Virginia Football vs. Georgia Tech | Scores and Updates
The Virginia Cavaliers (2-4, 0-3 ACC) face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-3, 2-1 ACC) on Thursday night at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Follow along with score updates and live analysis for Virginia football at Georgia Tech below.
This article will be updated after each drive. Most recent updates will be at the top of the page.
Final: Virginia 16, Georgia Tech 9
Scoring Summary
1Q 6:51: 37-yard interception return for a touchdown by LaMiles Brooks. GT leads UVA 6-0.
1Q 2:01: 1-yard touchdown run by Brennan Armstrong. UVA leads GT 7-6.
2Q 7:24: 44-yard touchdown reception by Dontayvion Wicks. UVA leads 13-6.
2Q 0:24: 35-yard field goal by Gavin Stewart. UVA leads 13-9.
3Q 6:21: 28-yard field goal by Will Bettridge. UVA leads 16-9.
Virginia wins an ugly one to snap a three-game losing streak and give Tony Elliott his first ACC win.
Georgia Tech Drive - 0:36 4Q
Needing to drive the length of the field in just 36 seconds, Zach Gibson finds Hassan Hall for 11 yards on the first play. Then, Nick Jackson makes a nice tackle of Hall in bounds which drains several key seconds of the clock. The UVA pass rush flushes Gibson out of the pocket and he isn't aware of the clock, which completely runs out as Gibson runs out of bounds to end the game.
Virginia Drive - 1:46 4Q
UVA will need one first down to put the game away. Xavier Brown is brought down after a gain of two and then Armstrong picks up three yards on the next play. Georgia Tech uses its final timeout to stop the clock at 1:35. On 3rd and 5, Armstrong runs to his right and is tackled for a loss of one to bring up 4th down. He does well to stay in bounds and UVA takes a delay of game penalty with 44 seconds left. Sparks gets the punt off and it bounces outside the 10 but rolls quickly into the end zone for a touchback.
Georgia Tech Drive - 5:18 4Q
Zach Gibson is sacked by James Jackson at the Georgia Tech 3-yard line to bring up 4th down. Lavel Davis Jr. tries to get over the Georgia Tech wall to block the punt and is called for "leaping", a personal foul that gives the Yellow Jackets their first first down of the second half. Malachi Carter gets the short pass from Gibson and runs 12 yards for a first down up to the 34-yard line. Coen King is flagged for pass interference, but a facemask on Georgia Tech makes the penalties offset. Gibson finds Nate McCollum over the middle for a 9-yard gain on 3rd down. On the next play, Gibson connects with tight end Dylan Leonard for 23 yards but the play is called back for illegal touching as Leonard was ineligible to receive the pass. Hassan Hall runs for 8 yards to the right side, but then Nick Jackson gets to Gibson for a 9-yard sack to bring up fourth down. On 4th and 11, Gibson's pass to Malachi Carter is broken up by Fentrell Cypress II and Georgia Tech's promising drive ends in a turnover on downs. UVA comes up with a big stop with less than two minutes to play.
Virginia Drive - 8:18 4Q
Working from his own 9-yard line, Brennan Armstrong breaks free for a massive 43-yard run across midfield. That's a game-changing play to flip the field. Armstrong and Brown run for short gains and then Armstrong's third-down pass to Sackett Wood is broken up. That's certainly a disappointing finish to what could have been a back-breaking drive. The UVA punting unit recovers from the block last time out and pins Georgia Tech inside the 10 for the third time.
Georgia Tech Drive - 9:40 4Q
Gibson tries a deep ball on the first play but Jonas Sanker makes a great play to swat the ball away in the end zone. Another incompletion sets up 3rd down and then Kam Butler gets to Gibson for a sack, forcing the Yellow Jackets to punt once again. That's another gigantic stop for the Virginia defense.
Virginia Drive - 11:52 4Q
Dontayvion Wicks hauls in a catch for 12 yards and a first down, but UVA marches back 10 yards on the next play for a holding penalty. On 3rd and 9, Armstrong tries to throw to Lavel Davis Jr. but his pass is off and falls incomplete. The UVA punting unit has been solid all night but Daniel Sparks has his punt blocked and Georgia Tech takes over at the UVA 36-yard line.
