A Thanksgiving to Remember for Cavalier Football Fans Around the World

November 29, 2019
Two UVA Football players jump in the air in celebration of a touchdown

The Hoos had lots to celebrate the day after Thanksgiving. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Athletics)

No matter what kind of success the University of Virginia enjoyed in its history while winning more than two dozen national championships across multiple sports, rival Virginia Tech fans would point to their school’s streak of football victories over UVA.

They can point no longer.

On Friday afternoon, the Hoos gave their fans a Thanksgiving weekend to remember.

In front of a crowd of 52,619 at Scott Stadium, UVA defeated Tech, 39-30, to win the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division championship and Commonwealth Cup.

UVA fans around the world were just a wee bit fired up about the win, which snapped a 15-year losing streak.

The buildup to Friday’s game started early.

As the game got closer to kickoff, Hoos fans’ juices really got flowing.

Less than three minutes into the game, UVA had a 6-0 lead thanks to quarterback Bryce Perkins, who rushed four times for 70 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown scamper that sent Scott Stadium into a frenzy.

Late in the first quarter, Perkins did it again, taking off on a 67-yard touchdown run to put the Hoos up 13-3.

UVA took a 13-6 lead into the half before Virginia Tech answered with two touchdowns after the break to go up 20-13.

But the Hoos fought back.

Late in the third quarter, Perkins hit Joe Reed with a 42-yard pass to move into the Hokies’ territory.

Five plays later on a third-and-10, Perkins connected with Billy Kemp IV on a 25-yard touchdown strike to tie the game at 20.

The game seesawed the rest of the way until Brian Delaney – who had missed an extra point early in the game – redeemed himself in a huge way with a 48-yard field goal to put the Hoos up 33-30 with 1:23 remaining.

From there, the Hoos defense took care of things and even generated some points of their own. Mandy Alonso sacked Hokies quarterback Hendon Hooker in the endzone, causing a fumble that was recovered by Eli Hanback for a touchdown.

Moments later, fans stormed the field. The celebration was on.

 

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Whitelaw Reid

University of Virginia Licensing & Ventures Group

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November 29, 2019

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