Virginia Football vs. North Carolina | Scores and Updates

Score updates and live analysis for the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Virginia Cavaliers college football game

The Virginia Cavaliers (3-5, 1-4 ACC) host the North Carolina Tar Heels (7-1, 4-0 ACC) in the 127th edition of the South's Oldest Rivalry on Saturday at Scott Stadium. UNC looks to strengthen its grip on the ACC Coastal while UVA hopes to avoid suffering its fifth ACC loss in the last six games. 

Follow along with score updates and live analysis for North Carolina at Virginia. This article will be updated after each drive. Most recent updates will be at the top of the page. 

Click here to read a full recap of the game: Virginia's Upset Bid Falls Short in 31-28 Loss to No. 17 North Carolina

FINAL SCORE: North Carolina 31, Virginia 28

Scoring Summary

1Q 10:48 - 4-yard touchdown run by Brennan Armstrong. UVA leads 7-0.

1Q 6:32 - 35-yard field goal by Noah Burnette. UVA leads 7-3.

2Q 6:47 - 5-yard touchdown run by Drake Maye. UNC leads 10-7.

2Q 2:04 - 3-yard touchdown run by Xavier Brown. UVA leads 14-10.

3Q 12:05 - 4-yard touchdown run by Elijah Green. UNC leads 17-14.

3Q 7:49 - 1-yard touchdown run by Ronnie Walker Jr. UVA leads 21-17.

3Q 4:13 - 19-yard touchdown reception by Josh Downs. UNC leads 24-21.

4Q 13:19 - 22-yard touchdown reception by Elijah Green. UNC leads 31-21.

4Q 3:24 - 8-yard touchdown run by Brennan Armstrong. UNC leads 31-28.

North Carolina Drive - 3:24 4Q

With no timeouts remaining (thank you special teams), Virginia tries an onside kick but the Cavaliers are called for offsides and UNC recovered the kick easily anyway. Elijah Green carries for five yards and three yards. On 3rd and 2, Maye throws to Downs, who makes a diving catch for the first down and that should just about do it with less than two minutes to play. A few UVA defensive penalties help UNC kill the rest of the clock and North Carolina escapes Charlottesville with a 31-28 victory over Virginia. 

Virginia Drive - 4:23 4Q

Armstrong connects with Sackett Wood for 11 yards and a first down. Two plays later, Armstrong throws a deep ball down right sideline to Demick Starling, who makes the catch for a 40-yard gain to the UNC 20-yard line. A pair of incompletions brings up 3rd and 10, but UVA converts as Armstrong finds Billy Kemp for 12 yards and a fresh set of downs. The offensive line gives Armstrong plenty of time to throw but no one is open, so Armstrong scrambles to his left and bowls his way into the end zone, absorbing a hit from multiple UNC defenders to get across the goal line. No quit in Armstrong, who takes the Cavaliers 71 yards in 59 seconds for the score. Virginia cuts the deficit to 31-28 with 3:24 to go. 

Scoring Drive: 7 plays, 71 yards, 0:59 | 8-yard touchdown run by Brennan Armstrong

North Carolina Drive - 5:54 4Q

UNC takes over inside the UVA 40-yard line, but the Virginia defense makes the critical stop to just barely keep the Cavaliers in it. Maye throws an incompletion and then Elijah Green gets three-consecutive carries but is unable to gain the necessary yardage. On 4th down, Green is tackled short of the marker by Nick Jackson, as the Tar Heels turn the ball over on downs. 

Virginia Drive - 7:35 4Q

After a false start, Armstrong connects with Sean Wilson on the left sideline for 13 yards and a first down. Armstrong can't connect with Xavier Brown on first down and then Hollins is tackled for no gain on second down. Armstrong tries to find Sean Wilson on third down but the play is well-covered by Storm Duck and UVA is forced to punt again. For the second-straight drive, Virginia calls a timeout while in punt formation. Josh Downs breaks several tackles and takes it 37 yards on his return before Daniel Sparks makes the touchdown-saving tackle. 

