{"id":97527,"date":"2025-12-28T09:56:16","date_gmt":"2025-12-28T09:56:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/97527\/"},"modified":"2025-12-28T09:56:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-28T09:56:16","slug":"live-updates-throughout-the-day-from-jacksonville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/97527\/","title":{"rendered":"Live updates throughout the day from Jacksonville"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t<\/p>\n

\"everbank<\/p>\n

<\/a>Photo: \u00a9 4kclips\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a tough job, but somebody\u2019s gotta do it, and so it is that I\u2019m in Jacksonville, currently overlooking the St. John\u2019s River, on a near-record-warm day, awaiting the kickoff of the 2025 Gator Bowl.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s going to be in the low 50s back in Virginia; we\u2019re making do with mid-70s here today.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be reporting throughout the day and into the night with updates on the football part of things here, in addition to the fun parts.<\/p>\n

My goal is to get out amongst the tailgaters for a bit this afternoon, to then walk the sidelines some pregame, shoot some photos, record a video or two.<\/p>\n

Hard work.<\/p>\n

Gameday: Quick overview of Virginia vs. Mizzou<\/p>\n

Pregame coverage<\/p>\n

UVA Football: \u2018Hoos, knocked out of CFP, get invite to Gator Bowl, facing Mizzou<\/a>
\nUVA Football: Elliott, Drinkwitz preview Dec. 27 Gator Bowl matchup<\/a>
\nUVA Football: \u2018Hoos losing Ja\u2019Son Prevard, Tyshawn Wyatt to transfer portal<\/a>
\nUVA Football: \u2018Hoos kicking the tires on Missouri starting QB Beau Pribula?<\/a>
\nGator Bowl preview: What to expect from undermanned Missouri on Saturday<\/a>
\nWill Chandler Morris get a seventh year from the NCAA? UVA seems to think so<\/a>
\nGator Bowl Notes: Is anybody paying attention, or are our eyes already on next year?<\/a>
\nUVA Football: \u2018Hoos might have to make do without J\u2019Mari Taylor at tailback<\/a>
\nGator Bowl: Oh, yeah, Virginia, Missouri, are both playing this one to win<\/a><\/p>\n

Offense
\n<\/p>\n

\"Beau\"Beau<\/p>\n

<\/a>Beau Pribula. Photo: Chad Hamilton\/Icon Sportswire<\/p>\n

Got to feel for\u00a0Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz, who is having to game-plan for the\u00a0Gator Bowl\u00a0around the defections of his starting QB, two of his top receivers and his offensive coordinator.<\/p>\n

Mizzou (8-4, 4-4 SEC) will have to make do without\u00a0Beau Pribula\u00a0(1,941 yards, 67.4 percent completion rate, 11 TDs\/9 INTs in 2025) and two of his top targets,\u00a0Joshua Manning\u00a0(29 catches\/51 targets, 318 yards, two TDs) and\u00a0Marquis Johnson\u00a0(28 catches\/47 targets, 340 yards, two TDs).<\/p>\n

The Tigers also have to get an offense together without the guy who served as offensive coordinator this season,\u00a0Kirby Moore, who left earlier this month to take the head-coaching job at\u00a0Washington State.<\/p>\n

The new OC,\u00a0Chip Lindsey, was added to the staff literally on Sunday; he had worked on the staff this season at\u00a0Michigan, which appears to be headed toward an\u00a0NCAA death penalty, with the athletics department rotting from the head down up there.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not clear who will be responsible for game-planning and play-calling tonight; it would shock me if it\u2019s Lindsey.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d look to the assistants on the offensive side who stayed behind after Moore bolted for Wazzu.<\/p>\n

We do know who the QB will be \u2013 Pribula\u2019s backup, true freshman\u00a0Matt Zollers, made three starts in 2025, two in Missouri losses, at\u00a0Vanderbilt\u00a0and at home to\u00a0Texas A&M, and the\u00a049-27 win over Mississippi State\u00a0on Nov. 15.<\/p>\n

There is one key building block to game-plan around \u2013\u00a0sophomore tailback\u00a0Ahmad Hardy\u00a0(1,560 rushing yards, 16 TDs in 2025).<\/p>\n

