UVa Football: Bowl Recaps
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Bowl Game Recaps
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Peach Bowl Using a potent rushing attack and an stifling second-half defense, Virginia stormed back from a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Purdue 27-24 in the 1984 Peach Bowl. Playing in their first bowl ever, the Cavaliers completed the season at 8-2-2. Virginia was ranked 17th by The Associated Press and 20th by United Press International in the final polls. The first half was all Purdue as quarterback Jim Everett threw for three touchdown passes to give the Big Ten opponent a 24-14 lead. UVa’s two touchdowns came on an 11-yard run by tailback Howard Petty and a three-yard pass from quarterback Don Majkowski to tight end Geno Zimmerlink. The Boilermakers contained Virginia’s running game, holding running backs Petty and Barry Word to a combined 68 yards rushing in the first half. In the second half Virginia managed to establish its running game and create a pass rush to disrupt Everett with a variety of blitzes. It worked and Purdue did not score in the final two quarters. On a crucial fourth quarter drive-with Purdue driving for a possible go-ahead touchdown-Ray Daly, the game’s defensive MVP, preserved the Cavalier lead by intercepting an errant Everett pass. Virginia’s rushing attack was sparked by the blocking of linemen Jim Dombrowski and Bob Olderman, as the Cavalier backfield of Majkowski, Petty, and Word kept the Purdue defense off balance with a combination of sweeps, dives, and options. Churning out nearly 200 yards rushing in the second half, the Cavalier offense was virtually unstoppable, moving the ball consistently up the field. By the end of the game, Petty-the game’s offensive MVP-had gained 114 yards on 21 carries while Word added 86 yards on 17 carries. After a one-yard touchdown run by Majkowski and a 19-yard field goal by UVa kicker Kenny Stadlin, the Cavaliers and the Boilermakers were deadlocked at 24 midway through the fourth quarter. UVa then drove down to the Purdue one-yard line before Stadlin converted a 22-yard field goal with 7:17 remaining in the game to provide the winning margin. SCORING SUMMARY Scoring Summary Attendance-41,107 Purdue UVa INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Passing-Purdue, Jim Everett 22-42-3-253. Virginia, Don Majkowski 8-17-2-118. Receiving-Purdue, Rodney Carter 5-28, Steve Griffin 4-69, Marty Scott 4-50, Bruce King 4-47, Jeff Rice 3-42, Ray Wallace 2-17. Virginia, Geno Zimmerlink 3-35, Nick Merrick 2-32, John Ford 1-30, Jon Muha 1-15, Steve Morse 1-6. All American Bowl In what was billed as a high scoring, offensive shootout between Virginia quarterback Scott Secules-the ACC’s top-rated passer-and BYU’s Sean Covey, the Cavaliers relied instead on a conservative run-oriented attack and several big defensive stands to defeat pass-happy BYU, 22-16, in the 1987 All American Bowl at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. Virginia captured its second bowl victory in as many tries to finish the 1987 season with an 8-4 overall record. Hoping to keep Covey and a host of talented BYU receivers on the sidelines as long as possible, Virginia successfully controlled the tempo of the game, mixing hard-nosed rushing by running backs Kevin Morgan (82 yards), Marcus Wilson (77 yards) and Durwin Greggs (33 yards) with timely passing by Secules (10 completions for 162 yards and one TD)-the game’s MVP. Trailing 3-0 after BYU’s initial drive in the first quarter, Virginia answered on its next possession with a two-yard TD run by Secules. The Cavaliers added another touchdown-this time on a 25-yard run by Morgan-to go up 14-3 at the half. BYU opened the scoring in the third quarter with an eight-yard run by Fred Whittingham, but the Cougars’ two-point conversion attempt failed. Virginia then widened its lead in the fourth quarter with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Secules to wide receiver John Ford. Secules’ PAT fake allowed Marcus Wilson to get open in the end