Georgia Tech Drive - 13:30 4Q
Georgia Tech goes three-and-out for the fifth possession in a row as Chico Bennett, Paul Akere, and Kam Butler all get to Gibson on third down for a 10-yard sack. Yes, it has been against a backup quarterback for most the game, but the Virginia defense has been lights out tonight.
Virginia Drive - 0:43 3Q
Armstrong finds Grant Misch in the flat for a gain of 8 yards and then Xavier Brown runs to the right side for 10 yards and a first down. On 3rd and 2, Armstrong pitches to Xavier Brown in the flat but Charlie Thomas comes up and makes a tackle to bring up fourth down. At fringe field goal range and lacking faith in Will Bettridge, UVA goes for it on fourth down but Armstrong's pass to Thompson is broken up and Virginia turns the ball over on downs.
Georgia Tech Drive - 2:17 3Q
The UVA defense continues to get the job done as Georgia Tech goes three-and-out again. Paul Akere and Chico Bennett Jr. get to Gibson for a sack on second down and then Antonio Clary nearly intercepted the third down pass after it was tipped, but Georgia Tech punts it away again.
Virginia Drive - 5:25 3Q
Armstrong scrambles for a first down across midfield. The UVA offensive line gives Armstrong plenty of time to throw and he finds Dontayvion Wicks on a deep ball down the left sideline for 37 yards to the Georgia Tech 15-yard line. A false start backs UVA up to the 20-yard line. On 3rd and 7, Armstrong tries to work the ball to Wicks but Zamari Walton breaks it up to bring up 4th down. Will Bettridge's 29-yard field goal attempt hits the right upright. Bettridge has now missed two field goals and an extra point tonight, totaling seven points. The margin remains just one touchdown.
Georgia Tech Drive - 6:21 3Q
The Virginia defense continues to do the heavy lifting, coming up with another three-and-out. UVA has been stout against the run and Zach Gibson, who made some nice throws late in the first half after replacing Jeff Sims, hasn't had any success throwing the ball in the second half so far.
Virginia Drive - 8:19 3Q
The same exact thing nearly happens on Virginia's first play as Armstrong and Perris Jones botch an option read in the backfield, but Armstrong is able to jump on the ball for a loss of four yards. Keytaon Thompson fights for extra yards on a screen and gets back to the 6-yard line. A false start backs UVA up to 11-yard line for third down. Armstrong steps up and delivers great ball to Lavel Davis Jr. in the end zone, but the ball goes through the arms of Davis for another devastating drop by the UVA receiving corps. Virginia settles for a 28-yard field goal by Will Bettridge to make it 16-9, but that feels like a loss for UVA after taking over inside the Georgia Tech 10-yard line.
Scoring Drive: 4 plays, -2 yards, 1:58 | Result: 28-yard field goal by Will Bettridge
Georgia Tech Drive - 9:23 3Q
On third down, Zach Gibson fumbles the ball as he tried to pull the ball out of the arms of Dontae Smith and Nick Jackson recovers giving UVA possession at the Georgia Tech 9-yard line.
Virginia Drive - 11:09 3Q
Keytaon Thompson gets the handoff on a reverse and gains six yards and then Xavier Brown moves the chains with a six yard run of his own on the next play. Armstrong throws to Wicks on the left sideline, but Wicks drops the pass, setting up 3rd and 5. Billy Kemp was open over the middle of the field and Armstrong misses the throw and it falls short and Virginia punts it away. Daniel Sparks pins Georgia Tech inside the five-yard line again.
Georgia Tech Drive - 12:33 3Q
After Daniel Sparks pins Georgia Tech at its own five-yard, the UVA defense forces a three-and-out thanks in part to a nice tackle by Jahmeer Carter on Hassan Hall first-down carry.
