Virginia Union 12, St. Augustine's 0

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Not even Hurricane Irene could keep Virginia Union from opening its football season.

The Panthers beat St. Augustine's 12-0 on Saturday in a game that began at 2 p.m. EDT, just as Hurricane Irene was beginning to douse Virginia's capital city with driving rain and gusting winds.

The Panthers scored on a fumble recovery in the end zone when St. Augustine attempted to punt, but the ball was blown away as the punter dropped it to kick it.



Virginia Union also scored on a 5-yard run by Jerell Washington, who ran for 150 yards on 38 carries.

Virginia Union did not provide official statistics, but sports information director Jim Junot says the game also featured punts that traveled minus-1 and minus-9 yards.