Virginia rallies past Wake Forest in 4th quarter for 31-30 win in ACC opener

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Grady Brosterhous pushed through for a 1-yard sneak for the go-ahead touchdown with 2:07 left to help Virginia rally past Wake Forest 31-30 on Saturday night.

The Cavaliers (2-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) then came up with a huge takeaway, with Malcolm Greene jarring a catch loose from Taylor Morin for a fumble that was recovered by a diving Antonio Clary with 1:24 left.

That proved to be the biggest stop for Virginia, which held on as Wake Forest had one last no-timeouts desperate possession in the final minute. That drive never reached midfield and ended with a frantic set of laterals as time expired.


Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea (10) is flushed from the pocket under pressure from Wake Forest's Bryce Ganious, right, during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (Walt Unks/The Winston-Salem Journal via AP)
Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea (10) is flushed from the pocket under pressure from Wake Forest’s Bryce Ganious, right, during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (Walt Unks/The Winston-Salem Journal via AP)

Anthony Colandrea threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Cavaliers, who trailed 30-17 entering the fourth quarter. His last scoring throw was a 24-yarder to Trell Harris on the left side of the end zone to bring Virginia within six with 10:37 left.

Then he directed a 12-play scoring drive that included two fourth-down conversions, the last being when he zipped a pass to Malachi Fields — who was locked up with a Wake Forest defender — to set up a first-and-goal — with Brosterhous coming on shortly afterward to punch it in.

Hank Bachmeier threw for 403 yards and a touchdown to lead the Demon Deacons (1-1, 0-1), with Donavon Greene hauling in 11 passes for 166 yards and that score.

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