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Virginia Bowl Games
Jeep O’ahu Bowl
December 24, 2000–Honolulu, Hawaii
Georgia 37, Virginia 14
Representing the final game of the “George Welsh era” Virginia fell to Georgia 37-14 in the 2000 Jeep O’ahu Bowl. UVa finished the season with a 6-6 record, snapping its ACC-record streak of 13 consecutive seven-win seasons.
Welsh, the winningest coach in Virginia and ACC football history, announced his retirement at the end of the 2000 regular season. He compiled a 19-year record of 134-86-3 at UVa, including a conference-record 85 ACC wins. Welsh led the Cavaliers to 12 bowl games, including UVa’s first bowl trip ever–to the 1984 Peach Bowl.
Georgia scored on three of its first four possessions of the game to take a 17-0 first quarter lead. Splitting time at wide receiver and quarterback for the Bulldogs, Terrence Edwards was named the bowl’s Most Valuable Player after gaining 176 all-purpose yards (79 receiving, 97 rushing). He scored on a 40-yard reverse in the first quarter, after the Bulldogs kept the drive alive with a fake punt play, and later ran 57 yards to set up a touchdown in the second quarter.Making the most of its opportunities, Georgia recovered a Cavalier fumble in UVa’s end zone for a first quarter touchdown and returned another Virginia fumble four yards for a score in the fourth quarter.
Virginia cut Georgia’s lead to 17-7 early in the second quarter, scoring on a 14-yard lateral from backup quarterback Bryson Spinner to Demetrius Dotson. The Cavaliers drove 97 yards in just five plays, sparked by a 78-yard pass from Spinner to wide receiver Tavon Mason.
Trailing 24-7 at the half, the Cavaliers scored again late in the third quarter when linebacker Byron Thweatt picked up a Georgia fumble and raced 58 yards to paydirt. The Bulldogs held UVa scoreless after that, however, while tallying their final two touchdowns within a span of 16 seconds (on a pass play and the fumble recovery return) early in the fourth quarter.
Spinner, who went most of the way at quarterback after starter Dan Ellis injured his ankle during Virginia’s opening series, completed 14 of 22 passes for 153 yards with two interceptions. Matt Schaub replaced Spinner late in the fourth quarter, completing six of 10 passes for 47 yards with no interceptions.
Tailback Antwoine Womack was UVa’s leading rusher with 48 yards on 15 carries as Virginia was held to 144 total yards on the ground. Tight end Billy Baber led the Cavaliers with four receptions for 38 yards.
Defensive back Jerton Evans had a team-high nine tackles for UVa, including three for lost yardage, and broke up a pass. Defensive end Darryl Sanders had an interception in the second quarter.
SCORING SUMMARY___________________________________
Georgia 17 7 0 13–37Virginia 0 7 7 0–14___________________________________
First QuarterUGa– Billy Bennett, 35 FG, 4:30UGa– Terrence Edwards, 40 run (Bennett kick), 1:12UGa– Kentrell Curry, fumble recovery in end zone (Bennett kick), :51Second QuarterUVa– Demetrius Dotson, 14 run (David Greene kick), 14:15UGa– Verron Haynes, 3 run (Bennett kick), 13:08Third QuarterUVa– Byron Thweatt, 58 fumble recovery (Greene kick), 4:46Fourth QuarterUGa– Damien Gary, 21 pass from Cory Phillips (Bennett kick), 13:13UGa– Cap Burnett, 4 fumble recovery (kick failed), 12:57
Attendance-24,187