The Sports Xchange
Sep 9, 2017
Indiana, behind backup quarterback Peyton Ramsey picked up its first win of the season with a 34-17 triumph over Virginia on Saturday in Charlottesville, Va.
Ramsey replaced starter Richard Lagow in the second quarter and went 16 of 20 for 173 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown. Lagow struggled in the first quarter and was just 3 of 10 with an interception when he was replaced.
Indiana (1-1) broke the game open late in the third quarter when Ramsey found wide receiver Donovan Hale for a 32-yard touchdown to give the Hoosiers a 27-10 lead. Virginia (1-1) answered with a touchdown as quarterback Kurt Benkert found running back Joe Reed to cut the lead to 27-17. That's as close as the Cavaliers would get.
Virginia's offense sputtered all day as the Cavaliers ran 91 plays and averaged just 3.5 yards per play. Benkert threw the ball 66 times, completing 39 for 259 yards and a touchdown. Indiana managed just four more total yards of offense for the game (318 to 314).
But after Virginia opened the scoring with a 22-yard field goal by A.J. Mejia midway through the second quarter, Indiana got hot on offense. The Hoosiers tallied 17 unanswered points, anchored by Ramsey, who entered the game and threw for a 29-yard touchdown and ran for 26-yard score.
Indiana wide receiver Simmie Cobbs caught five passes for 62 yards and a touchdown.
Indiana held a 17-3 lead at halftime.
Virginia totaled just 111 first-half yards and averaged 2.8 yards per play while the Hoosiers put up 167 yards.