Defense<\/p>\n

The Tigers are scary good \u2013 second in the SEC in total defense (274.8 yards per game), fifth in sacks (2.9 per game).<\/p>\n

Zion Young, a 6\u20195\u201d, 262-pound edge rusher who projects as a third- or fourth-round pick in the spring, will play, per Drinkwitz \u2013 his status was uncertain after a Dec. 13 DUI arrest.<\/p>\n

Young\u2019s vitals: 48 QB pressures, eight sacks, 25 run-game tackles in 2025.<\/p>\n

His bookend on the edge is something of a mirror image: Damon Wilson, a draft-eligible junior who had 49 QB pressures and eight sacks in 2025.<\/p>\n

The cover guys:<\/p>\n

CB Toriano Pride: 21 receptions\/44 targets, 6 FIs\/3 PBUs\/2 INTs, 57.3 NFL passer rating against.
\nCB Daylan Carnell: 25 catches\/40 targets, 4 FIs\/4 PBUs\/1 INT, 66.0 NFL passer rating against.
\nS Santana Banner: 17 catches\/31 targets, 3 FIs\/3 PBUs\/1 INT, 89.4 NFL passer rating against.
\nCB Stephen Hall: 16 catches\/27 targets, 2 FIs\/2 PBUs, 105.9 NFL passer rating against.
\nCB Drey Norwood: 14 catches\/29 targets, 5 FIs\/3 PBUs, 106.5 NFL passer rating against.
\nS Marvin Burks: 10 catches\/12 targets, 1 FI\/1 PBU\/1 INT, 123.4 NFL passer rating against.<\/p>\n

Key: FI is forced incompletion; PBU is pass breakup<\/p>\n

Special teams<\/p>\n

The starting placekicker, Blake Craig, tore an ACL on a kickoff in the season opener.<\/p>\n

Shame: Craig is good: he was 6-of-9 from 50+ in 2024.<\/p>\n

Robert Meyer handles the extra points and most of the field-goal tries, but on longer kicks, Drinkwitz will go to Oliver Robbins, who is 2-for-3 from 40+, with a long of 49.<\/p>\n

Live-to-tape report: Calm ahead of the storm<\/p>\n

They get ready early here<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"hotel\"\"hotel\"<\/p>\n

<\/a>This is the view outside the hotel. The American Eagle is a ship in the American Cruise Lines family. Photo: Chris Graham\/AFP<\/p>\n

I walked down to the stadium around 1 p.m. to use the stadium as a backdrop for a video report.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s nice weather, so, might as well, right?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s about a mile from my hotel to the stadium. Pretty quiet the whole way there.<\/p>\n

Except that \u2026<\/p>\n

There were already parking lot attendants, police and security in place.<\/p>\n

More than six hours before the game, and probably at least three hours before they\u2019ll get any traffic.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a long day for those folks.<\/p>\n

Those hours sitting out there with nothing to do or nobody to protect against, those are particularly long hours.<\/p>\n

Cavalier Marching Band at the UVA Alumni Association tailgate<\/p>\n

Tailgating is a madhouse<\/p>\n

Jacksonville has undertaken a massive ($1.4 billion!) renovation of EverBank Stadium, and it\u2019s not easy getting around here.<\/p>\n

The parking lots are staging areas; the lower bowl is mostly roped off.<\/p>\n

It was easier for the Knights of the Roundtable to find the Holy Grail than it was for me to navigate my way to the press box.<\/p>\n

(It\u2019s a good thing I keep a shrubbery in my backpack for these kinds of situations.)<\/p>\n

The renovations are supposed to be finished in August 2028.<\/p>\n

Game Coverage<\/p>\n

Missouri gets on the board first<\/p>\n

Mizzou picked up a third-and-medium on the first set of downs, then marched from there.<\/p>\n

Didn\u2019t look like the UVA defense knew what defense it was in on the third-and-medium.<\/p>\n

A nice wide-zone play-action was a big gainer.<\/p>\n

Ahmad Hardy broke one for 43 yards.<\/p>\n

TD: 5-yard run by Jamal Roberts.<\/p>\n

Drive: 7 plays, 74 yards, 3:00 TOP<\/p>\n

Missouri 7, Virginia 0, 11:56\/1st<\/p>\n

The no kicker issue rears its head again<\/p>\n

The lack of confidence in Will Bettridge from 40-plus leads to a call to go for a fourth-and-2 at the Mizzou 27.<\/p>\n