zone for a two-point conversion reception, giving the Cavaliers a 22-9 lead. BYU’s second touchdown-a one-yard pass from Covey to Whittingham-closed the gap to 22-16 before the UVa defense rose to the occasion to preserve the victory. In one of the game’s biggest plays, Virginia held on downs with 3:50 left as defensive end Sean Scott tackled Covey just short of a first down on BYU’s own 46-yard line. Earlier in the game-in the Cougars’ first possession of the third quarter-Virginia halted BYU on fourth-and-goal at the Cavalier two-yard line. “Without those plays, we don’t win,” said head coach George Welsh afterwards. SCORING SUMMARY Scoring Summary Attendance-37,000 BYU UVa INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Passing-BYU,Sean Covey 37-61-1-394. Virginia, Scott Secules 10-19-2-162. Receiving-BYU, David Miles 10-188, Matt Bellini 9-59, Fred Whittingham 7-43, Travis McBeth 4-48, Darren Handley 3-35, Chuck Cutler 3-19, Richard Zayas 1-2. Virginia, John Ford 4-54, Keith Mattioli 2-43, Bruce McGonnigal 2-36, Tim Finkelston 1-21, Joel Dempsey 1-8. Florida Citrus Bowl Virginia capped a season of giddy firsts with a New Year’s Day showdown against Big Ten runner-up llinois in the 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla. Making their first-ever New Year’s Day bowl appearance, the Cavaliers suffered only their third loss of the season with a 31-21 defeat. The setback did little, however, to detract from a success-filled campaign that included the school’s first 10-win season as well as a share of Virginia’s first-ever Atlantic Coast Conference Championship. Although the Illini had the advantage in total offense (497 yards to 322) and time of possession (34:30 to 25:30 ), the game remained close most of the way, as the two teams combined for seven turnovers and failed to capitalize on a number of scoring opportunities. In the end, it was Illinois-behind a solid running game and the passing of quarterback Jeff George-that prevailed. The NFL’s number-one draft pick in 1990 by the Indianapolis Colts, George was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after completing 26 of 38 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns. He was intercepted once. Virginia’s attack was centered around quarterback Shawn Moore, who accounted for 225 yards in total offense for the Cavaliers. He completed 17 of 27 passes for 191 yards while throwing two touchdowns and two interceptions. Moore also rushed 15 times for 34 yards and was named the team’s offensive MVP. After a first-quarter score by Illinois, Virginia tied the game 7-7 in the second quarter with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Moore to wide receiver Tim Finkelston. Illinois then took the lead for good after scoring on a key fourth-and-goal situation. George faked a handoff to fullback Howard Griffith-who dove into the end zone-and then hit wide-open tight end Dan Donovan for the go-ahead touchdown. Illinois added a 34-yard field goal with no time remaining on the clock to lead 17-7 at intermission. Illinois led 24-7 in the third quarter before Virginia answered with a two-yard touchdown run by tailback Marcus Wilson. Following another Illinois touchdown in the fourth quarter, Virginia closed out the scoring with a four-yard touchdown pass from Shawn Moore to Herman Moore. Freshman defensive end Chris Slade was UVa’s defensive MVP. He recorded a game-high 11 tackles, including a 19-yard sack of George. SCORING SUMMARY First Quarter Attendance-60,016 Illinois UVa INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Passing-Illinois, Jeff George 26-38-1-321. Virginia, Shawn Moore 17-27-2-191, Matt Blundin 2-3-0-21. Receiving-Illinois, Mike Bellamy 8-166, Howard Griffith 6-43, Steven Williams 4-45, Dan Donovan 2-18, Kameno Bell 2-12, Jeff Finke 1-23, Frank Hartley 1-9, Shawn Wax 1-8, Steve Feagin 1-(-3). Virginia, Herman Moore 5-56, Tim Finkelston 3-69, Terry Kirby 2-21, Bruce McGonnigal 2-17, Marcus Wilson 2-14, Mark Cooke 1-14, Derek Dooley 1-10, Gary Steele 1-7, Durwin Greggs 1-6, Trevor Ryals 1-(-2). USF&G Sugar Bowl For 59 minutes and 29 seconds, Virginia didn’t trail Tennessee in the 1991 USF&G Sugar Bowl. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, the game lasts 60 minutes. After leading the entire contest-including a 16-0 halftime cushion-Virginia allowed 20 points in the final quarter, to fall to Tennessee 23-22 in the 1991 Sugar Bowl. The Volunteers scored the winning touchdown with 31 seconds left in the game. The Cavaliers closed their season 8-4 after a 7-0 start and a number-one national ranking for three consecutive weeks. Everything seemed to go right for UVa in the first half. Virginia had possession of the ball for nearly 22 minutes. The defense held a strong UT offense to just 125 total yards, eight first downs and no points. Virginia’s Nikki Fisher and Terry Kirby combined for over 100 rushing yards and quarterback Shawn Moore completed nine of 14 passes. The second half was a different story. Tennessee erupted for 339 total yards in the half and scored touchdowns on all three possessions in the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers rushed for 139 second-half yards but did not complete a pass the entire half. Moore, suffering from a late-season thumb injury, did not complete a pass in eight attempts in the second half. The lack of an effective passing game also took away from Virginia’s other explosive offensive weapon-All-America wide receiver Herman Moore. He caught two passes for 13 yards in the first quarter. Possibly the turning point of the game came late in the third quarter. UVa led 16-3 and had the ball first-and-10 on the Tennessee 17-yard line. Three plays later, Shawn Moore was intercepted at the Vols’ six-yard line with 35 seconds left in the quarter. Tennessee marched 94 yards for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 16-10. Virginia responded with a field goal to move ahead 19-10. The Vols came right back with an 80-yard scoring drive but UVa again responded with another field goal to make it 22-17 with 2:31 left in the game. Tennessee then marched 79 yards in two minutes to go ahead 23-22. Virginia took over on its 38-yard line with 31 seconds left and Matt Blundin was inserted at quarterback. He threw an incomplete pass, was sacked and was intercepted to end the game and Virginia’s season. SCORING SUMMARY First Quarter Attendance-75,132 UVa Tennessee INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Passing-Virginia, Shawn Moore 9-22-2-62, Matt Blundin 0-2-1-0. Tennessee, Andy Kelly 24-35-2-273. Receiving-Virginia, Terry Kirby 4-27, Herman Moore 2-13, Mark Cooke 1-11, Aaron Mundy 1-8, Gary Steele 1-3. Tennessee, Vince Moore 7-97, Carl Pickens 6-87, Alvin Harper 4-34, Greg Amsler 4-33, Anthony Morgan 1-10, Mark Adams 1-6, Von Reeves 1-6. Gator Bowl Departing from its traditionally conservative run-oriented game plan in favor of a more wide-open offensive attack, Big Eight Conference power Oklahoma rolled to a decisive 48-14 victory over Virginia in the 1991 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. For UVa, the loss snapped an eight-game unbeaten streak and was a disappointing ending to an otherwise outstanding season. Making its third consecutive bowl appearance and fourth in five years, the Cavaliers finished the 1991 season with an 8-3-1 record. After punting to end its first possession of the game, Oklahoma opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cale Gundy to tight end Joey Mickey. The Sooners then scored touchdowns on each of their next four possessions to run up a 34-0 second-quarter lead. Virginia managed to get on the scoreboard with 2:24 remaining in the first half when quarterback Matt Blundin completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tyrone Davis. The Cavaliers had an opportunity to score again seconds later when UVa defensive end Mike Frederick recovered an Oklahoma fumble on the Sooners’ own 22-yard line, but the OU defense held the Cavaliers on downs. Oklahoma engineered two more touchdown drives in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. Virginia closed the scoring