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Harris goes for three TDs, UVa routs Stanford 48-20

by: Jackson Hephner09/21/25JacksonHephner
UVa WR Trell Harris
Sep 20, 2025; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers wide receiver Trell Harris (11) catches a touchdown pass as Stanford Cardinal cornerback Collin Wright (6) defends during the first quarter at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

After opening up the home slate with 48-and 55-point performances, Virginia once again managed to put up 48 points in front of its home fans, this time against conference foe Stanford in the first-ever matchup between the two teams.

But it wasn’t much of one, as the Cavaliers built a three-score first-half lead and cruised to a 48-20 win.

UVa’s offense once started hot in front of the home crowd, scoring on the first four possessions on drives that covered lengths of 66, 75, 72 and 88 yards respectively.

Wide receiver Trell Harris in particular shined, hauling in 145 yards and three touchdowns on just four receptions. It was the third time a player from UVa (3-1, 1-0 ACC) scored three touchdowns in a game this season, with all three performances coming from different players.

Harris was one of two Hoos to finish with at least three touchdowns in the win, with quarterback Chandler Morris finishing 23-for-31 passing for 380 yards and four TDs.

Meanwhile, Stanford was able to respond to the first touchdown quickly with a five play, 75-yard touchdown drive highlighted by a 60-yard completion down the middle from quarterback Ben Gulbranson to Bryce Farrell to put the Cardinal at UVa’s 5. They scored one play later.

But the Cardinal (1-3, 1-1) didn’t score again until the tail end of the half with an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to cut the deficit to 14 with 55 seconds remaining. The Cavaliers outgained the Cardinal in total first half yards 401 to 198.

After UVa ended the first half with a missed 25-yard field goal attempt and a punt, the first two drives to not result in points, the Hoos opened the second half hot once again with a seven-play, 68-yard touchdown drive capped off with a 13-yard reception from Morris to tight end Sage Ennis.

The offense slowed down after that, settling for a 28-yard field goal on the next drive despite starting on Stanford’s 39. UVa went three-and-out on the next series, and sandwiched in between was a 68-yard touchdown reception from Gulbranson to Farrell right down the middle of the field, almost identical to the 60 yarder from the first quarter, as UVa led 38-20 with 4:18 left in the third.

While Virginia’s defense gave up its fair share of big plays, the unit also created plenty for itself, racking up five sacks after posting just four entering the game. Linebacker Kam Robinson made his season debut and did not disappoint, recovering a fumble deep in Stanford territory that gave the Hoos the ball back at the Cardinal’s 36, already up 41-20 after another field goal from Will Bettridge.

With prime field position, wide receiver Eli Wood hauled in one last touchdown pass, this time from backup quarterback Daniel Kaelin, to put the final nail in the coffin. 

Besides its three touchdown drives, Stanford did not cover more than 25 yards in any other offensive series until its last, a 51-yard drive in garbage time that ended with a missed field goal, and the Hoos outgained the Cardinal in total yards 590 to 321 on the day.

Post-game, head coach Tony Elliott called the performance “good, complimentary football.”

“[I’m] just really pleased with the team effort,” he said. “There’s plenty for us to coach better at and clean up, but just super proud of the guys showing up with the business-like mentality. They continue to have that each week.”

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