As is the case on these plays lately, Chandler Morris goes through his progressions, decides to try the deep guy, comes up empty.<\/p>\n

He had the crossing route for the first down, but who am I to say that?<\/p>\n

Drive: 10 plays, 52 yards, 5:34 TOP.<\/p>\n

Comes up empty.<\/p>\n

Missouri 7, Virginia 0, 6:21\/1st<\/p>\n

Virginia D holds on fourth-and-medium<\/p>\n

OK, some life.<\/p>\n

Mizzou drove to the UVA 33, had fourth-and-4 there.<\/p>\n

Matt Zollers was incomplete on a 98-mph fastball over the middle.<\/p>\n

Drive: 8 plays, 40 yards, 3:11 TOP.<\/p>\n

Missouri 7, Virginia 0, 3:07\/1st<\/p>\n

Virginia is on the board<\/p>\n

Lack of confidence in Will Bettridge, huh.<\/p>\n

Bettridge converts from 42.<\/p>\n

Odd call on the final first-down play on that drive. Virginia tried a trick play: direct snap to Harrison Waylee, then pitch to Chandler Morris, who didn\u2019t have anybody open, so, he threw it away.<\/p>\n

The ref called intentional grounding, saying Morris didn\u2019t have an eligible receiver in the area.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t have the benefit of replay here in the press box, but it looked to me that there was an eligible receiver.<\/p>\n

The penalty was 11 yards and loss of down.<\/p>\n

Drive killer.<\/p>\n

Drive: 12 plays, 42 yards, 5:50 TOP.<\/p>\n

Missouri 7, Virginia 3, 12:17\/2nd<\/p>\n

Press box bizarro world<\/p>\n

The press box PA guy has been mixed up the entire game, to this point: calling out the wrong players for passes, runs, tackles, etc.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s comical.<\/p>\n

Compounding the issue: this press box is closed-air, meaning, we have window panes in front of us.<\/p>\n

And they\u2019re really, really secure window panes. We can\u2019t hear any noise from the stadium.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s like we\u2019re in a library, with the only audio being, the PA announcer who is watching a different game.<\/p>\n

First punt of the night<\/p>\n

Nice read by James Jackson on the third-and-9 run by Matt Zollers.<\/p>\n

Zollers checked into a QB keeper-sweep around the right end, thinking he had a numbers advantage, with the tight end and three receivers to the left of the formation getting all the defensive attention.<\/p>\n

Jackson shot the gap and blew up the play for a loss.<\/p>\n

Drive: 8 plays, 32 yards, 4:44 TOP.<\/p>\n

Missouri 7, Virginia 3, 7:25\/2nd<\/p>\n

No confidence in the kicker, yeah<\/p>\n

That missed 44-yard field goal try by Will Bettridge was one of the 10 worst field goal attempts in Virginia Football history.<\/p>\n

Dear god, that was bad.<\/p>\n

Drive: 11 plays, 54 yards, 4:03 TOP.<\/p>\n

Missouri 7, Virginia 3, 3:22\/2nd<\/p>\n

A lot happened there at the end<\/p>\n

The Virginia D forced another punt; Cam Ross let it bounce, then tried to field the carom, and predictably fumbled.<\/p>\n

The UVA D forced a 42-yard field goal try from Oliver Robbins, which missed, not as badly as the Bettridge miss, but still, missed.<\/p>\n

Virginia had some time to do something, but did nothing.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re at the half. Thankfully.<\/p>\n

Halftime report: Missouri 7, Virginia 3<\/p>\n

It felt there for a short bit that Missouri was going to run away with this one.<\/p>\n

Literally.<\/p>\n

The Tigers were eating up yards on the ground on their first couple of drives, but the stop by the Virginia D on the fourth-and-4 in plus territory seemed to change the thinking on both sidelines.<\/p>\n

Mizzou had 114 yards of offense on its first two possessions; on its last four, it\u2019s totaled 52.<\/p>\n

Virginia\u2019s coaches can\u2019t get out of their team\u2019s way.<\/p>\n

Tony Elliott went for a fourth-and-short in field goal range on UVA\u2019s first possession; the play call, a pass, led to a turnover on downs.<\/p>\n