with a 23-yard fourth-quarter TD pass from Blundin to wide receiver Terrence Tomlin. The Sooners’ offensive strategy was executed to near-perfection by Gundy, who completed 25 of 31 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Tailback Mike Gaddis led Oklahoma’s rushing attack with 20 carries for 104 yards and three TDs. Oklahoma controlled possession for nearly 38 minutes, piled up 618 yards in total offense and picked up 36 first downs. Virginia was held to a season-low 243 yards in total offense and managed just 13 first downs. Blundin-the 1991 ACC Player of the Year-completed 12 of 26 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. SCORING SUMMARY First Quarter Attendance-62,003 OU UVa INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Passing-Oklahoma, Cale Gundy 25-31-0-329, Steve Collins 2-5-0-28. Virginia, Matt Blundin 12-26-1-142, Terry Kirby 0-1-0-0, Bobby Goodman 0-2-0-0. Receiving-Oklahoma, Corey Warren 5-110, Joey Mickey 5-55, Albert Hall 5-44, Rickey Brady 3-47, Ted Long 3-36, Kenyon Rasheed 3-25, Tink Collins 1-17, Mike Gaddis 1-12, Pete Schmitt 1-11. Virginia, Aaron Mundy 3-44, Larry Holmes 3-31, Tyrone Davis 2-26, Terrence Tomlin 1-23, Dave Sweeney 1-8, Brian Satola 1-6, Terry Kirby 1-4. Carquest Bowl Virginia fell to Boston College 31-13 in the 1994 Carquest Bowl, as a disappointing second-half performance enabled the Eagles to pull away after leading by four points at halftime. UVa, making its third New Year’s Day bowl appearance in five years, finished the season with a 7-5 record. Boston College quarterback Glenn Foley-named the game’s Most Valuable Player-overcame a shaky first-half start, finishing with 391 yards and three passing touchdowns to spark the Eagles’ victory. The lead changed hands several times in the first 30 minutes before Boston College gained a 17-13 halftime advantage. Despite committing two first-half turnovers, BC also held the edge in total offensive yards (309 to 238), time of possession (16:01 to 13:59) and first downs (17 to 12). Virginia missed two field goals (37 and 29 yards) and an extra-point attempt. UVa grabbed the early momentum on the third play of the game when linebacker Jamie Sharper tipped a Foley pass into the hands of Randy Neal. Neal returned the interception 19 yards to the BC 19-yard line. Tailback Jerrod Washington ran 11 yards for a touchdown two plays later, giving Virginia a 7-0 lead just over a minute into the game. Trailing 10-7 midway through the second quarter, Virginia drove 91 yards in 12 plays to briefly retake the lead on a seven-yard touchdown run by fullback Charles Way. The extra-point attempt failed as UVa was held scoreless the rest of the game. Boston College took the ensuing kickoff and drove 80 yards in nine plays for a touchdown to complete the first-half scoring. The Eagles reached the end zone on a five-yard pass from Foley to split end Clarence Cannon. Foley and Cannon also teamed up for a 78-yard touchdown pass play earlier in the second quarter. UVa’s best scoring opportunity of the second half came after Boston College failed on fourth-and-one from its own 49-yard line fewer than four minutes into the third quarter. The Cavaliers failed to capitalize, unable to pick up a first down on fourth-and-three from the BC 30-yard line. The game seemed to quickly unravel for Virginia from that point on as Boston College took over on downs and scored five plays later on Foley’s third touchdown pass of the game. The Eagles added a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to provide the final margin of victory. UVa managed just 60 yards of total offense and four first downs in the second half. SCORING SUMMARY First Quarter Attendance-38,516 UVa BC INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Passing-Virginia, Symmion Willis 19-34-0-207, Mike Groh 2-2-0-6. Boston College, Glenn Foley 25-36-2-391. Receiving-Virginia, Larry Holmes 8-93, Aaron Mundy 6-60, Tyrone Davis 2-43, Kevin Brooks 2-14, Patrick Jeffers 1-7, Charles Way 1-1, Jerrod Washington 1-(-5). Boston College, Pete Mitchell 7-82, Darnell