(BCSNN) -- On a frigid night at Scott Stadium, Virginia football warmed its fans with a dominant 27–7 victory over rival Virginia Tech, reclaiming the Commonwealth Cup and ending a four-game losing streak in the series.

An announced crowd of 58,832 — the largest at Scott Stadium since 2011 — stormed the field after the win, celebrating UVA’s first triumph over the Hokies since 2019. Head coach Tony Elliott, in his fourth season, hoisted the trophy in the locker room and declared, “It’s been a long time coming, but the cup is ours.”

The Cavaliers (10–2, 7–1 ACC) secured only the second 10-win season in program history and finished first in the ACC standings for the first time ever. Ranked No. 18 in the College Football Playoff poll, UVA now turns its attention to the ACC Championship Game against Duke next Saturday in Charlotte.

Virginia’s defense set the tone, holding Tech (3–9, 2–6) to just 197 total yards and six first downs — the Hokies’ fewest in a game since 1998. Linebacker Maddox Marcellus, starting in place of the injured Kam Robinson, starred with nine tackles, a half sack, and an interception. Safety Antonio Clary, the lone holdover from the 2019 team, added a pick of his own.

Quarterback Chandler Morris was steady, completing 21 of 35 passes for 182 yards before giving way to backup Daniel Kaelin in the fourth quarter. Tailback J’Mari Taylor rushed for 80 yards and scored UVA’s first touchdown, then threw for another on a trick play, becoming the first Cavalier running back since 2004 to both rush and pass for a score in the same game.

Wide receiver Kameron Courtney stepped up after Cam Ross exited with a hamstring injury, catching six passes for 50 yards. Trell Harris added five receptions for 43 yards. Morris scored UVA’s third touchdown on an 8-yard run, while kicker Will Bettridge was perfect on five kicks, including field goals from 27 and 32 yards.

Virginia built a 14–0 halftime lead and extended it to 24–0 entering the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers stretched the margin to 27–0 before Tech finally scored on a 57-yard touchdown pass from Kyron Drones to Shamarius Peterkin. Drones struggled throughout, completing only 4 of 16 passes for 78 yards and throwing two interceptions.

The win capped a remarkable turnaround under Elliott, whose first three seasons produced records of 3–7, 3–9, and 5–7. In the aftermath of the tragic 2022 shooting that claimed the lives of three UVA players, the Cavaliers’ rivalry game with Tech was canceled. The Hokies dominated the next two years, but Saturday night belonged to Virginia.

With the Commonwealth Cup back in Charlottesville and an ACC title shot ahead, the Cavaliers are poised to chase their biggest prize yet.