No. 15 Virginia has been dancing on the razor’s edge without a nick for just over one month, winning three of its last four games in overtime.
The close-shave Cavaliers (7-1, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) have won their last three games by a total of six points heading into Saturday’s first-ever clash with Cal (5-3, 3-2) in Berkeley, Calif.
Virginia extended its winning streak to six games with a 17-16 overtime victory last week at North Carolina, surviving when the Tar Heels failed to convert a two-point conversion gamble in OT.
“I don’t know if our bodies can handle any more of these,” wide receiver Jayden Thomas said. “So, we need to stop it. We need to lock in and start blowing people out.”
The Cavaliers travel 2,800 miles to face a Golden Bears squad that just made the reverse commute last weekend for a 42-34 loss at Virginia Tech in two overtimes.
Off to its best start since 2007, Virginia is one of only two ACC teams still unbeaten in conference play (No. 8 Georgia Tech is 5-0). With four games left, the Cavaliers control their destiny as they try to reach the ACC championship game on Dec. 6 in Charlotte, N.C.
Quarterback Chandler Morris continues to play with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder and has thrown only two touchdown passes in the last three games. He threw for 380 yards and four scores earlier this season in a win against Cal rival Stanford.
“It’s October, getting ready to go into November,” Virginia coach Tony Elliott said. “None of these guys are 100% healthy. They’re all dealing with stuff, but (Morris) is battling. I think that we all know that the shoulder got hurt early (in the season), and that’s something that’s going to linger.”
Leading the Cavaliers are J’Mari Taylor with 581 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns, including the winning score in OT at North Carolina, and Trell Harris with 32 catches for 477 yards and four scores.
For the Virginia defense, Daniel Rickert has a team-high 5.5 sacks and Ja’son Prevard has three interceptions.
Cal is 3-1 at home this season and still needs one win to become bowl eligible for the third straight season and fifth time under ninth-year head coach Justin Wilcox.
The Golden Bears led the Hokies 20-10 at halftime but couldn’t stop a Virginia Tech offense that piled up a whopping 357-39 advantage in rushing yards.
“There’s still a lot of season left,” Cal wide receiver Jacob De Jesus said, per the Daily Californian. “We’re really going to work on our discipline this week and being tougher as a team. A lot of people are still really motivated. We’re not losing the team or anything like that.”
Cal is facing a ranked opponent for the first time this season. The Golden Bears have lost 13 consecutive games to teams in the Top 25 since a 21-17 win over No. 21 Oregon on Dec. 5, 2020.
True freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele leads the ACC in pass attempts (287) and has thrown for 1,982 yards and 11 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Kendrick Raphael has rushed for 566 yards and eight TDs, while De Jesus has 55 catches for 492 yards and three scores.
Linebacker Cade Uluave leads Cal with 81 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss. Hezekiah Masses tops the ACC with four interceptions and nine passes defensed.