North Carolina Drive - 11:18 4Q

Elijah Green gets the carry on four-consecutive downs. The first goes for seven yards and the second goes for two to set up 3rd and 1. Nick Jackson and Olasunkonmi Agunloye combine to stop Green for no gain to bring up 4th down, but Green gets the carry yet again and this time he darts ahead for three yards to keep the drive alive. The Virginia defense comes up with a much-needed stop after that, as Maye throws an incompletion and is then sacked on second down by James Jackson. Antoine Green breaks a few tackles on 3rd down but is still brought down five yards shy of the marker and UNC punts it away. Virginia will get the ball back with seven and a half minutes to play trailing by ten. 

Virginia Drive - 13:13 4Q

Virginia is called for a holding penalty on the first play of the drive. Armstrong targets Billy Kemp on a slant, but the ball is punched out of Kemp's hands before he can secure the catch. Armstrong has nowhere to throw on third down and tries to scramble for the yardage, but is tackled two yards shy of the first down marker. Virginia goes three-and-out for the first time today. To make matters worse, UVA has to burn a timeout before punting the ball away. 

North Carolina Drive - 3:04 3Q

Maye connects with Downs for 9 yards, then Elijah Green moves the chains with a 4-yard run. Maye finds Antoine Green on the next play for 15 yards out to midfield. We have seen UNC get hot offensively in the second half this season we are starting to see that happen again. UVA makes a pair of nice stops on Green's rushing attempts to bring up 3rd and 5, but UNC is able to convert as Maye completes a short pass to D.J. Jones, who runs behind some blockers for 14 yards and a first down. The 3rd quarter ends with UNC driving at the UVA 33-yard line. Drake Maye tries to QB sneak on 3rd and one but is stopped short by Jahmeer Carter and Aaron Faumui. 

UNC stays on the field for 4th down and Elijah Green bounces it outside for a 2-yard gain to move the chains. On the next play, Maye connects with Elijah Green, who breaks a tackle and sprints down the right sideline for a 22-yard touchdown. North Carolina builds a 31-21 lead. 

Scoring Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 4:45 | Result: 22-yard touchdown reception by Elijah Green

Virginia Drive - 4:13 3Q

Mike Hollins gets the carry on first and second down, gaining 8 yards and then 5 yards to move the chains. Armstrong has his pass to Billy Kemp broken up and then his second-down pass goes off the hands of a diving Sean Wilson, who is unable to hang onto what would've been a great catch. On 3rd down, UVA has two receivers run to the same spot and Armstrong's pass is batted down by Storm Duck before it gets to Billy Kemp. UVA punts. 

North Carolina Drive - 7:49 3Q

Drake Maye continues to have success using his legs, scrambling for 21 yards out to midfield on the first play of the drive. Nick Jackson gets good pressure on Maye and forces an incompletion to bring up 3rd and 7. UNC converts as Maye throws a bubble screen to Josh Downs, who runs for 15 yards and a first down. Maye goes back to Downs on the next play on a slant pattern for 11 yards. After a 6-yard run by Green, Olasunkonmi Agunloye gets to Maye in the backfield for a 4-yard sack. On 3rd and 8, Maye throws a beautiful ball to Josh Downs in the back corner of the end zone and Downs makes the catch over Jonas Sanker for the touchdown. UNC retakes the lead and this game has turned into a shootout.

Scoring Drive: 8 plays, 71 yards, 3:36 | Result: 19-yard touchdown reception by Josh Downs

Virginia Drive - 12:05 3Q

In need of a response to UNC's strong offensive start to the second half, Armstrong finds Billy Kemp on a short pass and he is tackled by the facemask by Don Chapman, who is flagged for the personal foul, moving the ball out to the UVA 45. Sean Wilson drops a pass on a first down and then Mike Hollins run for five yards on second. On 3rd and 5, Armstrong tucks and runs, but is brought down one yard shy of the marker. On 4th and 1, Armstrong hands off to Ronnie Walker Jr., who pushes through the line for a two-yard pickup to move the chains. Armstrong is sacked by Cedric Gray for a loss of 7 yards. He has nowhere to throw on 2nd down and runs for just two yards. On 3rd and 15, Armstrong lofts an accurate ball to Sean Wilson on the right sideline and Wilson makes the grab and runs for the first down. On the next play, Armstrong throws a ball over the UNC defense to an open Sackett Wood Jr., who makes the catch and runs down the sideline before leaping into the end zone. The play is initially called a touchdown on the field, but refs review the play and rule that Wood stepped out at the one-yard line. Virginia takes little time in punching it in as Ronnie Walker Jr. gets the handoff and scores from one-yard out to put Virginia back in front. That's Walker's first touchdown of the season. UVA is now 3/3 in scoring touchdowns on its trips to the red zone today. 

