Virginia Falls Short at Indiana

BLOOMINGTON, IND. – Virginia (1-1) drove down the field in the final two minutes and had a chance to score but Indiana (2-0) held on for the 20-16 win at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind.

The Cavaliers were down 20-9 before a 71-yard drive over four minutes concluded with a 20-yard pass from junior Bryce Perkins (Queen Creek, Ariz.) to junior Chris Sharp (Burlington, N.J.) for a touchdown. The Cavaliers had the ball with 3:23 on the clock and drove down to the Indiana 31. A pass interference call gave UVA an untimed last chance, but the Cavaliers were unable to score.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia was on the board first on a touchdown pass from Perkins to Olamide Zaccheaus (Plainfield, N.J.). Indiana scored to tie the game, then took a 13-7 lead. The Cavaliers blocked the extra point and Juan Thornhill (AltaVista, VA.) ran the ball back for two points to make it 13-9. Indiana Scored to lead 20-9.

STAT LEADERS
• QB Bryce Perkins
Passing: 12-24, 106 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing: 123 yards

• WR Hasise Dubois
4 receptions, 49 yards

• FS Joey Blount
13 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1 PBU

NOTES
• UVA blocked two kicks in a game for the first time since the 2008 Richmond game when Matt Conrath and Nick Jenkins each blocked field goals.
• Perkins finished with 123 rushing yards, becoming the first Cavalier quarterback to rush for 100+ yards multiple times in the same season since Bill Dudley in 1941.
• Juan Thornhill’s blocked PAT in the first quarter was the first blocked PAT by a Cavalier since Brent Urban blocked one against Oregon in 2013. He returned it for a defensive extra point, the first defensive extra point by a Cavalier since Joe Crocker against NC State in 2014.
• Charles Snowden’s blocked field goal (41-yard attempt) in the third quarter was the first by a Cavalier since Daquan Romero in 2014 against Miami.
• Chris Sharp’s 20-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter was the first receiving touchdown of his career.

FROM THE LOCKER ROOM – MENDENHALL
“Hard fought game, I thought we played hard and more aggressively. We were more assertive in the second half than the first. Game came down to a few plays with a chance to win right at the very end. I think Bryce (Perkins) showed a lot of courage and fortitude and gamesmanship. He gave us a great chance. Our execution was just not consistent enough. I think a tentative first half, a few key penalties mixed in. It was a hard-fought game, just fell short.”

UP NEXT
Virginia returns home to host its first of two straight games on Saturday, Sept. 15 when it takes on Ohio at 3 p.m. in Scott Stadium. The Hoos then host Louisville on Saturday, Sept. 22.