Campbell 6-52, Greg Grice 4-38, Clarence Cannon 3-109, Keith Miller 2-59, Brent Gibbons 2-38, Tony Ransome 1-13. Independence Bowl Not even a cold, driving rain that drenched both teams and transformed a grass football field into a virtual mud bath by halftime could dampen Cavalier spirits following Virginia’s convincing 20-10 win over Texas Christian at the Poulan/Weed Eater Independence Bowl. With the victory, Virginia finished the 1994 campaign with a 9-3 record and ended a four-game bowl losing streak. The victory also helped Virginia gain its highest final season rankings (15th) since the AP began conducting its final poll after the outcome of bowl games in 1965. In addition, the 1994 Cavaliers distinguished themselves by becoming only the third team in UVa history to win nine or more games. Virginia relied on a dominating defense and a balanced offensive attack to overwhelm the Horned Frogs. The Cavaliers outgained TCU 436 to 191 in total offensive yards and controlled the ball for over 32 minutes. Leading the Cavaliers’ aerial assault was quarterback Mike Groh-named Offensive Player of the Game-who completed 14 of 23 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. Tailback Kevin Brooks led all rushers with 114 yards on 17 carries while fullback Charles Way rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Virginia limited TCU’s high-powered offense to just 65 yards passing and 126 yards rushing. Defensive end Mike Frederick was named Defensive Player of the Game after finishing with four tackles. The Cavaliers scored twice in the second quarter to take a 10-3 halftime lead. Rafael Garcia opened the game’s scoring with a 20-yard field goal with 10:20 remaining in the first half. Virginia later scored on a six-yard touchdown run by Way. UVa’s touchdown drive was set up by a 52-yard run by Brooks. It was the longest non-scoring run in the bowl’s history. UVa opened up a commanding 20-3 lead in the third quarter on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Groh to wide receiver Tyrone Davis and a 32-yard field goal by Garcia. Following a one-yard touchdown pass play by Texas Christian early in the fourth quarter, Virginia held TCU scoreless the rest of the way to seal the win. SCORING SUMMARY Scoring Summary Attendance-27,242 UVa TCU INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Passing-Virginia, Mike Groh 14-23-2-199. Texas Christian, Max Knake 8-24-1-65. Receiving-Virginia, Patrick Jeffers 3-60, Bobby Neely 3-55, Tiki Barber 3-2, Demetrius Allen 2-32, Tyrone Davis 1-37, Derick Byrd 1-9, Kevin Brooks 1-4. Texas Christian, Brian Collins 2-14, Chris Brasfield 2-11, Andre Davis 2-7, Jimmy Oliver 1-22, John Washington 1-11. Peach Bowl Over 20,000 deliriously happy Virginia fans rocked Atlanta’s Georgia Dome as Demetrius “Pete” Allen returned a kickoff 83 yards for the game-winning touchdown with 57 seconds remaining in UVa’s 34-27 victory over Georgia in the 1995 Peach Bowl. Virginia finished the season with a 9-4 record, clinching its second consecutive nine-win season. The Cavaliers were ranked 16th in the final AP poll and 17th in the final USA Today/CNN coaches’ poll. The victory was a fitting finale to one of the most suspenseful seasons in UVa football history. Virginia played seven games during the 1995 regular season that were decided in the final moments, including three which were decided on the last play. Only seconds before Allen’s spectacular return, Georgia defensive tackle Jason Ferguson picked up a Cavalier fumble behind the line of scrimmage and ran 10 yards for the game-tying score. Georgia was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct following the touchdown, forcing the Bulldogs to kick off from their own 20-yard line. Although UVa never trailed in the game, the Bulldogs outgained the Cavaliers 525 yards to 256 yards in total offense. UVa managed to capitalize on big plays from its defense and special teams, however, to take a commanding 14-0 first quarter lead. Linebacker Skeet Jones-named the Defensive Player of the Game-set up UVa’s first scoring drive by intercepting a pass and returning it 28 yards to the Bulldog seven-yard line. Barber scored three plays later on a one-yard run. Virginia began its second scoring drive from the Georgia 14-yard line after James Farrior blocked a punt which was recovered by Josh Nowocin. Kevin Brooks rushed five yards for a score three plays later. Virginia led 24-14 at halftime following a Georgia touchdown with 19 seconds remaining in the second quarter. In addition to his late-game heroics, Allen caught an 82-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mike Groh to give Virginia its biggest lead, 24-6, late in the second quarter. Allen led the Cavaliers in receiving with five catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. Groh completed 10 of 20 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown. SCORING SUMMARY First Quarter Attendance-70,284 UGa UVa INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Passing-Georgia, Hines Ward 31-59-2-413. Virginia, Mike Groh 10-20-1-156. Receiving-Georgia, Larry Bowie 10-156, Brice Hunter 7-67, Corey Allen 4-48, Juan Daniels 3-32, Matt Dickson 2-71, Chris McCranie 2-24, Kelton Dutch 1-6, Selma Calloway 1-5, Marisa Simpson 1-4. Virginia, Demetrius Allen 5-111, Patrick Jeffers 4-47, Walt Derey, 1-(-2). Carquest Bowl Miami defensive back Tremain Mack stole the show in the Hurricanes’ 31-21 victory over Virginia in the 1996 Carquest Bowl. Named the game’s MVP, Mack returned a first-quarter Cavalier fumble 79 yards for a touchdown and scored again in the second quarter on a 42-yard interception return. He also blocked a Virginia field goal attempt in the third quarter. Making its eighth bowl appearance in the last 10 years, Virginia finished the 1996 season with a 7-5 overall record. The Hurricanes set the tone early, capping their first possession of the game with a 70-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Clement to wide receiver Yatil Green. Miami bolted to a 14-0 lead on Mack’s recovered fumble return before the Cavaliers answered with a 29-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Brooks to wide receiver Germane Crowell. Miami led 24-7 at halftime, following a second-quarter field goal and Mack’s second touchdown of the game. Early in the third quarter UVa safety Anthony Poindexter blocked a punt and Virginia recovered the ball on the Miami one-yard line. The Cavaliers scored one play later on a quarterback sneak by Brooks. Virginia was in good position to score again midway through the third quarter after driving deep into Miami to the six-yard line, but the Cavaliers’ 29-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Mack. UVa got the ball back two plays later after cornerback Ronde Barber intercepted his second pass of the day and returned it to the 50-yard line. Virginia then marched to the Miami 27-yard line only to have another field goal attempt-this time from 44 yards out-blocked. The Hurricanes went on to score to take a 31-14 lead with 10:14 remaining in the game. Following the ensuing kickoff, Virginia put together a six-play, 51-yard scoring drive that culminated in a three-yard touchdown run by tailback Thomas Jones with 7:57 left to play. Poindexter led the Cavalier defense with 11 tackles, including six solo stops. He also recovered a fumble in addition to blocking a punt. SCORING SUMMARY First Quarter Attendance-46,418 UVa Miami INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Passing-Virginia, Aaron Brooks 12-23-0-142, Tim Sherman 3-10-1-27. Miami, Ryan Clement 16-26-2-274. Receiving-Virginia, Germane Crowell 6-98, Bryan Owen 4-27, Casey Crawford 1-13, Demetrius Dotson 1-12, Tiki Barber 1-9, Thomas Jones 1-7, Darrell Medley 1-3. Miami, Tony Gaiter 3-101, Trent Jones 3-13, Yatil Green 2-77, Magic Benton 2-33, Gerard Daphnis 2-17, Chris Jones 1-21, Carlo Joseph 1-11, Mondriel Fulcher 1-11, Dyral McMillan 1-(-10). Chick-fil-A For the second time in four years, Virginia and Georgia clashed in the Peach Bowl in front of a sellout Georgia Dome crowd. The ending to the sequel was not nearly as satisfying for Cavalier