Anthony Colandrea guided fast-starting Virginia to a 34-13 victory against FCS opponent Richmond in the weather-interrupted season opener for both teams Saturday night in Charlottesville, Va.

Colandrea completed 17 of 23 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions and rushed for 49 yards and one TD. Kobe Pace gained 144 yards from scrimmage (93 rushing, 51 receiving) with a touchdown, and Malachi Fields added five catches for 100 yards for the Cavaliers.

The Spiders, No. 12 in the FCS preseason coaches poll, fell behind 20-0 and never recovered. Kyle Wickersham finished with 110 yards on 13-of-22 passing. He rushed for 37 yards and the team’s only touchdown.

It was all Virginia in the first quarter as the Cavaliers outgained the Spiders 259-49 and built a 17-0 lead.

Colandrea ran for 35 yards on Virginia’s first play and tossed a 35-yard TD to Trell Harris on the third snap.

After a Richmond fumble, Will Bettridge’s 21-yard field goal put Virginia up 10-0.

It was 17-0 when Colandrea connected with Jack Griese, who streaked 57 yards down the sideline.

In the second quarter, Colandrea’s 52-yard screen pass to Pace set up Bettridge’s 33-yarder for a 20-0 lead.

Richmond got on the board at 20-7 with 4:48 left in the half when Wickersham’s 5-yard run capped a 13-play drive.

Play was halted after that score due to severe weather. After heavy rains and a delay of two hours and 15 minutes, Pace’s 3-yard touchdown run sent Virginia into halftime with a 27-7 lead.

The Cavaliers began the second half with a 12-play, 75-yard drive, moving to 34-7 on Colandrea’s 7-yard run.

The Spiders tacked on two field goals by Brandon Peskin, a 35-yarder on the final play of the third quarter and a 33-yarder with 4:46 to play.

Virginia improved to 31-3-2 against Richmond in a series that began in 1893.

–Field Level Media