UVA’s Late Heroics Give Them the Win Against Wake Forest  (9-7-24)

By: Xavier Jones

Headline Photo Credit: Arturo Jones-LMS Network 

On Saturday, September 7, 2024, the Virginia Cavaliers traveled to Winston-Salem, NC to take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. This was each team’s first conference game and second game overall. Both teams came into the game winning their first game of the season, and look to carry that momentum into this game. 

Wake Forest won the coin toss and decided to defer and receive the ball at the start of the second half. The Cavaliers’ offense takes the field, but their opening drive is cut short due to a 3-and-out. However, for the Demon Deacons, their first drive resulted in a 17 17-yard TD run by Demond Claiborne to take the 7-0 lead. UVA would respond with a scoring drive of their own, but it resulted in a 19-yard field goal by Max Prozny. Wake Forest comes back to answer UVA’s field goal with a field goal of their own. Matthew Dennis would make a 21-yard FG to extend their lead to 10-3, and that was the score at the end of the first quarter. During the opening of the second quarter, UVA’s offense was struggling to move the ball up the field.

Anthony Colandrea’s pass attempt was batted down into an interception by Wake Forest’s DT Kevin Pointer who was able to return it to the UVA 9-yard line. This would allow Demond Claiborne to score on a 2-yard run for his second TD of the game and push their lead to 17-3. From there, UVA and the offense were able to put together a few scoring drives to keep the game close and within their reach. Colandrea would connect with his TE Tyler Neville for a pair of touchdown passes before halftime. The Cavaliers trailed the Demon Deacons 20-17 at the half. 

On the opening drive of the second half for Wake Forest, they managed to march down the field and score on a 3-yard TD pass from Hank Bachmeier to Donavon Greene to extend their lead to 27-17. On UVA’s first drive of the second half, Colandrea was picked off by CB Jamare Glasker for his second interception of the game. Throughout most of the second half, it seemed like Wake Forest had a stranglehold on the game, but that was until late in the fourth quarter. Trailing 30-17, the Cavaliers would put together two much-needed scoring drives to give them the 31-30 lead in the fourth quarter. The UVA fans were letting their presence be felt throughout their clutch comeback. The Cavs’ defense made the stops that were needed to secure the road comeback win and make their record 2-0 and 1-0 in the conference. The Virginia Cavaliers’ next game is at home on Saturday, September 14th against the Maryland Terrapins.