There shouldn’t be any worry for Virginia regarding a potential let down when coming off the emotional thrill of last Friday’s double-overtime victory against Florida State and the consequent frenetic field storming that took place at Scott Stadium as the Hoos reveled in their best win of fourth-year coach Tony Elliott’s tenure.
In part, that’s because this Saturday’s tilt at unbeaten Louisville (4-0, 1-0 ACC) is an attention-grabber for the No. 24 Cavaliers (4-1, 2-0 ACC) and the veteran returning players on their roster.
“I would imagine that they do,” have this game circled, Elliott said, “because they’ve gone against some really good Louisville teams and it’s come down to the fourth [quarter].”
And in each instance over the last two seasons, the Hoos were tantalizingly close to upending Louisville, but the Cardinals used late, dramatic comebacks to shred UVa’s upset hopes.
“Anytime you’re in a one-score game,” fifth-year left guard Noah Josey said while reflecting on those two losses, “there are always going to be the five or 10 moments for every player when it’s, ‘If I did this different or I did that different, would the outcome have been different?’”
Last fall in Charlottesville, UVa led 20-17 with less than seven minutes remaining when Louisville put together an 11-play drive that finished with then-quarterback Tyler Shough’s touchdown pass to wide receiver Jamari Johnson. That served as the game-winning score with 1:55 left on the clock.
The heartbreaking loss for UVa, which opened 2024 with a 4-1 record, too, was the first during the three-game losing streak that ultimately sent its season spiraling the wrong way.
Two seasons ago on the Cavaliers’ most recent trip to L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, they went up 24-17 with less than eight minutes left after kicker Will Bettridge’s 38-yard field goal. But the Hoos allowed two big-play touchdowns — a 52-yard pass and a 73-yard run — enabling then-No. 11 Louisville to win.
“Those games definitely were close, and I’m sure they noticed it, too,” UVa safety and leading tackler Devin Neal Jr., who played for Louisville the last two years, said. “There were just a few key plays that won [Louisville] those games.”
Said Josey: “Louisville is a good team and it’s always a good game, so I’m excited to play it.”
With Friday’s victory over previously-No. 8 Florida State serving as proof, too, the Cavaliers feel they’re better prepared to withstand a back-and-forth contest because of their improved talent and depth.
Elliott said this version of his Hoos also better understands the necessity to outlast in down-to-the-wire bouts.
“In our league and where we want to be in our league,” Elliott said, “and that’s toward the top, it’s going to be four-quarter games every week.”
Elliott said against the Seminoles, he noticed his players never stopped believing that they were going to win game and “didn’t flinch” in their effort to do so. He called it, “a culture game” for the Cavaliers because they displayed, “the culture that we’ve really, really been trying to build here with an attitude of belief, work and playing together,” through the pair of overtimes.
Said third-year Louisville coach Jeff Brohm about the Cavaliers: “They’ve gotten better each and every year, and the last two years we’ve had to come from behind in both games to find a way to win. And this team is playing very sharp and very crisp, so we’ll have our work cut out for us.”
UVa is also more capable on offense than it has been under Elliott, which should keep the Cavaliers competitive in any game through the rest of their schedule.
North Texas transfer quarterback Chandler Morris has thrown for 10 touchdowns and rushed for four scores. Seven different pass-catchers have recorded at least one touchdown reception and four different Hoos in addition to Morris have scored a rushing touchdown. Running back J’Mari Taylor’s seven rushing touchdowns are tied for the fifth most in the country.
Louisville is 18th nationally in total defense and second in the ACC in total defense only to Miami. So, Morris and company should get challenged on Saturday.
Elliott said, though, he’s leaned early in the week on experienced leaders like Morris, Taylor, Josey and defensive end Mitchell Melton to help the Hoos turn the page from their win over FSU toward their 3:30 p.m. clash on Saturday against the Cardinals.
UVa players and coaches were off on Saturday, Elliott said, and coaches returned to the office on Sunday before the team reconvened in full on Monday to begin planning and practicing for what it’ll encounter against Louisville.
“We passed one test,” Elliott said, “but we’ve got so many more tests ahead of us that we’ve got to prepare for.”
Notes: Elliott earned a pair of national honors following the Hoos’ win over Florida State. He was named Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week and Bear Bryant National Coach of the Week. … Morris (five total touchdowns), Melton (seven tackles, a tackle for loss, forced fumble) and nickel cornerback Ja’son Prevard (two interceptions) were the ACC Quarterback, Defensive End and Defensive Back of the Week, respectively, for their standout performances on Friday against the Seminoles. Prevard was recognized as Jim Thorpe National Defensive Back of the Week and Morris earned the Earl Campbell National Player of the Week honor, too. … Elliott said punter Daniel Sparks (hip flexor) is getting closer to being able to punt in game action and is hopeful that Sparks can punt on Saturday at Louisville. Offensive linemen Brady Wilson (calf) and Wallace Unamba (knee) are due back after the bye week, Elliott said.
Greg Madia
gmadia@dailyprogress.com
@GregMadia on X
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Greg Madia
UVa Sports Reporter
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