... CHARLOTTESVILLE CELEBRATES AS UVA UPSETS FLORIDA STATE
Virginia fought off a late Florida State rally and three injuries, two on the offensive line, to topple #1 Florida State, 16-8, in Week 2 of ECFA play.
The Cavaliers struck first, as Fells-Danzer returned the opening kickoff 92 yards. Two plays later, Verica found Jones for a 4-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead. FSU immediately drove into Virginia territory, mostly with the ground atatck, but Thompson fumbled the ball away on the 7th play, ending the promising drive. After a Virginia punt, Thompson again coughed it loose and again, Virginia recovered. The Cavaliers (1-1, 1-0 Eastern Conference) capitalized with a 27-yard field goal to make it 10-0, keyed by 32-yard completion to Burd.
It was 13-0 at the half and 16-0 after three quarters, but the Seminoles (1-1, 0-1 East) mounted a drive to start the fourth period. Running behind right tackle to take advantage of an injured Virginia left defensive end, FSU got yards in chunks on the ground, drving to the 26, where on 2nd-and-6, Thompson ran for the first down at the 20. But a false start penalty made it 2nd-and-11. Thompson caught a pass, but was just short of the first down. Facing 3rd-and-1 from the 21, Virginia's weakened defense stood up and slammed the door, holding first Ponder then Thompson to 0-yard gains and turning the ball over on downs.
Virginia, however, quickly punted, and back came the Seminoles. This time, three consecutive completions netted the final 48 yards of a touchdown drive, culminated by Reed's 10-yard catch for a score. Tight end Reliford caught the 2-point attempt, and it was 16-8.
With just less than 5 minutes to go, FSU's onside kick attempt was recovered by Virginia at the Seminoles' 40. They went for it on 4th-and-8 to use more time, and lost 3 yards on a catch. Florida State had one last chance from its 41 with 43 seconds left. A receiver got open in the end zone, but The Box called the pass incomplete. With 23 seconds left, another pass toward the end zone missed the target, but there's a flag on the field! ... UVA got called for a 15-yard penalty for taunting!!! That left one untimed down for FSU to try and score. This time, they got a receiver open at the 20, but safeties were back and the pass was just incomplete. The game was finally over, and the Cavaliers were winners.
Ed
