Field Level Media
Nov 9, 2019
Bryce Perkins passed for 258 yards and a touchdown and ran for 106 yards and a score to lead Virginia to a 33-28 win against Georgia Tech in Atlantic Coast Conference play Saturday in Charlottesville, Va.
Perkins completed 24 of 35 passes and rushed 21 times in his sixth career 100-yard rushing effort. Wayne Taulapapa ran for two TDs, and Terrell Jana caught nine passes for 108 yards for the Cavaliers (7-3, 5-2 ACC).
James Graham threw for 229 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception, and ran for a score for the Yellow Jackets (2-7, 1-5). Jordan Mason rushed for 94 yards and a TD.
The Cavaliers, who improved to 5-0 at Scott Stadium, finish the season with home games against Liberty and rival Virginia Tech as they chase the ACC's Coastal Division title.
After a scoreless third quarter, Brian Delaney's 34-yard field goal and Taulapapa's 3-yard touchdown run put Virginia ahead 33-21 with 10:57 to play.
Mason's 8-yard touchdown run pulled Georgia Tech to within 33-28 with 5:30 to play, capping a 12-play, 75-yard drive.
Virginia converted two third downs on the ensuing drive and ran out the clock.
The teams combined for 45 points, 26 first downs and 494 yards of offense in the first half.
A week after getting benched at halftime during a 20-10 loss to Pitt, Graham guided the Yellow Jackets on back-to-back, 75-yard touchdown drives to open the game.
He found Ahmarean Brown open deep down the middle for a 59-yard score on the game's fourth play.
After Virginia tied it with a 2-yard TD run by Taulapapa, Graham ran one in from the 5 to put Georgia Tech back on top 14-7 with 5:09 left in the first quarter.
Graham's third drive ended with Joey Blount's interception and 37-yard return to the Georgia Tech 28. Three plays later, Perkins hit Joe Reed for a game-tying 9-yard touchdown pass.
Virginia took its first lead at 17-14 on Delaney's 24-yard field goal with 10:36 left in the second quarter.
The Yellow Jackets made it 21-17 on Graham's 25-yard touchdown pass to Malachi Carter with 44 seconds remaining in the half.
That was plenty of time for the Cavaliers. After a 40-yard kickoff return by Tavares Kelly Jr. and a 43-yard run by Perkins, Perkins punched it in from 3 yards out for a 24-21 halftime lead.
--Field Level Media