Ohio Bobcats vs Virginia Cavaliers Match Player Stats On Sep 15, 2018

Virginia's Jordan Ellis rushed for three first-half scores, and Olamide Zaccheaus set a school record with 247 receiving yards, leading the quick-strike Cavaliers to a 45-31 win against the Ohio Bobcats on Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville.

The contest was relocated from Charlottesville due to Hurricane Florence, but the Cavaliers (2-1) wasted no time making themselves at home against the Bobcats (1-1). Early on, they didn't waste time, period.

All three Virginia touchdowns in the first quarter occurred on one-play drives: an 18-yard run by Ellis after Chris Peace sacked and stripped Ohio quarterback Nathan Rourke; an 86-yard pass from Bryce Perkins to Zaccheaus; and a 75-yard dash by Ellis.

Ellis had 118 rushing yards by halftime and finished with 19 carries for a career-high 171 yards. The last Virginia player to rush for three TDs in a game was Kevin Parks against William & Mary on Sept. 3, 2011.

Zaccheaus caught nine passes, including two scores, and broke the previous mark of 241 yards by Ken Shelton against William & Mary in 1974. Perkins completed 25 of 30 passes for a career-high 379 yards and three touchdowns.

The Bobcats broke off a big play of their own in the first quarter, a 70-yard scamper by Rourke that set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Maleek Irons.

That momentarily cut the Cavs' lead to 14-7, but Ellis was off to the races on the next play from scrimmage. His 75-yard TD dash was a career-long.

UVA pushed the lead to 28-7 on its first sustained drive of the game, capping an 11-play, 68-yard march with Ellis' third touchdown rush of the day from 6 yards out.

After falling behind 35-7 on Perkins' second TD pass -- a 10-yard lob to Hasise Dubois -- Ohio showed off its own quick-strike skills by scoring 14 points in less than a minute. Rourke tossed a 29-yard touchdown to Papi White after a fumble by Perkins, and then completed a 36-yard TD strike to Isiah Cox following a successful onside kick.

Ohio pulled to within 38-28 on its first possession of the second half with another 1-yard touchdown run by Irons, the only points by either side in the third quarter.

Virginia answered midway through the fourth with another electrifying play, a 77-yard touchdown pass from Perkins to Zaccheaus to make it 45-28.

Rourke completed 16 of 31 passes for 246 yards and two scores. White, who had 154 yards in the season-opening win against Howard, caught six passes for 131 yards.

The Cavaliers improved to 13-2-1 all time against teams from the Mid-American Conference. They open the ACC schedule next Saturday at home against Louisville. The Bobcats play Saturday at Cincinnati.

--Field Level Media