offense terrific field position inside the red zone. It took just three plays and 1:31 off the clock for Perkins to find Chris Sharp in the end zone to extend the lead with 6:11 on the clock. Wahoos 10, Panthers 0.

The Panthers punted on their next drive. Virginia couldn’t get anything going on the ensuing drive, despite a nice 27-yard pass to a wide-open Hasise Dubois, as Perkins was sacked twice, and Virginia punted. The quarter ended with Pitt setting up for a 3rd & 4 from its own 21.

Second Quarter

Pitt struck on the first play of the period, a 59-yard pass from Pickett to running back A.J. Davis down to the Cavalier 14-yard line. Three plays later, Davis trotted in to cut the Virginia lead to 3 with 13:29 on the clock. Wahoos 10, Panthers 7.

Delaney added to the Virginia lead with his second field goal of the night, this time from 36 yards out, with 10:19 to go, capping a 63-yard drive highlighted by a 33-yard leaping catch from graduate transfer Terrell Chatman. Wahoos 13, Panthers 7.

The ‘Hoos defense forced another three-and-out as free safety De’Vante Cross delivered a huge blow on third down to Pitt tight end Nakia Griffin-Stewart, who would have had a first down if he had held on. Virginia gave it right back, as Pitt took its first lead of the night on a 14-play, 80-yard march that took 5:34 off the clock. Pickett connected with Tre Tipton on 3rd & goal from the 3 to tie it up, and the Panthers went ahead on the Alex Kessman extra point with 38 seconds left in the half. Panthers 14, Wahoos 13.

Third Quarter

UVA got the ball to start the second half and used a 10-play drive to retake the lead on Delaney’s third boot of the evening, this one from 45 yards out, with 11:54 on the clock. Wahoos 16, Panthers 14.

On the ensuing drive, junior LB Matt Gahm intercepted a Pickett pass inside the Panthers’ 30-yard line. The Cavaliers scored again moments later, as Perkins hit Hasise Dubois over the middle and Dubois stretched it across the goal line to make it a two-possession game with 8:23 to go in the quarter. Wahoos 23, Panthers 14.

Pitt drove down to the UVA 28-yard line, but junior safety Joey Blount sacked Pickett on 3rd down to force a 50-yard field goal try by Kessman, but he missed wide right.

Fourth Quarter

Zane Zandier was whistled for a late hit, giving Pitt a 1st down at the UVA 36-yard line, but back-to-back sacks by Bryce Hall and Joey Blount set the stage for a momentum-swinging Blount interception on the following play, as the ‘Hoos took over with 7:40 to play. Delaney misfired wide right on what would have been his fourth field goal of the night with 4:23 to go, but Pitt turned it over on downs with 3:38 left, and the ‘Hoos added the ultimate punctuation as Wayne Taulapapa scored his first career touchdown, a 10-yard scamper with 32 seconds to play for the final result.

Team Notes

• UVA is 4-8 all-time against Pitt.
• UVA is 83-38-9 all-time in season openers.
• UVA is 27-39 all-time in ACC openers.
• UVA is 4-0 under Bronco Mendenhall in ACC openers.
• Virginia blocked a punt for the first time since 2017 at Miami.
• UVA had eight collegiate debuts against Pitt. LS Enzo Anthony**, DT Jowon Briggs**, LS Lee Dudley, WR Dorien Goddard**, RB Mike Hollins**, ILB Nick Jackson**, C Olusegun Oluwatimi, WR Dontayvion Wicks**.
• First collegiate starts: TB Wayne Taulapapa, WR Terrell Chatman, C Olusegun Oluwatimi, NT Jowon Briggs**, OLB Matt Gahm; CB Nick Grant.

**-denotes true freshman

Player Notes

•  QB Bryce Perkins finished with two passing touchdowns. He has thrown for multiple touchdowns in 13 of 14 career games.
• PK Brian Delaney tied a career high with three field goals (39, 36, 45).
• OLB Matt Gahm made his first career interception in the third quarter. It led to a touchdown pass from Bryce Perkins to Hasise Dubois. It was the first interception by a UVA linebacker since Charles Snowden at Virginia Tech last year.
• WR Joe Reed finished with a career-high seven receptions.
• TB Wayne Taulapapa carried the ball for the first time in his career, finishing with 66 rushing yards on 10 carries and a touchdown.
• S Joey Blount recorded his first career sack in the third quarter. It forced fourth down, which resulted in a missed 50-yard field goal by Pitt. He recorded a second sack in the fourth quarter.
• Blount recorded his first interception of the year and third of his career in the fourth quarter the very next play after his sack.
• OLB Noah Taylor blocked the first punt of his career in the first quarter. It was the first UVA blocked punt since Charles Snowden at Miami in 2017.
• TB Chris Sharp caught his third career touchdown reception in the first quarter on a two-yard scoring strike.
• P Nash Griffin made the first punt of his career in the first quarter for 41 yards and the ball was fair caught inside the 20-yard line.
• WR Terrell Chatman had a career-long 33-yard reception in the second quarter.
• OL Dillon Reinkensmeyer made his first career start at RT. He has now made starts in four of the five offensive line spots. He has made starts at left tackle (2), center (21), right guard (1) and right tackle (1).
• With Jowon Briggs starting at defensive tackle, UVA has started a true freshman on the defensive line in the season opener for the second year in a row. Jordan Redmond did so last season against Richmond.

Up Next

The Cavaliers (1-0, 1-0 ACC) will face William & Mary in the home opener on Friday at 8 p.m.