Virginia and Virginia Tech resume their rivalry with plenty at stake

The annual regular season finale between the Virginia and Virginia Tech football teams bestows the winner coveted bragging rights in the commonwealth and counts as the most meaningful game on both sides’ schedule.

The stunners. The cheers. The home runs, hat tricks and gameday magic. Don’t miss out with The Sports Moment, a newsletter for the biggest sports news.

This year’s edition set for Saturday afternoon at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville brings several additional storylines and added incentives for both schools.

Most notably, Saturday’s game marks the resumption of the series after Virginia elected not to play its final two games last season following the fatal shooting of three players on campus. The pause in the series marked the first time since 1969 Virginia and Virginia Tech had not played in the rivalry that dates from 1895, and its return caps a season in which the Cavaliers aimed to honor the memories of their slain teammates, Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry.

The Hokies (5-6, 4-3 ACC) have won 17 of the past 18 meetings — with their lone loss in that span coming in 2019 — and the Cavaliers (3-8, 2-5) can prevent their rivals from securing bowl eligibility with a win.

Saturday will also mark the first time participating in the Commonwealth Clash for both programs’ head coaches. Tony Elliott is in his second season at Virginia following a decorated career as offensive coordinator at Clemson, and Brent Pry is in his second year at Virginia Tech after serving as Penn State’s defensive coordinator.

“It’s an opportunity for both of us,” said Elliott, who initially got to know Pry when he coached on the same staff with Pry’s younger brother at South Carolina State in 2006 and 2007. “We’re battling and jockeying to say this is our state. He’s saying that they want to own the state. We want to own the state. That’s what happens when you have a rivalry, but I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Pry.”

The Hokies enter Saturday having lost two of their past three games, including a 35-28 loss to North Carolina State this past weekend on senior day in Blacksburg. Wolfpack quarterback Brennan Armstrong, who transferred from Virginia in January, accounted for four touchdowns and 292 yards of total offense in his third career start against Virginia Tech.

But the Hokies salvaged their season with three wins in their previous four games and can become bowl eligible for the 29th time in 30 full seasons with one more victory.

Kyron Drones has solidified himself as Virginia Tech’s starting quarterback after competing with Grant Wells earlier in the season, and he matched a season high with three touchdown passes against N.C. State.

“Obviously it’s a big game,” Drones said of Saturday’s finale. “Nobody wants to lose to Virginia from Virginia Tech, and nobody from Virginia wants to lose to Virginia Tech. This is my first time being a part of it, and I’m glad I’m part of this rivalry and this game.”

Cavaliers quarterback Anthony Colandrea, meanwhile, fueled the rivalry even more by promising a win following a 30-27 upset victory over Duke this past Saturday. Colandrea, a dual-threat freshman, completed 21 of 30 pass attempts for 278 yards and three touchdowns and ran nine times for 66 yards against the Blue Devils on the way to being named ACC rookie of the week.

Colandrea began the season as a backup but has started five games with Tony Muskett continuing to heal from an ankle injury that left him in a walking boot. Muskett, a senior transfer from Monmouth, also missed time early in the season with a shoulder injury that will reportedly require surgery.

In addition to playing their final game this season in memory of Davis, Chandler and Perry, the Cavaliers are keeping running back Perris Jones in their thoughts. Jones remains at Frazier Rehabilitation Institute in Louisville after undergoing spinal surgery at UofL Hospital following an injury he suffered during a loss to the Cardinals on Nov. 9.

After being carted off the field, Jones has been able to walk briefly, according to Elliott, who visited the senior last week and indicated he was in good spirits.

“I haven’t been in that situation, and my heart certainly went out to Tony, his staff and the entire team,” Pry said of all Virginia has had to manage. “I think it tugged on everybody’s hearts, and a great sense of sadness. This job is tough enough already, so I can’t imagine the layers Tony and his staff had to work through. Great respect for the job he’s done and the way his kids are playing right now.”