UVA’s offensive explosion vs. CMU greatest in years

A week after struggling to put up 10 points against UConn, UVA’s offense exploded against Central Michigan to earn the Cavaliers first win of the season. You’ve already read here on Streaking the Lawn and elsewhere that QB Kurt Benkert set a UVA record for most passing yards in a game after throwing for 421 yards. Just how does that compare?

The previous high was 417 by Marc Verica in 2010. Benkert is only the sixth Cavalier quarterback to throw five touchdowns in a game, and the first since Matt Schaub did it against Akron in 2002. Pro-Bowler Matt Schaub’s career high single-game passing yardage, by the way, was 393.

How else did the Cavalier offense shine in its 49-35 victory? In the first half, Virginia’s offense drove 99 yards for a touchdown to go up 21-0, the longest drive in program history. Virginia had accomplished 98 yard drives four times before. At 99 yards, this new record can never be broken, only tied.

Firing power? They’ve got it. The Cavaliers offense scored 49 points for the first time against a FBS school in over 10 years. (They had scored 49 vs. VMI in 2013.) The last time UVA scored more than 49 points was when they defeated Temple 51-3, back in November 2005.

Virginia amassed 569 total yards, which is its largest single-game output in at least 15 years. The team record is 691 vs. Davidson in 1968. The Hoos will be looking to continue this explosive offensive showing as they enter ACC competition on Saturday against Duke.