Then, a mid-range field goal; then, another fourth-and-short, a field goal try, a shank.<\/p>\n

Same story, different day: the offense is moving the ball, but it bogs down inside the 30, and we don\u2019t have a reliable kicker.<\/p>\n

That half of football set back the sport 20 years.<\/p>\n

Two missed mid-range field goal tries, a muffed punt by a guy who has been in college since 2019, a coach who doesn\u2019t trust himself or his analytics guy on big decisions.<\/p>\n

I think we need to get Tony Elliott to do some talk therapy in the offseason.<\/p>\n

He needs to talk it out and rebuild his confidence.<\/p>\n

Also, we need someone new in charge of special teams.<\/p>\n

Nineteen (!) plays<\/p>\n

Virginia goes 75 yards on 19 plays, on a drive that ate up 10:07 of the third quarter.<\/p>\n

The final two plays were direct snaps to Harrison Waylee, who scored on a 2-yard run.<\/p>\n

One third-and-12 conversion, one fourth-and-2 conversion, one fourth-and-3, two more third-and-2s.<\/p>\n

Yikes.<\/p>\n

Virginia 10, Missouri 7, 4:53\/3rd<\/p>\n

Virginia D forces a TO<\/p>\n

The D got Mizzou into a third-and-5, and Matt Zollers\u2018 pass intended for Xavier Loyd was high and inside, tipped into the air, and picked by Emmanuel Karnley at the Mizzou 35.<\/p>\n

Virginia got one first down, the drive stalled at the Mizzou 21; Will Bettridge good from 38.<\/p>\n

Virginia 13, Missouri 7, 1:00\/3rd<\/p>\n

Chandler Morris with the \u2026 punt?<\/p>\n

Virginia lined up with the offense on fourth-and-8 from the Mizzou 43.<\/p>\n

Chandler Morris with the quick kick, downed at the Mizzou 2.<\/p>\n

OK.<\/p>\n

Virginia 13, Missouri 7, 10:42\/4th<\/p>\n

Change of possession<\/p>\n

Mizzou called for a false start on what looked like a legit attempt to go for it on fourth-and-1 at the 11.<\/p>\n

Good punt (52 yards) pushes Virginia back at its own 42 on the change of possession.<\/p>\n

Ideally: you slog out a couple of first downs, and get to the fringe of scoring territory, at the least.<\/p>\n

Virginia 13, Missouri 7, 8:45\/4th<\/p>\n

Not sure about that one<\/p>\n

Virginia ate up four minutes of clock with a couple of first downs, but TE went for fourth-and-3 at the Missouri 39, and the Chandler Morris pass was incomplete.<\/p>\n

Not sure about that.<\/p>\n

I mean, I get it, get the first down, Mizzou has to start burning timeouts.<\/p>\n

But now,\u00a0Missouri gets the ball at its own 39. Would rather have seen the drive start even at the 20 on a punt and touchback.<\/p>\n

Virginia 13, Missouri 7, 4:28\/4th<\/p>\n

Dodged a bullet<\/p>\n

Missouri quickly got into plus territory, but a false start penalty put the Tigers behind the chains.<\/p>\n

Mizzou went for fourth-and-2 at the UVA 41, Matt Zollers on a play-action; he kept, ran for the sticks on the right sideline, and stepped out a yard short.<\/p>\n

Two-minute timeout.<\/p>\n

Mizzou has all three of its timeouts.<\/p>\n

Virginia 13, Missouri 7, 1:57\/4th<\/p>\n

This one goes to 11<\/p>\n

Incomplete pass in the end zone with one second left.<\/p>\n

Virginia wins.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re done killing me.<\/p>\n

Virginia 13, Missouri 7<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Photo: \u00a9 4kclips\/Shutterstock It\u2019s a tough job, but somebody\u2019s gotta do it, and so it is that I\u2019m…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":97528,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[11705,116,118,117,51592],"class_list":["post-97527","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-jacksonville","tag-gator-bowl","tag-jacksonville","tag-jacksonville-headlines","tag-jacksonville-news","tag-uva-football"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97527","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97527"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97527\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/97528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97527"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97527"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97527"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}