The Cavaliers wrapped up their 34-8 Week Zero victory over N.C. State with a behemoth 23 play touchdown drive that lasted 12 minutes and 15 seconds — each count is a school record.
The sequence, which nearly spanned the back half of the third to the initial half of the fourth quarter, epitomized what defined Saturday’s win — Coach Tony Elliott and Virginia (1-0, 1-0 ACC) exercised total control, thrashing the Wolfpack (0-1, 0-1 ACC) on both offense and defense, in the air and on the ground.
It all began with fifth-year quarterback Beau Pribula.
At July media availability, Virginia quarterbacks coach Taylor Lamb made note of Pribula’s potential as a ball-carrier exceeding that of 2025’s leading signal-caller, Chandler Morris. After only a few drives, it became apparent that Lamb meant every word. By the midpoint of the second quarter, Pribula had already amassed 80 yards on the ground on nine attempts, while his total pass attempts stood at three.
The graduate transfer from Missouri finished with a line of 155 yards and two touchdowns through the air with only nine completions on 11 attempts while rushing 15 times for 110 yards.
“The thing that caught my attention was just his speed,“ Elliott said. “He runs like a running back, and I love that.”
The combination of Pribula alongside an unrelenting rotation of running backs proved too much for the Wolfpack to contain, led by fourth-year Jekail Middlebrook — who running backs coach Keith Gaither favorably compared to Virginia’s 2025 rushing leader, J’Mari Taylor — and fifth-year Xavier Brown. Middlebrook gashed the defense for 64 yards on 15 carries, while Brown reached the end zone twice in a triumphant return from injury. Virginia totalled over 250 rushing yards on nearly 60 carries on the day.
Aside from the efforts of an electric backfield, Virginia’s dominance on the ground showcased Elliott and offensive coordinator Des Kitchings’ maximization of an uber-talented offensive line — a family-sized helping of 12-personnel.
“Twelve personnel … became more a part of the game plan when Rico [Flores] went down to practice this week,” Elliott said, “It really gives us the ability to cover both edges, and … do some of our zone read stuff and get on the perimeter and let the backs get the ball in space. It’s critical to what we do.”
The tight ends — fifth-year Dakota Twitty, fourth-year Connor Cox and third-year John Rogers — were essential to setting the edge throughout the contest, facilitating a runway for Pribula and the running backs to bounce outside and get up the sideline for chunk gains. Rogers, similar to Sage Ennis last season, even got a few snaps at fullback.
At half, the Cavaliers held a commanding 17-0 lead despite Pribula only having completed two passes, a one-dimensional — albeit successful — offense. Elliott and Kitchings did not allow that status-quo to persist for long.
Virginia opened the second half with three consecutive passes. The drive began with a flea-flicker, resulting in a 20-yard gain by fourth-year receiver Ty’Lyric Coleman, followed by a quick out to third-year receiver Kam Courtney. The Cavaliers’ third touchdown of the game came from a 47-yard heave to third-year receiver Da’Shawn Martin, as he burst open after streaking through the middle of the field towards the sideline.
It was a textbook game from the offensive staff — running the ball at will in the first half to open up the passing game in the second. On the other side of the ball, defensive coordinator John Rudzinski’s unit executed the gameplan with similarly flawless precision.
Despite a Taylor hat-trick, N.C. State managed to keep things close with Virginia in their matchup last season, moving the ball nearly at-will — then-sophomore C.J. Bailey led the Wolfpack to over 200 rushing yards in the eventual loss for the Cavaliers.
With key Wolfpack contributors — senior now-Longhorn running back Hollywood Smothers, plus current NFL tight ends Justin Joly and Cody Hardy — departed, the Virginia front stifled the visitors’ ground game for much of the afternoon, holding them to 3.2 yards-per-carry.
Pursuing yards through the air provided little relief for N.C. State, as steady pressure on the edge — primarily from fifth-year edge rusher Fisher Camac — had Bailey facing a collapsing pocket consistently, forcing hurried throws. An overwhelming swarm of orange jerseys every dropback resulted in quite a few turnovers and near-turnovers for the Wolfpack.
Virginia pass rushers tipped two passes, with Camac’s contribution leading to fourth-year safety Brandyn Hillman’s second career interception. Hillman himself had a banner day, forcing a fumble — recovered by fourth-year linebacker Landon Danley — as well.
“I felt it from Scott,” Hillman said. “I felt it from the fans. To be honest, it was my first time in Scott [Stadium], so I told myself I was gonna come out and get two turnovers.”
The Cavaliers will take an unblemished start to their season into a bye week, allowing for key players — including fourth-year linebacker Kam Robinson and fourth-year receiver Rico Flores — to return from injury. Their next affairs are a Friday night home match with Norfolk State Sep. 11, followed by a neutral-site showdown with West Virginia in Charlotte, N.C. the next week.
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