Virginia Drive - 15:00 3Q
A holding penalty sets UVA back on the kickoff, but Brennan Armstrong scrambles for a first down on the first play from scrimmage. Armstrong rolls out to his left and finds Keytaon Thompson, who sheds a tackler for a big 31-yard play, but it comes back for an illegal block in the back. On 3rd and 3, Armstrong overthrows Keytaon Thompson in the flat and UVA is forced to punt.
Virginia Drive - 0:23 2Q
UVA's drive begins at its own 3-yard line as Demick Starling makes a mental error and takes a knee instead of signaling for a fair catch. Armstrong kneels once and then QB sneaks on 2nd down to kill the rest of the clock and Virginia takes a 13-9 lead into halftime.
Georgia Tech Drive - 1:16 2Q
Zach Gibson completes a pass to Nate McCollum for 25 yards and a first down. Gibson scrambles for a few yards and then slides, but Chico Bennett tries to tackle him from behind and is flagged for a personal foul and he is injured on the play to make matters worse. After a pair of Gibson incompletions, Georgia Tech moves the chains on 3rd and 10 as Hassan Hall runs for 14 yards into the UVA red zone. Michael Diatta makes another big play, tripping up Gibson for a two-yard sack. Gibson scrambles for 11 yards and is hit out of bounds by Antonio Clary one yard shy of the first down. That ends up being a crucial play as Gibson's third down pass is incomplete and Georgia Tech settles for a 35-yard field goal by Gavin Stewart.
Scoring Drive: 9 plays, 70 yards, 0:52 | Result: 35-yard field goal by Gavin Stewart
Virginia Drive - 4:36 2Q
Virginia has its first successful running play of the game as Xavier Brown finds a hole and runs for 18 yards. On 3rd and 6, Armstrong scrambles to his left but is forced out of bounds short of the line to gain. UVA goes for it on 4th and 3 and Armstrong makes a nice throw to Dontayvion Wicks, who makes the tough catch on the sideline to move the chains. On 3rd and 8, Armstrong's throw is behind an open Dontayvion Wicks and falls incomplete. Will Bettridge's 39-yard field goal misses wide right and it remains a one-possession game. The true freshman kicker has left four points off the board this game for the Cavaliers.
Georgia Tech Drive - 7:24 2Q
Jeff Sims is replaced at quarterback by Zach Gibson. On 3rd and 14, Gibson finds Hassan Hall who manages to run 16 yards to move the chains. Two plays later, Chico Bennett Jr. gets to Gibson in the backfield for a sack. On 3rd and 8, the UVA defensive line flushes Gibson out of the pocket and he is forced to fire the ball into the ground. Georgia Tech punts again.
Virginia Drive - 8:31 2Q
Armstrong rolls to his left and finds Keytaon Thompson for 22 yards and a first down. On the next play, Armstrong connects with Dontayvion Wicks, who makes a spectacular run after the catch, breaking several tackles and running 44 yards for a touchdown. And that touchdown gives Brennan Armstrong the UVA all-time record with 57 career passing touchdowns, passing Matt Schaub. Will Bettridge misses his extra point wide right, but UVA leads 13-6.
Scoring Drive: 3 plays, 69 yards, 1:07 | Result: 44-yard touchdown reception by Dontayvion Wicks.
Georgia Tech Drive - 9:24 2Q
With a help of a no-call on some slightly early contact, Anthony Johnson breaks up Jeff Sims' deep ball intended for Leo Blackburn. Then then little-used sophomore defensive tackle Michael Diatta makes a fantastic one-armed tackle of Hassan Hall for a loss of four yards. Virginia holds on 3rd and 14 as the pass rush pressures Jeff Sims and his pass is too high for Nate McCollum.
Virginia Drive - 11:47 2Q
UVA center Jestus Johnson is flagged for illegal hands to the face on the first play of the drive. On 3rd and 9, Armstrong throws in the flat to Xavier Brown, who is unable to break a tackle and is brought down for a loss of two by LaMiles Brooks, who is having an incredible game.
