As hundreds of fans rushed the field at Scott Stadium, there was only one problem: The final play wasn't quite over. But just before the mob reached the players, Gamecocks quarterback Corey Jenkins was brought down, allowing the celebration of UVa's first triumph of the season to continue unabated.

The two teams treated the crowd of 60,171 and a national television audience on ESPN to a season's worth of big plays and odd moments. Textbook football, it wasn't. But it was satisfying stuff for UVa coach Al Groh, whose team avoided its first 0-3 start since 1982.

"It certainly had everything, absolutely everything," Groh said. "It's a big step forward for our team."

How wild was it? The teams combined for four touchdowns in less than two minutes in the second quarter. They committed 10 turnovers (seven by the Gamecocks), including three in a 92-second span of the fourth quarter. There were 15 penalties, one on Groh for unsportsmanlike conduct, and a touchdown pass by a tight end.

It was only appropriate, then, that the game's pivotal play was somewhat wacky.

Late in the third quarter, the Cavaliers trailed 21-20 but faced a second down at the South Carolina 8-yard line. Matt Schaub's screen pass was tipped and intercepted by nose tackle Langston Moore, who promptly fumbled. Schaub fell on the ball, then found Kase Luzar for a 5-yard touchdown pass three plays later.

Two turnovers on one play? On this night, why not?

On South Carolina's next possession, Jenkins fumbled once, then picked up the ball and fumbled again. This time linebacker Angelo Crowell recovered at the Gamecock 20. On the next play, Schaub lateraled to Heath Miller, who threw to fellow tight end Patrick Estes for a touchdown and a 34-21 lead.

Actually, that play may not have been so absurd. After all, Miller was an all-state quarterback at Honaker High School two years ago.

"He has that ability [to throw] - he showed that tonight," Groh said of Miller. "It's a play we've been practicing for some time. ... It was a very gutsy call on [offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave's] part."

The Cavaliers (1-2) then held on for the victory because the Gamecocks (1-1) could not hold onto the ball. They fumbled seven times, losing six, and also threw an interception.

"How many turnovers did we have? Seven?" South Carolina coach Lou Holtz asked. "It seemed like more. It seemed like a lot more."

Senior safety Chris Williams picked off a pass by Jenkins at the UVa 3 midway through the fourth quarter. After Marquis Weeks fumbled the ball back to the Gamecocks, Jenkins coughed it up again at the UVa 5, essentially ending the drama.

"I don't know what to say. Everyone wants to talk about the mistakes we made, but that would be unfair to Virginia," Holtz said. "They converted on third downs and they made big plays."

The tone for the game was set early when both teams marched for touchdowns on their opening possessions. Schaub converted four straight third downs - three passing, one rushing - on a 76-yard drive that ended in his 1-yard pass to Miller.

The Gamecocks responded with a 48-yard kickoff return by Ryan Brewer and a 10-yard touchdown pass from Jenkins to Matthew Thomas.

After Andrew Pinnock's 1-yard run gave South Carolina a 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter, the Cavaliers needed just four plays to answer. Billy McMullen hauled in a 35-yard pass from Schaub to tie the score, then a ferocious tackle by Alex Seals on the ensuing kickoff popped the ball out of Brewer's arms. Jermaine Hardy scooped it up and raced 17 yards for a touchdown.

Kurt Smith's extra point was blocked by Moore, however, and Thomas returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards down the left sideline. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown allowed by the Cavaliers in 28 years, but it was the game's fourth touchdown in 1:53, and it gave the Gamecocks a 21-20 lead going into the half.

"This is a big win for us, a big momentum booster heading into our bye week," said Schaub, who finished 20 of 30 for 170 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Virginia's defense, bulldozed on the ground the first two games, gave up just 143 rushing yards and 262 total. That effort may have been obscured by the stranger events of the evening.

"There were some crazy circumstances," Groh said. "Sometimes when that happens, you just gather the guys together and say, 'Let's find a way to win.'"

In what perhaps could be the most challenging year of Groh's coaching era at his alma mater, Sept. 7 will be a red-letter day. It was the day his young Virginia football team took a giant step toward growing up with a 35-21 upset victory over South Carolina.

With 65 freshmen and sophomores on a roster of 91 players, Groh boldly allowed the majority of his team to receive their baptism by fire. For such a young bunch they have more than held their own.

Sure, they took their lumps in Tallahassee against Florida State, but who doesn't? In the other two outings against nationally ranked opponents, the Cavaliers knocked off the fumble-prone Gamecocks and took Colorado State to the wire.

After shutting out coach Lou Holtz's team in the second half Saturday night, the Cavaliers have to be pumped with confidence heading into a bye week before facing a less-formidable lineup of foes in their next three dates: Akron, Wake Forest and Duke.

"This is a big win for us. They can be proud of their effort tonight," Groh said. "That's an especially big win for the confidence of our younger players. Our aim is to win a championship. We are on our way."

Groh wasn't necessarily talking about this year ... or was he? He is building for the future, although he is a firm believer in the philosophy of the late George Allen, coach of the Washington Redskins, who was convinced that the future is now.

Certainly this was a significant victory for Virginia's rebuilding program even if the roster wasn't dotted with inexperience. Holtz's Gamecocks were coming off the best two back-to-back seasons in USC history, two impressive wins over Ohio State in bowl games and braced to become a player in this season's Southeastern Conference race.

Groh knew the challenge would entail being able to do two things that Virginia couldn't do last year: rush the football when the Cavaliers needed to, and generate a pass rush. The Hoos did both last night and avoided a big goose egg after three games.

The Cavaliers unleashed their entire running attack on the Gamecocks, picking up 143 yards on the ground and controlled the ball and the clock late in the contest, when running backs show their true mettle.

Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave mixed in a little razzle-dazzle, too, using tight end Heath Miller, a former quarterback, to throw a perfect touchdown pass to fellow tight end Patrick Estes.

A much-maligned Virginia defense played some hair-chested stretches, particularly in the second half. They forced seven turnovers out of a more experienced South Carolina offense as 26-year-old Gamecocks quarterback Corey Jenkins fumbled four times and lost three, while also throwing an interception. Overall, South Carolina lost six fumbles, tying a UVa record for gimmes.

Wisely, like a veteran team, the Cavs took advantage of those mistakes, converting three of those fumbles into touchdowns.

"Everyone wants to talk about the mistakes we made but that would be unfair to Virginia," said Holtz. "They converted on third downs and they made big plays."

With a momentum-swinging win under their belts, these Cavs can take a breather now and evaluate their first three weeks in big-time football and brace for still a long, long season, with 10 games to go.

If Saturday night was any indication, the next few months is going to be fun.