Winning Touchdown Snares College Football Play Of The Week
Story Links
Nov. 24, 1999
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Wide receiver Billy McMullen’s late-game leaping catch,while fighting to stay in bounds, gave Virginia a 34-30 win over Marylandand earned the “Compaq College Football Play of the Week,” judged by apanel of sportswriters and sportscasters. The play was chosen among entriesfrom the 12th week of the college football season. The play can be seen onthe web at www.ncaafootball.net.
With 26 seconds remaining in the game, and the Cavaliers trailing 30-27,quarterback Dan Ellis found McMullen in the end zone. Ellis lofted a passin McMullen’s direction and the 6-4 freshman used a superior heightadvantage to outleap Terp defensive back Tony Okanlawon to haul the pass inand touch his left foot to the ground in the end zone before falling out ofbounds.
McMullen led the team this season in receiving yards (483) and yards perreception (17.2), and tied Kevin Coffey for the team lead with 28receptions. He also finished second to Coffey with six touchdown catches.His 28 receptions are the most in school history by a freshman, breakingHerman Moore’s record of 24 catches in 1988.
McMullen won the ACC Rookie of the Week Award three times, the most by anyrookie this season.