Armstrong leads balanced Cavs attack past Eagles

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Brennan Armstrong thinks Virgina is playing its best football at the right time.

The redshirt sophomore threw for a touchdown and ran 60 yards for another Saturday as Virginia beat Boston College 43-32 for its first victory ever against the Eagles.

It’ was the Cavaliers’ fourth consecutive victory with one regular season game left.

“Us putting together what we have the second part of the season, I think that gives us confidence more than anything knowing we’re rolling now,” Armstrong said.

The Cavaliers, who lost four in a row before the winning streak, improved to 5-4, 4-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and play at rival Virginia Tech next Saturday.

Armstrong carried the ball 17 times and finished with 130 yards, including the 60-yarder in which he ran through the left side of the line and outran several defenders. He passed for another 287 yards, including a 47-yard TD to Ra’Shaun Henry. He became the first quarterback in Virginia history to have 400 yards of offense in consecutive games.

The Eagles had allowed Virginia Tech quarterback Hendon Hooker to run for 143 yards in a 40-14 loss, and Louisville’s Malik Cunningham to run for 133 in t he Eagles’ 34-27 win last week, and the Cavaliers suspected they would have success there, too.

The Eagles (6-5, 5-5) played without injured starting quarterback Phil Jukovec and top running back David Bailey. Dennis Grosel filled in admirably, throwing for 520 yards and four scores, but two interceptions turned into 95- and 80-yard touchdown drives.