September 4, 2010

It was a game that Mike London has been waiting for since December. Virginia took the field to face off against Richmond, the school London had left and won a national championship with at the FCS level.

London's offense dictated the game from the start. Keith Payne scored the Cavaliers first touchdown less than three minutes into regulation with a two yard run to put Virginia on the board 7-0.

Richmond was quick to respond. Spiders running back Kendall Gaskins broke off a 70 yard run later in the first quarter to even the game up at seven.

Marc Verica put the Cavaliers in front 14-0 after a two-yard strike to Kris Burd. Richmond responded once more, but this time only with a Wil Kamin field goal to pull the Spiders to 14-10 at the break.

In the second half, Kamin hit a 41-yard field goal to pull Richmond to within one at 14-13, however the flood gates would open for the Cavalier offense from there.

Keith Payne added three more touchdown runs and finished with 114 yards and four total scores as the Cavaliers cruised to a 34-13 victory.

Marc Verica managed the game well on offense for the Cavs going 24-35 for 283 yards and one touchdown. In all, Virginia posted 488 yards of total offense in the victory.

As for London, he becomes the first Virginia head coach to win his Cavalier debut since 1961. Virginia also snaps its four game season-opening losing streak. The Cavs had not tasted victory in their first game since 2005.

The Cavaliers head out west to face Southern California in week two action next Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET