CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – During an on-field postgame interview, squeezed into a tiny pocket as thousands of raucous Virginia fans stormed the field at Scott Stadium, Chandler Morris stood next to his coach, Tony Elliott, and told ESPN sideline reporter Kris Budden, “This is why I came here. To experience this with him.”

About an hour later, in the calmer, less cramped confines of the post-game press conference, both men expanded on what Friday night’s 46-38 double-overtime upset of No. 8 Florida State meant to them – and what they hope it will mean for the future of Virginia football. 

“Just understanding how hungry this university is and then understanding, too, what we have in our locker room,” Morris said. “We’ve got a great team. The staff went out and got great players, great people, too. It’s awesome for us. It’s awesome for this university, it’s awesome for our locker room, our staff, everyone involved.”

Indeed, and awesome isn’t hyperbolic. Alone on the national stage because of the Friday night slot, much of the college football world did stand in awe as the Cavaliers stormed out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. 

Even more awe-inspiring was the fact that, when an ill-advised Morris interception fueled the Seminoles to surge ahead 21-14, UVA didn’t wilt. 

The early onslaught wasn’t Virginia giving FSU its best shot, just its first shot. 

The Cavaliers fought back to take the lead twice more in regulation, keeping the pressure on the visiting Seminoles. 

“We knew this was going to be a one possession game,” Elliott said after securing the biggest win of his Virginia tenure. “You had to get to the fourth quarter and find a way to win it.”

As it turned out, it would take even more football on this night. Two overtime periods, a gutsy game-winning touchdown run by Morris and a gritty final stand by the UVA defense secured the upset win. It ended with Ja’Son Prevard intercepting FSU’s Tommy Castellanos in the end zone, setting off a wild field-storming.

An almost-countless list of big plays over the course of the night made it possible. 

Perhaps no sequence stood out more than Virginia’s final drive of the first half. 

The Seminoles had scored three unanswered touchdowns to go ahead and – with FSU set to receive the second-half kickoff – the game was at a tipping point. 

On second-and-10 at the UVA 46, Morris threw a short pass to Trell Harris near the sideline. An FSU defender jumped the route, nearly intercepting the pass and deflecting the ball. Harris maintained his focus, caught the ball and went 28 yards, spinning and dragging would-be tacklers.

On the next play, J’Mari Taylor took a handoff between the tackles, absorbed a big collision with an FSU defender, and emerged to burst for a 26-yard touchdown. That tied the game 28-28 at the half. 

“All that is is heart,” Elliott said. 

That run was just one example of heart Friday night. 

The fact that Virginia didn’t play a perfect game – far from it – is arguably the most encouraging facet of Friday night’s win. 

The Cavaliers’ defense allowed 514 yards and gave up four pass plays of 30 yards or longer. But facing a Seminoles offense that came in averaging 58 points and 628.7 yards per game, UVA’s defense deserves high marks for keeping the team in the game. 

“We’re going to celebrate that one because they made some plays,” Elliott said. “They made a couple stops. Obviously, they gave up some points, but in the end they gave us an opportunity as an offense to have a few more possessions to be able to go score more points.

“At the end of the day, when we needed stops, they got us the stops.”

Virginia ran for 211 yards and 4.4 yards per carry behind a reshuffled offensive line. Drake Metcalf played center in place of the injured Brady Wilson and Kevin Wiggenton moved into Metcalf’s right guard post. 

And there was Morris, the transfer from North Texas who started his career at Oklahoma and TCU, directing an offense that has become one of the nation’s most productive. 

He threw three interceptions, the first two of which led to FSU touchdowns that erased the Cavaliers fast start. 

But Morris also threw for a pair of scores and ran for three on his own, including the game-winner in double overtime. 

“That’s just who I am,” Morris said. “I’m out there trying to make plays and cutting it loose and trusting my guys.”

Friday night, Virginia football made the most of its opportunity.

It raised the bar for expectations on its season, elevated the outlook for Elliott’s future and gave its fans the most memorable night in Scott Stadium in 30 years. 

And in a squeezed, squash scrum on the packed field, Elliott and Morris stood together, celebrating a moment they both believed was possible. 

“That’s why he came here,” Elliott said of Morris. “He believed he could come in and help this program take the next step.”