fans, however, as 19th-ranked Georgia overcame a 21-0 first-half deficit and withstood a late Virginia rally to defeat 13th-ranked UVa 35-33. UVa trailed 35-27 in the fourth quarter before quarterback Aaron Brooks scored on a 30-yard run with 1:34 left in the game. Virginia’s two-point conversion attempt failed, but the Cavaliers regained possession when defensive back Devon Simmons recovered the ensuing onside kick at UVa’s own 47-yard line. Virginia then drove to the Georgia 31, setting up a potential game-winning 48-yard field goal attempt by Todd Braverman with 19 seconds remaining, but his kick drifted wide right. Georgia quarterback Quincy Carter threw three second-quarter interceptions, all of which led to Virginia touchdowns. Running back Anthony Southern rushed two yards for UVa’s first score with 10:30 left in the first half following a 26-yard interception return by linebacker Wali Rainer. On Georgia’s next possession, Carter was intercepted by defensive back Adrian Burnim at the Cavaliers’ 31. Virginia scored six plays later on a 43-yard pass from Brooks to wide receiver Terrence Wilkins. A 22-yard interception return by defensive back Tim Spruill set up UVa’s third touchdown, a 24-yard scoring strike from Brooks to tailback Thomas Jones. The Bulldogs capitalized on a blocked punt just before the half, taking over on downs at the UVa 49-yard line and scoring six plays later on an 11-yard pass. Georgia added two more touchdowns in the third quarter to tie the score at 21 before Virginia answered with a 67-yard touchdown pass play from Brooks to Wilkins, who broke free from several defenders on his way to the end zone. UVa missed the extra-point and led 27-21 late in the third quarter. Georgia regained the lead 28-27 early in the fourth quarter on a two-yard scoring run by running back Olandis Gary and later added a one-yard touchdown run by Carter with 7:01 left to play. Brooks completed 12 of 32 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. He also rushed 14 times for 88 yards and one touchdown. Jones led the Cavaliers with 96 yards rushing on 23 carries. SCORING SUMMARY Scoring Summary Attendance-72,876 UGa UVa INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Passing-Georgia, Quincy Carter 18-33-3-222. Virginia, Aaron Brooks 12-32-1-226, Dan Ellis 0-2-0-0, Donnie Scott 1-1-0-10. Receiving-Georgia, Tony Small 5-28, Champ Bailey 3-73, Larry Brown 3-26, Michael Greer 2-60, Thad Parker 2-24, Jermaine Wiggins 1-12, Olandis Gary 1-(-1). Virginia, Terrence Wilkins 6-161, Thomas Jones 4-46, Ahmad Hawkins 1-19, Wale Elegbe 1-10, Anthony Southern 1-0. Micronpc.com Bowl Sparked by the versatile play of quarterback Kurt Kittner, Illinois handed Virginia its worst postseason loss in school history, defeating the Cavaliers 63-21 in the Micronpc.com Bowl at Pro Player Stadium. Virginia finished the 1999 season with a 7-5 overall record. Kittner, who completed 14 of 24 passes for 254 yards and one interception, was named the bowl’s Most Valuable Player. He scored the game’s first touchdown on a one-yard run with 9:42 remaining in the first quarter. Later, in the second quarter, he caught a 30-yard scoring pass from wide receiver Brandon Lloyd and threw for touchdowns of 61 yards and one yard to halfback Jameel Cook. Illinois scored 28 unanswered points in the second quarter, capitalizing on two blocked punts, to build a commanding 42-7 halftime lead. Adding to Virginia’s woes, starting offensive linemen Noel LaMontagne and Josh Lawson were both injured in the first half and did not return. Illinois scored touchdowns on nine of 14 possessions and amassed 611 yards in total offense, compared to 380 by the Cavaliers. Virginia tailback Thomas Jones rushed 23 times for 110 yards and scored on a seven-yard run to tie the game at seven with 7:24 left in the first quarter. Jones also led UVa with five receptions for 31 yards. Quarterback Dan Ellis completed 15 of 32 passes for 146 yards and one interception to lead the Virginia passing attack. He threw a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kevin