Virginia 23, Middle Tennessee 21

10/6/2007 9:43 PM

By ANTONIO GONZALEZ
Associated Press Writer

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) -Chris Gould kicked a 34-yard field goal with 8 seconds left, redeeming himself for an earlier extra-point miss, and Virginia beat pesky Middle Tennessee 23-21 on Saturday for its fifth consecutive victory.

The Cavaliers (5-1) had 151 yards rushing and matched their longest winning streak since 2004, spoiling the Blue Raiders' (1-5) hopes of becoming the third Sun Belt team to knock off a school from a Bowl Championship Series conference this year. Troy had defeated Oklahoma State, and Florida Atlantic also won over Minnesota to score wins for the Sun Belt this season.

Bradley Robinson intercepted Jameel Sewell late in the fourth quarter to set up a short touchdown rush by DeMarco McNair to give Middle Tennessee a 21-20 lead. Gould missed an extra-point wide right to allow the Blue Raiders to take the lead.

Robinson returned the interception 22 yards, the 11th pick of his career. The game marked just the second time Middle Tennessee played a member of a BCS conference at Floyd Stadium. The Blue Raiders also hosted Temple in 2003 when the Owls were still a member of the Big East.

Andrew Pearman rushed for two touchdowns for the Cavaliers in relief of Atlantic Coast Conference leading rusher Cedric Peerman, who left the game with a leg injury in the second quarter. His status for next week's game against Connecticut was not announced.

Keith Payne and Pearman accounted for 115 yards rushing for the Cavaliers, who snapped their three-game road nonconference losing streak. Pearman had two rushing touchdowns, and John Phillips caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Sewell.