Game-winning safety helps No. 18 UVa hold off WSU

In what would ultimately be a 22-20, bowl-eligibility-clinching win over Washington State for No. 18 UVa, the Hoos clinched the victory with—of all plays—a game-winning safety from Kam Robinson and Hunter Osborne.

It was that kind of night in Charlottesville in a season full of moments like that: Memorable.

From the jump, the now 6-1 (3-0 ACC) Cavaliers stumbled early offensively, a far cry from their previous performances this year. 

For the first time all season, UVa did not score first, instead going three-and-out on the opening series before Washington State easily drove 78 yards in just seven plays, taking the lead with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Zavi Echkaus to Joshua Meredith.

The Hoos and Cougars traded three and outs before UVa found the end zone on its third offensive drive, covering 59 yards in just five plays to tie the game 7-7. Chandler Morris, who had started the game 0-4, kicked it off with a 30-yard completion to Jahmal Edrine. Cam Ross capped it off with a 19-yard rush for the score.

On the first play of Wazzu’s ensuing drive, Donavon Platt snagged an interception at the Cougar 40, giving the Cavaliers the ball back in WSU (3-4) territory. But they failed to convert on 3rd and 1 and then a 4th and 1 too, giving Washington State the ball back and squandering a major opportunity to take the lead.

The two teams traded punts before Wazzu took went ahead again, this time with an eight-play, 64-yard drive that ended with Eckhaus punching it in from a yard out. UVa’s ensuing drive stalled out after just four plays, and the Cougars added a 37-yard field goal with just 40 seconds left in on their final drive of the first half. 

UVa went three-and-out once again, therefore limping into the break down 17-7. It was the first time this year the Cavaliers went into halftime trailing.

“In the first half, I felt like the team in the other locker room wanted it more than we did,” Tony Elliott said postgame, “and I think we flipped it in the second half. and our team wanted it a little bit more and found a way to make more plays down the stretch.”

Washington State went three-and-out to start the second half and the Hoos looked to have the momentum, but their drive stalled out at the 29. Will Bettridge gave his kick from 47 yards out with just enough juice to get it across the crossbar, tying his season-long.

But the Cougs responded with a 42-yard field goal of their own on the ensuing play, increasing their lead to 20-10, which remained the score entering the fourth quarter. 

It looked as if the margin would remain 20-10 when the Wahoos were pinned at their own 3 with 13:26 remaining in regulation. But Morris led the Cavaliers on a 97-yard drive over nine plays. It was vintage 2025 UVa, capped off by a 3-yard score from Harrison Waylee just three plays after his 22-yard rush, the longest of any Cavalier on the day.

From there, the Cougars didn’t gain a single offensive yard, as they were plagued by penalties, particularly three false starts across their final two drives amidst a thundering Scott Stadium crowd. 

On WSU’s first drive of the quarter, the visitors from Pullman were backed up to their own 8-yard line due to penalties before Ja’Son Prevard hauled in an interception on 3rd and 20. An illegal block in the back on the return put the Hoos at the 35 rather than the 15, but the offense made it to the 17 before Bettridge tied the game with a 34 yarder with just 2:55 left.

Then, Wazzu suffered yet another self-inflicted wound when a member of the return team other than the returner signaled for a fair catch. As a result, the ball was spotted at the 2, where the returner was when the signal occurred. 

Three plays later, Robinson and Osborne combined for the safety, and with WSU down to its last timeout, UVa’s offense needed just one 1st down, which it got before the victory formation came on to kneel out the clock.

All in all, the Cougars outgained the Hoos in total yards 252-109 in the first half but just 326-301 across the entire game. Their field goal in the third was their final score of the night, as the Cavaliers put up 12 unanswered in the fourth to clinch the win.