Scoring Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:16 | Result: 1-yard touchdown run by Ronnie Walker Jr.

North Carolina Drive - 15:00 3Q

Aaron Faumui brings down Elijah Green for no gain on the first play of the second half. Maye scrambles ahead for five yards, then finds J.J. Jones over the middle on third down for 14 yards and a first down. Maye tries a deep ball to Green down the right sideline but the coverage is good from Anthony Johnson and the pass falls incomplete. Maye finds Josh Downs on a deep crossing route for a 32 yard gain to the UVA 24-yard line. Maye completes a nine-yard pass to Gavin Blackwell, who makes a great tip-toe catch on the right sideline. UVA loses contain of Maye, who runs for 11 yards down to the Virginia 4-yard line. After a timeout, Maye gives to Elijah Green, who scores from four yards out to put the Tar Heels back on top. Strong response from the UNC offense to start the second half.

Scoring Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:55 | Result: 4-yard touchdown run by Elijah Green

North Carolina Drive - 0:15 2Q

Maye has nowhere to throw on first down and is tackled by Chico Bennett Jr. after scrambling for three yards. Mack Brown calls his final timeout with seven seconds left with the ball at the UNC 42. Maye completes a 20-yard pass to Josh Downs, who is tackled at the UVA 38 with no time left on the clock. Virginia takes a 14-10 lead into halftime. North Carolina will get the ball to start the second half. 

Virginia Drive - 1:21 2Q

Mike Hollins runs for 7 yards and then UNC calls a timeout, looking to get the ball back and score before halftime. Hollins is tackled after a gain of just 2 on second down and UNC burns its second timeout. Hollins gets the call again on 3rd down and runs up the middle for 5 yards and a first down. Armstrong misses on passes to Demick Starling and Sackett Wood and Virginia is forced to punt it away with 27 seconds left. 

North Carolina Drive - 2:04 2Q

Drake Maye finds Kobe Paysour for five yards on first down, but then overthrows his target to bring up 3rd and 5. Maye is flushed out of the pocket and chased down and tackled from behind by Paul Akere for a 5-yard sack and the crowd at Scott Stadium roars in approval. UVA will get the ball back with just under 90 seconds left in the half. 

Virginia Drive - 6:47 2Q

An incompletion and a short run by Hollins brings up 3rd and 8, but Armstrong is able to convert with his legs as he scrambles for 11 yards. Hollins carries for 5 yards and then Armstrong calls his own number again, making a few UNC defenders miss and gaining 11 more yards. Armstrong connects with Ethan Davies, who makes the diving grab for his first-career reception. Ronnie Walker Jr. gets the carry and moves the chains with a five-yard gain. After a UNC delay of game penalty, Walker runs for seven yards and another first down. Virginia's running game hasn't looked this effective in a long time. On 3rd and 8, Armstrong rolls to his left and fits a pass to Sackett Wood in a tight window for a first down to the UNC 3-yard line. Armstrong gives to Xavier Brown, who runs over a North Carolina defender to get into the end zone for the touchdown. That's Xavier Brown's first-career touchdown and it caps a great drive for the Virginia offense. 

Scoring Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 4:43 | Result: 3-yard touchdown run by Xavier Brown

North Carolina Drive - 12:32 2Q

Drake Maye runs for 7 yards on first and then Green finds a hole for 14 yards and a first down. UNC converts on 3rd and 9 as Maye finds Downs on the left sideline for 11 yards. Kamari Morales breaks a couple of tackles for an 8-yard reception and then Maye finds Jones for 7 yards and a first down to the UVA 32. An illegal block below the waist moves UNC back 15 yards, then Jonas Sanker makes a great tackle to bring down Downs after just one yard. Sanker breaks up Maye's pass on the next play, but the ref throws a late and very questionable flag for pass interference. Antoine Green works himself open in the end zone and Maye puts it on his hands but Green drops the ball. Maye scrambles down the right sideline for 11 yards for a first down to the UVA 20. Maye hits Downs on a shallow cross and he runs for 14 yards to the UVA 6-yard line for first and goal. Drake Maye rolls to his right, avoids a tackle from Nick Jackson, and then runs all the way back across the field to left side of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown run. UNC takes advantage of the beneficial pass interference call to score its first touchdown of the game.