Georgia Tech Drive - 14:22 2Q
Jeff Sims scrambles on third and five and picks up a first down. On the next play, Sims is tackled from behind by Aaron Faumui and the ball comes free. It is ruled a fumble recovered by Virginia on the field, but replay review determines that Sims was down by contact. The UVA defense is still able to make the stop as Sims looked to pass on 3rd and 6 but the Virginia secondary did not give him any open options.
Virginia Drive - 14:45 2Q
Armstrong's pass to an open Billy Kemp falls short and then his second-down pass is batted down at the line of scrimmage. On 3rd and 10, Armstrong's pass goes over the head of Dontayvion Wicks, but Georgia Tech is flagged for roughing the passer and UVA gets a fresh set of downs. On the next play, Armstrong tries a deep ball down the right sideline for Demick Starling but the ball is played brilliantly by Zamari Walton, who makes the interception for Georgia Tech's third takeaway of the game.
Georgia Tech Drive - 2:01 1Q
Jeff Sims has all day to throw and finds Nate McCollum on the right sideline for an 18-yard gain. Atlanta native Nick Jackson gets to Sims on third down and throws him down for a big-time sack. Georgia Tech will punt to start the second quarter.
Virginia Drive - 6:51 1Q
UVA starts its third drive with a much-needed big play as Armstrong finds Lavel Davis Jr. on a shallow crossing route and he runs for 31 yards into Georgia Tech territory. On 3rd and 6, Armstrong connects with Keytaon Thompson over the middle for a first down. A couple of unsuccessful runs leaves UVA facing 3rd and 9, but Virginia is able to move the chains as Georgia Tech is flagged for pass interference as Armstrong tried to find Thompson again. On the next play, Armstrong goes right back to Thompson in the end zone and he is interfered with again as Georgia Tech tackles Thompson to prevent the touchdown. Virginia's ground game has done nothing so far but UVA tries to run it on first and second down from inside the five-yard line and both attempts are unsuccessful. On 3rd and goal from the 1, Armstrong takes it himself and dives head-first into the end zone for the touchdown. That's a nice response by the UVA offense and Will Bettridge knocks through the extra point to give Virginia the lead.
Scoring Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:50 | Result: 1-yard touchdown run by Brennan Armstrong.
Virginia Drive - 7:21 1Q
On the second play of Virginia's drive, Brennan Armstrong's pass intended for Keytaon Thompson is tipped up in the air and intercepted by LaMiles Brooks, who returns it 37 yards for a touchdown. The Virginia offense has run five plays and has turned the ball over twice. Gavin Stewart's extra point is no good wide left, but the Yellow Jackets take the early 6-0 lead on the defensive touchdown.
Georgia Tech Drive - 12:50 1Q
On third and 5, Jeff Sims has plenty of time to throw and finds Malachi Carter on a crossing route to pick up 20 yards and a first down. Dontae Smith breaks Antonio Clary's tackle and runs for 10 yards and another first down. Dontae Smith gets the handoff on six-consecutive plays for Georgia Tech and moves the ball inside the UVA 10-yard line. On 3rd and goal, Sims tries to find Malachi Carter in the back of the end zone, but Fentrell Cypress II breaks the pass up and Coen King runs under the tipped ball for the interception. The UVA defense comes up with a crucial red zone takeaway to keep the Yellow Jackets off the board.
Virginia Drive - 13:49 1Q
A short pass to Keytaon Thompson and a four-yard run by Perris Jones sets up third and 2. Jones gets the handoff and picks up first-down yardage, but he fumbles the ball on his way to the ground and Georgia Tech recovers. Ball security issues continue to plague the UVA offense and the Yellow Jackets get the ball right back.
Georgia Tech Drive - 15:00 1Q
The Yellow Jackets had set themselves up with a manageable 3rd and 1, but a false start penalty set them back and then Anthony Johnson broke up Jeff Sims' third down pass to force a three-and-out. Georgia Tech's punt is nearly blocked and doesn't go very far, giving Brennan Armstrong and the UVA offense the ball near the 40-yard line.
