CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Interstat) — Virginia scored twice in the fourth quarter and held off a late Syracuse comeback for a 28-25 victory Saturday at Scott Stadium in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game. The Cavaliers improved to 4-2. Syracuse dropped to 2-3. Attendance was 39,661. The game featured four lead changes and a late Syracuse touchdown that pulled the Orange within three points, but Virginia’s defense made the final stop.

Virginia entered the game after a loss at Florida State, while Syracuse came in off a one-point win at Connecticut. Earlier this season, Syracuse lost at Pittsburgh and to California and beat New Hampshire. Virginia had beaten Delaware, Norfolk State and North Carolina State, and lost to West Virginia. Virginia leaned on a pair of fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns from Jekail Middlebrook.

Virginia opened the scoring in the first quarter when Xay Davis rushed left for a 14-yard touchdown. Will Bettridge’s kick made it 7-0. Syracuse answered later in the quarter when Ahmad Miller rushed middle for a 1-yard touchdown, and Shay Barker’s kick tied the game. In the second quarter, Syracuse quarterback Malachi Nelson completed a short pass to the right to Umari Hatcher for a 13-yard touchdown. Barker’s kick gave Syracuse the lead. Barker later missed a 47-yard field goal but made a 29-yard field goal before halftime. Syracuse took a 17-7 lead into the break after Barker’s second-quarter field goal.

In the third quarter, Barker missed a 41-yard field goal. Virginia then cut into the lead when Beau Pribula completed a deep pass to the right to Da’Shawn Martin for a 43-yard touchdown. Bettridge’s kick made it 17-14. In the fourth quarter, Middlebrook rushed middle for a 3-yard touchdown, and Bettridge’s kick put Virginia ahead 21-17. Middlebrook then rushed right for a 5-yard touchdown, and Bettridge’s kick extended the lead to 28-17. Syracuse responded when Danny Lauter completed a deep pass to the right to Daunte Bacheyie for a 46-yard touchdown. A successful two-point conversion followed, cutting the deficit to 28-25. Syracuse could not score again, and Virginia ran out the clock.

Nelson finished 16-of-29 passing for 217 yards and one touchdown. He also ran six times for 19 yards. The Syracuse quarterback, listed at 6-3 and 190 pounds, is from Los Alamitos, Calif. His touchdown pass to Hatcher was part of a second-quarter surge that gave Syracuse its first lead. Pribula completed 11-of-19 passes for 119 yards and one touchdown. He ran nine times for 34 yards. The Virginia quarterback, listed at 6-2 and 206 pounds, helped the Cavaliers overcome a slow start. His touchdown pass to Martin was the Cavaliers’ first score of the second half. Lauter completed 2-of-6 passes for 50 yards and one touchdown for Syracuse. His 46-yard touchdown pass to Bacheyie gave the Orange a late chance. Justus Ross-Simmons, who caught one pass for 4 yards, helped convert the ensuing two-point attempt.

Virginia’s defense was led by Montino Williams, Fisher Camac, Justin Ross and Kam Robinson, each of whom recorded five tackles. Camac added half a sack and one quarterback hurry. Robinson added one quarterback hurry. Matthew Fobbs-White had seven tackles, half a sack and one quarterback hurry. Maddox Marcellus and Jacobie Henderson each made eight tackles. Anthony Britton recorded nine tackles. Xavier Brown rushed once for 3 yards for Virginia. Solomon Beebe caught one pass for minus-3 yards. Rico Flores Jr. caught one pass for 6 yards. Ty’Lyric Coleman caught two passes for 14 yards. John Rogers caught two passes for 16 yards. Kameron Courtney caught three passes for 38 yards. Da’Shawn Martin caught two passes for 48 yards and one touchdown. Noah Vaughn appeared for Virginia. Daniel Sparks punted six times for 313 yards. Will Bettridge handled kicking duties. Josiah Abdullah returned one punt for 2 yards. Jacquon Gibson returned two kickoffs for 51 yards.

Kervins Choute, Billy Koudelka, Donavon Platt and Cayden Cook-Cash each had one tackle for Virginia. Landon Danley and Caleb Hardy each had two tackles. Brandyn Hillman, Darrion Henry-Young, Ethan Minter, Jam Jackson, Christian Ellis, Sichan John, Corey Costner, Myles Brown and Nnanna Anyanwu also recorded tackles. Demetres Samuel Jr. had three punt returns for 13 yards and four tackles. Jai Eugene Jr. had four tackles. Tunmise Adeleye had five tackles. Rashard Perry had six tackles. Davien Kerr had six tackles and half a sack. Chris Peal had nine tackles. David Clement caught two passes for 2 yards. Cole Weaver had one catch for 4 yards. Chris D’Appolonia had four tackles. Darius Johnson had one catch for 5 yards. Noah Meyers had one catch for 29 yards.

Syracuse next hosts Louisville, while Virginia is scheduled to visit SMU. The Cavaliers will then host Duke, visit Wake Forest, host California, host North Carolina and visit Virginia Tech. Syracuse will visit North Carolina, host SMU, host Clemson, visit North Carolina State, visit Boston College and host Notre Dame. The result at Scott Stadium gave Virginia its fourth win of the season and handed Syracuse its third loss.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Virginia 47, Syracuse 22. Interstat’s ELO system gave Virginia an 85.9 percent probability to win. Syracuse was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +14. The total score of 53 went under the over/under line of 49.5.