Virginia 59, Norfolk State 3: Cavaliers Pull Away Early in Dominant In-State Victory (9-11-26)

Virginia 59, Norfolk State 3: Cavaliers Pull Away Early in Dominant In-State Victory (9-7-26)

By Jasmine Jackson

Headline Photo Credit: Joshua Johnson-LMS Network

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Norfolk State walked into Scott Stadium Friday night looking to make a statement against No. 25 Virginia. Instead, the Cavaliers made theirs early.

Virginia jumped on the Spartans from the opening whistle, scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter before cruising to a 59-3 victory and improving to 2-0 on the season. 

Quarterback Beau Pribula set the tone for Virginia, completing 12 of 14 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns in just the first half. His connection with wide receiver Jacquon Gibson proved particularly effective, with Gibson hauling in two touchdown receptions, including scores of 6 and 30 yards. 

Virginia’s offense continued to find ways to create opportunities throughout the night. After relying heavily on the rushing attack in its opener, the Cavaliers showed another dimension through the air, finishing with 229 passing yards and six passing touchdowns. 

For Norfolk State, the night was a difficult one offensively. Quarterback Deljay Bailey completed 15 of 25 passes for 142 yards but threw two interceptions as the Spartans struggled to consistently sustain drives against Virginia’s defense. Norfolk State finished with 223 total yards, compared with 466 for the Cavaliers. 

Still, there were lessons to take away for a Norfolk State team that entered the matchup with a 1-1 record. The Spartans showed flashes of competitiveness but struggled to match Virginia’s speed, depth and execution on both sides of the ball. After a 31-10 loss to Old Dominion last week, Norfolk State now has an opportunity to regroup and build on what worked during the early portion of the season. 

Virginia, meanwhile, got exactly what it needed from Friday night’s matchup: a convincing win, continued offensive production, and valuable opportunities for its depth. The Cavaliers now turn their attention toward the next challenge as they look to build on a strong start to the season.

Final: Virginia 59, Norfolk State 3.

For Norfolk State, the score tells the story of the night but it doesn’t have to define the season. For Virginia, the performance reinforced why the Cavaliers entered the matchup ranked No. 25 nationally.