Chandler Morris aerial assault helps Virginia crush Stanford

Chandler Morris threw three first-quarter touchdown passes to Trell Harris to spark Virginia's 48-20 victory against Stanford in Atlantic Coast Conference action Saturday night in Charlottesville, Va.

Morris passed for a season-high 380 yards and four TDs and also ran for a score. Harris finished with four catches for a career-high 145 yards for the Cavaliers (3-1, 1-0) in their inaugural meeting with the Cardinal (1-3, 1-1).

Ben Gulbranson threw for 286 yards and two scores. Bryce Farrell caught four passes for 135 yards and a TD, and C.J. Williams added 103 yards on nine grabs as Stanford fell to 0-3 on the road under interim coach Frank Reich.

Harris entered the night with a career total of four touchdowns in 26 games at Virginia and Kent State (2022-23).

A week after racking up a school-record 700 yards against William & Mary, Virginia outgained Stanford 590-321.

The Cavaliers scored TDs on their first four possessions. Morris ended their first drive with a 3-yard pass to Harris.

Stanford answered with Gulbranson's 5-yard TD toss to Benji Blackburn, set up by Farrell's 60-yard reception.

Ten seconds later, Morris and Harris hooked up again for a 75-yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead.

It was 21-7 after Morris and Harris completed the quick TD trifecta on a 27-yard pass with 3:36 left in the quarter.

Morris added a 13-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to make it 28-7.

Stanford sliced the deficit to 28-14 on Micah Ford's 3-yard touchdown run 55 seconds before halftime.

Virginia extended the lead to 38-14 in the third quarter with Morris' 13-yard TD pass to Sage Ennis and a 28-yard field goal by Will Bettridge.

Gulbranson's 68-yard scoring strike to Farrell got the Cardinal within 38-20 with 4:18 left in the third.

In the fourth quarter, Bettridge booted a 26-yard field goal and backup Daniel Kaelin capped the Cavaliers' scoring with a 4-yard TD pass to Eli Wood.

--Field Level Media