virginiasports.com:

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Virginia Cavaliers never stopped believing or battling Saturday night, even after their deficit grew to 10 points early in the second half, and they saw their perseverance and resilience rewarded at Kenan Stadium.

UVA held 10th-ranked North Carolina, which came in averaging 37.5 points per game, to three points in the final 24 minutes and rallied for a stunning 31-27 victory. The win, which linebacker James Jackson sealed with interception in the final minute, was the Wahoos’ first-ever on the road against a top-10 opponent.

“This team is full of fighters,” Virginia tailback Mike Hollins said.

Hollins rushed for three touchdowns to lead the Hoos (2-5 overall, 1-2 ACC), who totaled 228 yards on the ground. He nearly had a fourth TD, but Hollins fumbled as he neared the goal line, and the ball bounced through the end zone for a touchback with 4:50 remaining and Virginia up 31-27.

That gave the Tar Heels (6-1, 3-1) a reprieve, and they drove to the UVA 20. But the Cavaliers held on fourth down and then used up two minutes (and forced Carolina to burn all three of its timeouts) on a possession that ended with a Daniel Sparks punt.

With 72 seconds remaining, UNC started its final drive at its 25-yard line. The Heels, behind quarterback Drake Maye, an All-America candidate, crossed midfield and reached the Virginia 48. UVA gave up no more ground. On second-and-10, Maye, under pressure from defensive end Paul Akere, let fly a pass that Jackson, a junior, dived to intercept. A video review upheld the call, setting off a celebration that continued in the Cavaliers’ locker room.

“This is a program win,” second-year head coach Tony Elliott told his team, “and not only is it a program win, it’s a catalyst to where we’re going.”

With a balanced attack, Virginia totaled 436 yards on offense. Quarterback Tony Muskett, a graduate transfer from Monmouth, completed 20 of 30 passes for 208 yards and one touchdown, and he rushed 12 times for 66 yards. His favorite target was wide receiver Malik Washington, who caught 12 passes for 115 yards and one TD. On his touchdown, which came with 8:51 left, Washington caught a short pass from Muskett and broke multiple tackles en route to the end zone, and the 14-yard play put the Hoos ahead to stay.

“That’s what No. 4 does,” Muskett said of Washington, a graduate transfer from Northwestern.

Perris Jones rushed 14 times for 67 yards, and Hollins added 66 yards on 15 carries. Hollins became the first UVA running back since Wayne Taulapapa in 2019 to run for three TDs in a game.

UP NEXT: A second straight road game awaits the Cavaliers. Virginia (2-5, 1-2) will meet Miami (5-2, 1-2) next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. The game will be televised on the ACC Network.

Miami defeated visiting Clemson 28-20 in two overtimes late Saturday night.

At Scott Stadium last season, the Hurricanes edged the Cavaliers 14-12 in four overtimes. UVA trails in the series, 12-8, but won at Hard Rock Stadium in 2021.