NCAA Game Summary - Louisiana Tech at Virginia
(Saturday, September 29)
Final Score: Louisiana Tech 44, Virginia 38
Charlottesville, VA (Sports Network) - Ray Holley scored a pair of key
touchdowns and rushed for 69 yards as the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs held on to
defeat the Virginia Cavaliers 44-38 at Scott Stadium.
Holley, along with Kenneth Dixon who rushed for a game-high 78 yards, were
filling in for leading rusher Tevin King, who was lost for the year with a
torn ACL earlier this week. Louisiana Tech (4-0) got 218 yards and a touchdown
on 23-for-36 passing from Colby Cameron, who also added a rushing touchdown.
The Bulldogs have won four straight and 11 of their last 12 dating back to
last season.
Michael Rocco struggled for Virginia (2-3), completing 14-of-23 passes for 278
yards and three interceptions. Phillip Sims took over in the second half under
center and completed 10-of-17 passes for 166 yards and two scores. Perry Jones
did a little bit of everything with a team-high 82 rushing yards while
catching seven passes for 100 yards and also throwing for a touchdown. Darius
Jennings racked up 136 yards on six receptions. The Cavaliers have now lost
three straight games.
The first score of the game came on an interesting play call as Jones, a
running back, tossed a 36-yard touchdown pass to Tim Smith to put Virginia
ahead 7-0.
Louisiana Tech answered on its next drive with a 31-yard field goal from Matt
Nelson.
Virginia again found the end zone through the air, this time on a two-yard
pass from Rocco to Paul Freedman that put the Cavaliers ahead 14-3.
Cameron threw his first touchdown pass of the game on a three-yard strike to
R.P. Stuart near the end of the first quarter to make it a one-possession
game.
The Cavaliers didn't waste much time extending their lead as a 73-yard
touchdown strike from Rocco to Khalek Shepherd put Virginia ahead 21-10. The
score ended a drive that covered 90 yards in only five plays.
Virginia then went up by two touchdowns after a 35-yard field goal from Drew
Jarrett midway through the second quarter.
D.J. Banks then returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards to the Virginia three-
yard line. However, Louisiana Tech could not capitalize, turning the ball over
on downs after failing to convert on 4th-and-goal.
Later in the quarter, Louisiana Tech was able to cut into the Cavalier's lead
with a 16-yard rushing touchdown from Holley, which was set up by a Rocco
interception.
The Bulldogs inched even closer with a 40-yard field goal from Nelson just
seconds before the half.
Louisiana Tech took its first lead of the game early in the third quarter when
Holley scored on an 11-yard touchdown run to finish off a 14-play, 73-yard
drive.
That lead grew quickly as just 52 seconds after a 14-yard rushing touchdown
from Cameron, Chip Hester returned a Rocco interception 32 yards for a score.
After the extra point the Bulldogs led 41-24.
Nelson nailed a 45-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs
continued to pull away.
Virginia ended the Louisiana Tech scoring run with a three-yard touchdown pass
from Sims to Jake McGee with just under seven minutes remaining in the
game. Sims threw another touchdown pass, this time a 24-yard strike to Adrian
Gamble to pull the Cavaliers to within six points with just over two minutes
remaining.
It would not be enough though as the Bulldogs were able to run out the clock
on their next possession.
Virginia lost despite holding a commanding 625-385 edge in total yards.
09/29 20:29:42 ET
|