Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris exited Saturday night”s game against Wake Forest after suffering a hit to the head and neck while sliding in the second quarter. As a result, he did not return, and the Cavaliers experienced their first defeat in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season.
Following the incident, Coach Tony Elliott noted that Morris returned to the sidelines in street clothes during the second half of the Cavaliers” 16-9 loss. The status of Morris for the upcoming game against Duke remains uncertain. “He came back out and said he was feeling all right,” Elliott stated. “We”ll know more when we get some tests early in the week, (Sunday) and then Monday. But any time you get in the head or up above the neck, you”ve got to make sure you take that with a lot of caution.”
Morris had been instrumental in leading the 12th-ranked Cavaliers to their strongest start in 35 years. With this defeat, Virginia”s record stands at 8-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play, significantly diminishing their chances of competing in the ACC title game.
The injury occurred when Virginia was leading 3-0 and faced a second-and-7 situation. Morris attempted to run for six yards but was hit by two Wake Forest defenders, Travon West and Davaughn Patterson, as he slid at the Cavaliers” 14-yard line. West was penalized for a personal foul, but no targeting call was made. Morris lay on the field for several minutes before he managed to get up and walk gingerly to the sidelines, eventually heading to the locker room.
Backup quarterback Daniel Kaelin stepped in for Morris, completing 18 of 28 passes for 145 yards and rushing for 49 yards, but he also lost two fumbles during the game. “Experience is big in this game,” Kaelin mentioned. “Just being able to, one, be in there and get the experience, but also, at the same time, starting tomorrow, being able to watch the film and learn from it will definitely be helpful moving forward.”
Morris, who transferred from North Texas, has been a key player for the Cavaliers, showcasing his skills in passing, running, and leadership. He played a vital role in helping Virginia set a school record for total offense in a single game, amassing 700 total yards in an early-season victory over William & Mary.
As the team prepares for the next game, all eyes will be on Morris”s recovery and whether he will be cleared to play against Duke next weekend.
