CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Michael Rocco threw for 311 yards and a touchdown and Virginia beat Richmond 43-19 in the season opener for both teams Saturday.
The game marked the start of Danny Rocco's career as the Spiders' coach, but his nephew and the Cavaliers had their way pretty much all afternoon.
Rocco finished 25 for 37 with a touchdown on a short pass that Darius Jennings took 51 yards for a score. Kevin Parks ran for two touchdowns and Perry Jones ran for another for Virginia.
The Cavaliers took a 16-0 lead in the first 6:27, had to settle for two field goals in the second quarter and put the game away with touchdown runs by Parks in the third quarter and Jones early in the fourth.
Heralded Alabama transfer Phillip Sims, who replaced Rocco with the score 36-12 in the fourth quarter, was 5 for 6 on Virginia's final scoring drive.