Hoos pull off the 46-38 upset of No. 8 FSU in double-OT

In Scott Stadium on Friday, 50,107 fans witnessed history repeat itself in a shocker.

Chandler Morris had five total touchdowns, including the game winner, as UVa came back and then held on in double-overtime to pick up a defining win over No. 8 Florida State 46-38. 

It was the first top-10 win since the Wahoos defeated then-No. 10 North Carolina 31-27 in 2023, and their first home top-10 win since they defeated the then-No. 4 Seminoles in 2005.

The game started out slow, but quickly swung in UVa’s favor. After the Hoos punted on their first two drives and the Seminoles did the same on their first, Florida State’s second drive ended on the first play when defensive tackle Anthony Britton punched the ball out of running back Gavin Sawchuk’s hands before it was recovered by defensive end Fisher Camac at FSU’s 38.

The Cavaliers (4-1, 2-0 ACC) capitalized on the short field, scoring seven plays later with a six-yard reception from Morris to Sage Ennis that erupted the already raucous crowd.

On the Seminoles’ ensuing drive, it looked as if they gave up a second fumble when receiver Micahi Danzy dropped the ball while trying to haul in the pass and turn upfield, but the play was overturned to an incompletion after a review.

The call didn’t matter, as quarterback Thomas Castenallos’ pass was deflected and intercepted by defensive back Ja’Son Prevard. The Hoos then drove 81 yards in 15 plays to turn it into a touchdown with a 12-yard rush from Morris, burning 7:04 off the clock.

Yet, as quickly as UVa built its 14-0 lead, it was wiped away by the Seminoles (3-1, 0-1).

FSU scored on its next three drives, aided in large part by Morris throwing back-to-back picks after the first and second Seminole touchdowns. Florida State outgained UVa in total yards 262-229, and found most of its success on the ground, rushing for 156 yards in the first half to Virginia’s 81.

Morris and the offense rebounded on their final play of the possession, driving 75-yards in seven plays to tie the game with 48 seconds before halftime. The Hoos got a stop on the ensuing drive, and entered the locker room tied 21-21.

The tie would go to 28-28 at the end of the third, as UVa would burn 7:58 off the clock with a 16-play, 75-yard drive to take the lead back. But it only took 3:27 for the Seminoles to even things back up with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive.

UVa added its last touchdown of regulation with a 15-yard pass from Morris to Xavier Brown. The Hoos held that 35-28 lead when the Seminoles took over with 2:18 left in regulation at their own 33, until 1:42 later when Castenallanos connected with Randy Pittman Jr.

On UVa’s final drive of regulation, Morris went for a big play down the sideline but his pass was intercepted by Ja’Bril Rawls, sending the two teams to overtime knotted 35-35.

They traded field goals in the first session. After flipping sides of the field, Morris took it in from 4 yards out for the touchdown in double-overtime to put UVa up for good, then Trell Harris hauled in the 2-point conversion in the back of the end zone for good measure.

With FSU needing a touchdown and a conversion to win, it looked like the Noles got it from 22 yards out with a pass to Robinson, but he bobbled it just enough in the end zone as he crossed the end line that the call was overturned. One false start play later, and Prevard picked up another interception of Castellanos on 4th and 12, finally giving the Hoos the monumental win and the field there for the rushing.

Morris finished 26-for-35 passing for 229 yards, with three INTs to go with his five touchdowns, three rushing and two passing, along with 37 rushing yards. Castellanos finished 18-for-32 passing for 254 yards with two touchdowns, one through the air and one on the ground, and two picks. 

All-in-all, UVa got the win despite Florida State outgaining the Hoos in total yards, 514 to 440.

“It felt like a championship kind of game,” Tony Elliott said postgame, “and that’s what we desire to be as a program. That’s where we want to go, but we all got to do it together, so I just appreciate everybody for showing up and making Scott Stadium what it is. It is a very difficult place for opponents to play.”