Murfreesboro, TN (Sports Network) - Chris Gould's 34-yard field goal with eight seconds to play proved to be the game winner as the Virginia Cavaliers slipped past Middle Tennessee, 23-21, in non-conference action at Floyd Stadium.

Gould, who missed a crucial extra point early in the fourth quarter that eventually allowed Middle Tennessee (1-5) to ease ahead by a point, capped an eight-play, 63-yard drive to redeem himself and give the Cavaliers (5-1) their fifth win of the season.

Andrew Pearman had just five rushing attempts on the night for Virginia, but he scored twice on the ground, while quarterback Jameel Sewell converted 22-of-37 for 223 yards and a touchdown, along with an interception in the victory.

The Blue Raiders were paced by Dwight Dasher who hit on 17-of-33 for 181 yards and two touchdowns, adding a team-best 63 yards rushing on 17 attempts in the losing effort.

Middle Tennessee was first to get on the board with 4:36 to play in the first quarter as Taron Henry reeled in a 24-yard TD pass from Dasher to give the home team a 7-0 lead.

On the ensuing possession UVA cruised 80 yards on eight plays, needing less than three minutes for Sewell to find John Phillips with a 20-yard touchdown strike.

A seven-yard TD pass from Dasher to Bobby Williams in the second frame put the Blue Raiders back up by a touchdown at 14-7.

But once again the Cavs responded with a touchdown of their own, this time on a 21-yard scoring run by Pearman, knotting the score at 14-14 heading into the half.

Following a scoreless third period Pearman finished off a 15-play drive for the Cavaliers with a five-yard touchdown run, but it was then that Gould missed the PAT, leaving Virginia with a six-point advantage with just under 14 minutes remaining in regulation.

DeMarco McNair, who finished with 49 yards on 17 carries for the home team, took advantage of a short field after an interception by taking the ball into the end zone from a yard out to give Middle Tennessee a slim 21-20 lead before Gould's heroics in the waning moments.