With one punishing tackle, LaRoy Reynolds halted Miami’s comeback as Virginia held on for a 28-21 road win Thursday night.

Miami’s Jacory Harris gashed the nation’s 12th-best pass defense, but it was Reynolds who came up with a critical fourth-and-2 stop with 2:10 left to preserve an upset of the Hurricanes for the second straight year. Miami (4-4, 2-3 ACC) entered the game on a two-game win streak and as healthy as it had been all year. A victory would have kept the Hurricanes in serious contention in the Coastal division race. Instead, the loss put Virginia (5-3, 2-2 ACC) in prime position to end a three-year postseason drought.

Cavaliers coach Mike London abandoned his two-quarterback system for the first time this season and Michael Rocco rewarded him. The sophomore went 11-of-19 for 226 yards and two touchdowns, helping the ACC’s least efficient passing offense build a 17-0 cushion with 4:15 left in the first half. Virginia didn’t commit a turnover after giving it away seven times in their first two road games. Things were clicking so well for the Cavaliers that even running back Perry Jones threw a 37-yard touchdown.

Harris fired three scoring strikes of his own, including two to Tommy Streeter, who finished with a career-high 176 yards on seven receptions. With Miami trailing 28-21, Harris connected on a fourth down to keep the chains moving in Virginia territory. Reynolds, though, shot through the gap and laid out running back Mike James on the next fourth down attempt to seal the win.