2011 Virginia Cavaliers Football: Virginia @ Indiana

After firing former coach Bill Lynch, the Indiana Hoosiers thought they could begin to win close games instead of lose them under new coach Kevin Wilson.

So much for that.

In a wild affair in Bloomington, Indiana, the Virginia Cavaliers built a huge lead, lost it, and then stomach-punched the Hoosiers in the end. Indiana made a furious second half comeback to take an eight-point lead late in the fourth quarter only to give up the game-tying touchdown and 2-point conversion with about a minute and a half to go in the game. Virginia kicked the ball deep and Cam Johnson stripped the ball from Indiana signal caller Edward Wright-Baker, giving UVa the ball at the 14. Perry Jones then ran the ball three times to bring the clock down to two seconds and Robert Randolph nailed the 23 yard field goal attempt to win the game on the last play.

Virginia dominated an ugly first half, getting three field goals from Robert Randolph and a Kevin Parks TD to take a 16-3 lead into the intermission. The Cavaliers extended the lead to 23-3 on the opening drive of the second half, but then failed to produce any points until the wild final sequence. Indiana scored four straight TDs, including one on a Lawrence Barnett 54 yard fumble return for a TD, to capture the momentum and tease the home crowd before succumbing in the final two minutes.

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Wright-Baker was 16 of 30 for 171 yards for the Hoosiers, with one touchdown and one interception. He was also the team’s leading rusher with only 48 yards on 15 carries, but two other Hoosiers had similar rushing production, with D’Angelo Roberts and freshman Matt Perez getting 48 and 47 yards, respectively. Perez added two rushing TDs.

Virginia ’s offense was led by quarterback Michael Rocco, who was 15 of 29 for 191 yards, but he contributed to Indiana’s second half comeback with two critical interceptions. The first was on the first offensive play of the game, but he was bailed out when Mitch Ewald blocked the Indiana field goal attempt on the ensuing drive. The second interception was on the possession following Indiana taking a 24-23 lead. Greg Heban intercepted the pass for the Hoosiers, and Wright-Baker drove the ball 76 yards down the field, culminating in an 18 yard TD pass to Duwyce Wilson to give the Hoosiers an eight point lead with six and a half minutes remaining. Rocco redeemed himself with a 77 yard TD drive and the two point conversion to tie the game with a minute and a half to go, and ultimately, the win.

Perry Jones ran the ball 22 times for the Cavs for 78 yards and a TD, while freshman Kevin Parks rushed 11 times for 37 yards and two TDs. Jones also led the Cavs in receptions and receiving yards, with 85 yards on five catches.

Virginia Cavaliers @ Indiana Hoosiers Football Recap