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Football

UVA Cavaliers Dominate William & Mary in Homecoming Thriller

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The University of Virginia's football team made history on Saturday, honoring the memories of Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler, and D'Sean Perry by delivering a resounding 55-16 victory over William & Mary in the 40th all-time meeting between the two teams. The win was the Cavaliers' seventh consecutive game over the Tribe, and it marked a program-record 700 yards of total offense (379 rushing, 321 passing) for UVA. Coach Tony Elliott's team has now won 13 of the last 14 meetings between the two teams.

Key Takeaways:

  • UVA's 55 points are the most scored in a single game under head coach Tony Elliott and the most since 2020, when the Cavaliers also tallied 55 against Abilene Christian.
  • The Cavaliers' 55 points in the first half tied for their most in a half since the BYU game in 2021.
  • Eleven different Cavaliers combined for 379 yards rushing, marking the most rushers in a single UVA game in at least 25 seasons.
  • UVA has now won the last seven meetings of the series, and it has not surrendered a sack in three consecutive games this season.
  • The Cavaliers entered the contest as the nation's leader in 3rd down defense, holding William & Mary to 2-for-13 on third downs.
  • UVA did not punt for the first time in a game since the Cavaliers defeated William & Mary 52-17 in 2019.
  • Harrison Waylee's 97-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter is the longest in UVA history, eclipsing Mikell Simpson's 96-yarder in the 2008 Gator Bowl against Texas Tech.
  • Waylee finished with three rushing TDs, which tied his career high, and it marked his third multi-TD game of his career.
  • UVA's six rushing touchdowns in a single game are tied for third all-time in school single-game history.

Statistics:

  • 700: Total yards of offense for UVA (379 rushing, 321 passing)
  • 55: UVA's points, the most scored in a single game under head coach Tony Elliott and the most since 2020
  • 17: William & Mary's points, the fewest allowed by UVA this season
  • 97: Yards of Harrison Waylee's game-changing touchdown run
  • 151: Total rushing yards for Harrison Waylee, his first time rushing for over 100 yards as a Cavalier
  • 101: Total rushing yards for Noah Vaughn, his career-high rushing total
  • 0: Number of sacks surrendered by UVA's defense in three consecutive games this season
  • 12%: Opposing offenses' conversion rate on third downs against UVA's defense
  • 2-2: UVA's record in the all-time series against William & Mary
  • 13-0: UVA's record against William & Mary in the last 13 meetings
  • 700: Yards of total offense for UVA, a program record

Sources:

  • "UVA Football Blanks William & Mary, 55-16" - University of Virginia News (No date given)
  • "Virginia Football Team Notes" - University of Virginia Athletics (No date given)

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