The West Virginia Mountaineers overcame a midgame lull and rallied to beat the Virginia Cavaliers 38-27 Saturday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. WVU, now 3-0, broke a 21-all deadlock in the second half and held on after Virginia narrowed the gap late.
How the game unfolded
Virginia struck first and built an early lead, but West Virginia answered with a balanced attack that mixed runs and throws. After a 21-21 tie in the third quarter, the Mountaineers put together a stretch that produced 17 consecutive points, creating the margin they would need to finish the game.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 7 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
| Virginia | 14 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 27 |
Key plays and contributors
The Cavaliers' offense produced several early scores, including two rushing touchdowns by Michael Hawkins Jr., who was involved repeatedly in Virginia’s scoring drives. For the Mountaineers, running back Jekail Middlebrook scored on an 8-yard run in the first quarter and later finished with a one-yard receiving touchdown in the third.
- Jekail Middlebrook — 8-yard rushing TD and a 1-yard receiving TD.
- Michael Hawkins Jr. — multiple TD runs and a passing touchdown to DJ Epps.
- DJ Epps — made key receptions, including a 29-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter and a 21-yard scoring grab in the third.
Virginia trimmed the deficit in the closing minute when Beau Pribula connected on a 2-yard touchdown pass to John Rogers with 29 seconds left, marking Rogers’ first touchdown reception of the night. The Cavaliers attempted a two-point conversion to bring the game to within three but failed, leaving the Mountaineers with the final margin.
Momentum shifts and late-game sequence
The turning point came after the game was knotted at 21 with just over seven minutes remaining in the third quarter. West Virginia responded by engineering sustained drives and executing in the red zone, producing a sequence of scores that put pressure on Virginia’s offense to respond quickly. The Mountaineers added a field goal in the fourth quarter and a short rushing touchdown to extend their lead.
Despite the late touchdown connection from Pribula to Rogers and a long completion earlier in the fourth that set up final possessions, Virginia could not complete the comeback. The Cavaliers' 35-yard pass to Xay Davis in the closing minute was one of several big plays by the passing game, but it proved too little, too late.
Context and implications
With this victory, West Virginia improves its start to the season and will look to carry the momentum into conference play. The win also highlights the Mountaineers’ ability to respond under pressure, an encouraging sign for a team that has frequently relied on complementary football — sustained rushing, timely passing and special teams — to win close contests.
Virginia, now 2-1, showed flashes of explosiveness, particularly in the running game early. But unanswered scoring by WVU in the second half and a missed two-point try at the end undercut the Cavaliers’ comeback bid.
Game statistics illustrated the competitive balance between the clubs: both teams produced multiple scoring drives and big plays, but West Virginia’s consistency in the second half made the difference.
Saturday’s matchup at Bank of America Stadium drew fans from both programs and served as a mid-September measuring stick for how each team may handle tighter conference schedules ahead.
Follow-up details including full player statistics and postgame comments will be available as teams release official numbers and conduct interviews following the conclusion of Saturday’s slate.
Colton Ferris, State Correspondent