Scoring Drive: 13 plays, 80 yards, 5:45 | Result: 5-yard touchdown run by Drake Maye

Virginia Drive - 1:37 1Q

Mike Hollins finds a hole and runs for eight yards on first down. Hollins is tackled after a gain of 1, bringing up 3rd and 1. Armstrong goes under center and QB sneaks for the first down behind a nice push from the offensive line. Ronnie Walker Jr., who had been working his way back from a foot injury suffered back in the spring, gets his first couple of carries of the season and picks up eight yards and then seven yards for a first down. Welcome back Mr. Walker. The first quarter ends with Virginia leading 7-3 and driving in UNC territory.

Armstrong fakes the handoff and rolls out to his left before finding Sackett Wood, who breaks a tackle and runs 14 yards for a first down. After a 4-yard run from Xavier Brown on first down, Cedric Gray gets penetration and tackles Hollins in the backfield for a loss of one. Virginia opts to keep the ball on the ground on 3rd and 7 and Hollins is tackled after a two-yard gain. On 4th and 5, Armstrong tries a pooch punt for the second time this season and his punt goes into the end zone for a touchback. 

North Carolina Drive - 4:22 1Q

After a seven-yard completion from Maye to Antoine Green, Elijah Green moves the chains with a short run. Green gets the carry again on the next play and breaks multiple tackles for a 17-yard gain up near midfield. UVA stops Green and Maye for short gains to set up a 3rd and 8. Maye targets J.J. Jones with his 3rd down pass but Jones is unable to make the catch and UNC is forced to punt. Another solid stop from the Virginia defense. 

Virginia Drive - 6:32 1Q

A six-yard Mike Hollins run sets up 3rd and 4, which Virginia converts as Armstrong threads a pass to Sean Wilson on the left sideline for 15 yards. Armstrong goes right back to Wilson on the next play for a 13-yard gain over the middle. Sean Wilson came into today's game having never caught a pass in a game. He already has three catches today. A promising Virginia drive comes to an end in UNC territory as Armstrong's pass is tipped into the air and intercepted by a diving Storm Duck. Give credit to Cedric Gray for breaking up Armstrong's pass to create the takeaway.

North Carolina Drive - 10:48 1Q

Elijah Green finds a hole for a 9-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage for UNC. Nick Jackson tackles Green for a 1-yard loss on the next play, but Drake Maye is able to find Josh Down on a slant to move the chains on 3rd down. Maye connects with Kamari Morales on the right sideline for 15 yards. On the next play, Maye passes to Downs for 12 yards and another first down. UVA loses contain on Maye, who uses his legs to run for 26 yards to the UVA 7-yard line. A false start moves UNC back to the 11-yard line for 3rd down and then Nick Jackson gets to Drake Maye for a sack to bring up fourth down. Noah Burnette converts the 35-yard field goal to get UNC on the board, but the Virginia defense comes up with a massive stand.

Scoring Drive: 11 plays, 58 yards, 4:16 | Result: 35-yard field goal by Noah Burnette

Virginia Drive - 14:52 1Q

Virginia receives the ball first and the offense takes the field without starting receivers Keytaon Thompson, Dontayvion Wicks, and Lavel Davis as well as starting running back Perris Jones, who were all ruled out of Saturday's game. Armstrong begins the game with back-to-back five-yard completions to Sackett Wood and then Sean Wilson to move the chains. Armstrong keeps on designed run and is able to bounce outside for a decent gain and another first down into UNC territory. Armstrong rolls to his left and connects with Sackett Wood for a 20-yard pickup down to the UNC 23. After an Xavier Brown four-yard run, Virginia keeps it on the ground with Mike Hollins, who breaks a tackle and runs for 15 yards and a first down to the UNC 4-yard line, where UVA will have first and goal. Brennan Armstrong calls his own number and runs it in for a touchdown. After all of Virginia's struggles converting in the red zone, that one looked stunningly easily as the Cavaliers strike first less than five minutes into the game. That's the first time this season that Virginia has scored a touchdown on its opening drive.

Scoring Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 4:12 | Result: 4-yard touchdown run by Brennan Armstrong