Recap: Virginia vs. Louisiana Tech

Charlottesville, VA (Sports Network) - Ray Holley scored a pair of key touchdowns and rushed for 69 yards as the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs held on to defeat the Virginia Cavaliers 44-38 at Scott Stadium.

Holley, along with Kenneth Dixon who rushed for a game-high 78 yards, were filling in for leading rusher Tevin King, who was lost for the year with a torn ACL earlier this week. Louisiana Tech (4-0) got 218 yards and a touchdown on 23-for-36 passing from Colby Cameron, who also added a rushing touchdown. The Bulldogs have won four straight and 11 of their last 12 dating back to last season.

Michael Rocco struggled for Virginia (2-3), completing 14-of-23 passes for 278 yards and three interceptions. Phillip Sims took over in the second half under center and completed 10-of-17 passes for 166 yards and two scores. Perry Jones did a little bit of everything with a team-high 82 rushing yards while catching seven passes for 100 yards and also throwing for a touchdown. Darius Jennings racked up 136 yards on six receptions. The Cavaliers have now lost three straight games.

The first score of the game came on an interesting play call as Jones, a running back, tossed a 36-yard touchdown pass to Tim Smith to put Virginia ahead 7-0.

Louisiana Tech answered on its next drive with a 31-yard field goal from Matt Nelson.

Virginia again found the end zone through the air, this time on a two-yard pass from Rocco to Paul Freedman that put the Cavaliers ahead 14-3.

Cameron threw his first touchdown pass of the game on a three-yard strike to R.P. Stuart near the end of the first quarter to make it a one-possession game.

The Cavaliers didn't waste much time extending their lead as a 73-yard touchdown strike from Rocco to Khalek Shepherd put Virginia ahead 21-10. The score ended a drive that covered 90 yards in only five plays.

Virginia then went up by two touchdowns after a 35-yard field goal from Drew Jarrett midway through the second quarter.

D.J. Banks then returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards to the Virginia three- yard line. However, Louisiana Tech could not capitalize, turning the ball over on downs after failing to convert on 4th-and-goal.

Later in the quarter, Louisiana Tech was able to cut into the Cavalier's lead with a 16-yard rushing touchdown from Holley, which was set up by a Rocco interception.

The Bulldogs inched even closer with a 40-yard field goal from Nelson just seconds before the half.

Louisiana Tech took its first lead of the game early in the third quarter when Holley scored on an 11-yard touchdown run to finish off a 14-play, 73-yard drive.

That lead grew quickly as just 52 seconds after a 14-yard rushing touchdown from Cameron, Chip Hester returned a Rocco interception 32 yards for a score. After the extra point the Bulldogs led 41-24.

Nelson nailed a 45-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs continued to pull away.

Virginia ended the Louisiana Tech scoring run with a three-yard touchdown pass from Sims to Jake McGee with just under seven minutes remaining in the game. Sims threw another touchdown pass, this time a 24-yard strike to Adrian Gamble to pull the Cavaliers to within six points with just over two minutes remaining.

It would not be enough though as the Bulldogs were able to run out the clock on their next possession.

Virginia lost despite holding a commanding 625-385 edge in total yards.