Virginia Runs Past Liberty

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia (8-3) had nearly 500 yards of total offense on its way to a 55-27 win over Liberty (6-5) on Saturday afternoon at Scott Stadium.
 
Seven different players scored touchdowns for the Cavaliers, who had double-digit points in each quarter of the game. QB Bryce Perkins (Queens Creek, Ariz.) threw for 199 yards with two touchdowns and rushed for a touchdown. Three players had their first career touchdowns in the game. UVA finished with four rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns.
 
The Cavaliers had 499 total yards (272 passing, 227 rushing), while Liberty finished with 392 total yards (313 passing, 79 rushing). UVA’s defense came up with two interceptions, three sacks and six tackles for loss. Virginia was 8-for-8 in the red zone.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia scored first when Perkins found WR Terrell Jana (Vancouver, B.C.) for an eight-yard touchdown early in the first quarter. UVA then took a 10-0 lead after a 26-yard field goal by Brian Delaney (Chantilly, Va.). Liberty scored back-to-back touchdowns to take a 14-10 lead with 12:25 to go in the second quarter. Virginia regained the lead after Lamont Atkins (Burke, Va.) scored from three-yards out for his first career touchdown. RB Mike Hollins (Baton Rouge, La.) added a touchdown before halftime to give UVA a 24-14 lead.
 
After the opening drive of the third quarter stalled, UVA ran a fake punt with QB Brennan Armstrong (Shelby, Ohio) finding LB Charles Snowden (Silver Spring, Md.) for a 24-yard gain that led to a touchdown. Perkins ran one in to give UVA the 38-14 lead with 4:41 remaining in the third quarter. Liberty scored a touchdown in the third. RB PK Kier (Winchester, Va.) scored his first career touchdown and Armstrong found WR Dontayvion Wicks (Plaquemine, La.) for his first career touchdown. Virginia outscored Liberty 17-6 in the fourth quarter.
 
STAT LEADERS
QB Bryce Perkins
Passing: 199 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing: 30 yards, 1 TD
 
RB PK Kier
82 yards, 1 TD
 
RB Lamont Atkins
61 yards, 1 TD
 
WR Terrell Jana
4 receptions, 56 yards, 1 TD
 
BC Heskin Smith
8 tackles, 2 PBUs
 
NOTES
• UVA recorded its eighth win of the regular season. Last UVA won eight games in the regular season was 2011.
• With the win of the season, UVA has reached eight wins for the 27th time in program history.
• Perkins won his 16th game as a UVA quarterback, trying him for No. 3 all-time in career wins at Virginia with Aaron Brooks, Marques Hagans and Jameel Sewell. Perkins is 16-8 all-time as UVA’s starting quarterback.
• WR Terrell Jana scored his first touchdown of the season (second of his career) on an eight-yard scoring strike from Bryce Perkins on UVA’s first offensive drive of the game.
• RB Seneca Milledge returned a kick return 37 yards on his first collegiate play in the second quarter. It was the first kick return to go 30+ yards yielded by Liberty this season.
• DB DeVante Cross notched his first interception of the season (second of his career) in the second quarter, returning it 52 yards. The interception of LU’s Buckshot Calvert snapped the nation’s longest active streak of pass attempts without an interception (295). Cross’ only other career interception happened last season against Calvert and Liberty.
• Cross had his second interception of the game (third of his career) in the fourth quarter, returning it 35 yards. It is the first time in his career with two interceptions in one game.
• RB Lamont Atkins scored his first collegiate touchdown on a three-yard rush in the second quarter.
• OLB Charles Snowden recorded his first career reception on a fake field goal attempt in the third quarter. It went for 24 yards and set up UVA’s first score of the second half.
• RB PK Kier’s four-yard rushing score in the fourth quarter was the first of his career.
• WR Dontayvion Wicks caught his first career touchdown pass for 44 yards in the fourth quarter.
 
UP NEXT
Virginia closes out the regular season at home when it hosts Virginia Tech on Friday, Nov. 29 at noon at Scott Stadium.