CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Jeff Babcock converted a pair of field goal chances in the final 4:09 Thursday night in Charlottesville to lead Colorado State to a 35-29 win over Virginia in the Jim Thorpe Classic.
Virginia appeared to get second-year Coach Al Groh off to a winning start when tailback Alvin Pearman broke free for a 19-yard scoring run just under five minutes into the fourth quarter. But Cecil Sapp, who carried 25 times for 178 yards, scored on a 16-yard run on the Rams' next possession.
With the game tied at 29, Babcock capped a 12-play, 46-yard drive with a 46-yard field goal, his fourth of the game. He later extended Colorado State's lead with 2:20 left with a 28-yard field goal.
Babcock, a sophomore, did not attempt a field goal last season.
Virginia's Wali Lundy finished with 20 carries for 94 yards while Pearman had nine rushes for 54 yards. The Cavaliers got inside the Colorado State five yard-line before a fumble by reserve quarterback Marques Hagans, a freshman, cost them a shot at a winning touchdown.
Colorado State quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt completed 17-of-27 passes for 229 yards.
The game marked the earliest the college football season has ever started.
