CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) -- Keith Payne ran for four touchdowns and Virginia ended a four-year losing streak in season openers with a 34-13 victory against Richmond on Saturday night.
Payne, who was finished with football until Al Groh was fired and Mike London replaced him after last season, carried 16 times for 114 yards. He had consecutive carries of 15, 13 and 15 yards on the third scoring drive, each time carrying several defenders along.
Richmond, which beat Duke to start the season twice in the past five seasons, lost in the coaching debut of Latrell Scott, a former Virginia wide receivers coach. The Spiders pulled to 14-13 on Wil Kamin's second field goal in the third quarter, but Virginia answered with a nine-play, 74-yard drive. Payne gained 50 yards on five carries, including a 2-yard scoring run.
