The Virginia football team faced the daunting task of taking on Boise State Friday night on the Broncos’ famous blue turf at Albertsons Stadium in its first road game of the year. The Cavaliers took the challenge in stride, shocking the Boise State crowd with a dominating 42-23 win that never seemed to be in doubt.
Virginia (3-1, 0-0 ACC) overcame a slow start to the game to gain momentum by the end of the first quarter. Boise State (2-2, 1-0 MWC) took the opening kickoff, and junior quarterback Brett Rypien drove the offense down the field in less than three minutes for a touchdown. Both defenses tightened up after the opening score, until the Virginia offense came to life late in the quarter. Virginia senior quarterback Kurt Benkert led the Cavaliers on a 53-yard scoring drive capped by a two-yard touchdown run by junior halfback Jordan Ellis.
Virginia never looked back after that score. After the defense locked down and forced two Bronco punts, the offense drove 88 yards in less than three minutes late in the second quarter, and Benkert fired a 30-yard missile to senior wide receiver Andre Levrone for a touchdown and a 14-7 Cavalier lead. On the ensuing drive, Boise State ran a fake punt from its own side of the field, but the Cavalier special teams unit swallowed up the run and took the football back with great field position. Benkert capitalized two plays later with a 27-yard catch-and-run touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Doni Dowling.
Up 21-14 at the half, the Cavaliers received the second-half kickoff and used explosive plays to break the game open. On the third play of the half, Benkert launched a 64-yard touchdown pass over double coverage to Levrone for a quick score. Several drives later, junior halfback Olamide Zaccheaus ripped off a 56-yard touchdown run on a sweep, putting Virginia at a commanding 35-14 advantage. The defense, meanwhile, completely shut down Rypien in the second half, with drops by his receivers also stagnating the offense. Boise State totaled 30 rushing yards on 24 attempts against a stout Virginia front seven.
Benkert finished 19 of 29 for 273 yards and three touchdowns, while Ellis added 93 yards and two touchdowns on the ground for balance. Levrone starred with 141 yards and two touchdowns on five receptions. Defensively, redshirt freshman safety Brenton Nelson nabbed his second interception in as many games. The former walk-on continues to play exceptionally as a replacement for Virginia senior cornerback Tim Harris after his season-ending injury.
Coming into one of the most hostile environments in college football, Virginia earned a statement win for its program in a shocking blowout. After a bye week, Virginia will continue its quest for bowl eligibility with a home tilt Oct. 7 against Duke.
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