Coffey in the third quarter. Ellis was replaced late in the fourth quarter by David Rivers, who completed two of three passes for 62 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown strike to backup quarterback/wide receiver Will Thompson with 1:43 left to play. Shannon Taylor led UVa with eight tackles. Byron Thweatt recovered a fumble, while Dwayne Stukes intercepted a pass. Donnie Scott averaged 45 yards on four punts, including a long of 53 yards. SCORING SUMMARY First Quarter Attendance-31,089 Ill UVa INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Passing-Illinois, Kurt Kittner 14-24-1-254, Brandon Lloyd 1-1-0-30, Kirk Johnson 1-1-0-2. Virginia, Dan Ellis 15-32-1-146, David Rivers 2-3-0-62. Receiving-Illinois, Jameel Cook 4-88, Brandon Lloyd 3-57, Michael Dean 2-42, Walter Young 1-31, Kurt Kittner 1-30, Brian Hodges 1-18, Aaron Moorehead 1-10, Josh Whitman 1-7, Elmer Hickman 1-2, Rocky Harvey 1-1. Virginia, Thomas Jones 5-31, Billy McMullen 3-31, Demetrius Dotson 2-29, Will Thompson 1-55, Ahmad Hawkins 1-19, Billy Baber 1-19, Anthony Southern 1-9, Chris Luzar 1-7, Kevin Coffey 1-5, Casey Crawford 1-3. Jeep O’ahu Bowl In the final game of the “George Welsh era” Virginia fell to Georgia 37-14 in the 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- 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, UVa 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. SCORING SUMMARY First Quarter Attendance-24,187 Georgia UVa INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Passing-Georgia, Cory Phillips 23-36-1-222, Brett Millican 1-1-0-23, Terrence Edwards 1-2-0-(-4). Virginia, Bryson Spinner 14-22-2-153, Matt Schaub 6-10-0-47, Dan Ellis 2-3-0-26, Tyree Foreman 0-1-0-0. Receiving-Georgia, Terrence Edwards 8-79, Damien Gary 4-51, Randy McMichael 4-39, LaBrone Mitchell 3-35, Durell Robinson 3-6, Jermaine Phillips 1-23, Musa Smith 1-12, Reggie Brown 1-(-4). Virginia, Billy Baber 4-38, Michael McGrew 3-34, Demetrius Dotson 3-28, Antwoine Womack 3-3, Chris Luzar 2-9, Jonathan Ward 2-7, Tavon Mason 1-78, Billy McMullen 1-18, Kase Luzar 1-6, Patrick Washington 1-3, Tyree Foreman 1-2. Continental Tire Bowl Virginia made its first bowl appearance under head coach Al Groh a memorable one, dominating No. 15 West Virginia 48-22 in the inaugural Continental Tire Bowl. The game was played in front of a sell-out crowd of 73,535 fans. It marked the second-highest attendance figure for a first-year bowl game in NCAA history. Finishing with a 9-5 record (6-2 ACC), Virginia clinched its first nine-win season since 1998 and was ranked 22nd in the final Associated Press poll. Trailing 10-7 at the end of the first quarter, the Cavaliers tallied 31 unanswered points to take a commanding 38-10 lead with 6:48 left in the third quarter. Among the many Cavaliers who excelled was true freshman tailback Wali Lundy-the game’s Most Valuable Player-who totaled 239 all-purpose yards. In addition to rushing for a game-high 127 yards and two scores, he caught five passes for 76 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a 36-yard kickoff return. Lundy accounted for UVa’s first score in the first quarter when he caught a 14-yard pass from backup quarterback Marques Hagans. Hagans took a lateral from quarterback Matt Schaub and then threw across the field to Lundy in the end zone.Lundy later capped the game’s scoring with a 31-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. He also scored on a four-yard run and on a 48-yard pass play from Schaub. In addition to his touchdown pass, Hagans scored on a 69-yard punt return to open up a 21-10 Cavalier lead midway through the second quarter. Connecting on five of his first six passes of the game, Schaub finished 16 of 22 passing for 182 yards and a touchdown. The ACC Player of the Year also rushed for 39 yards, including a one-yard TD run. Virginia played most of the game without star wide receivier Billy McMullen, who left the game in the first quarter with an injured elbow. He caught one pass for eight yards, giving him 210 career receptions-the second most in ACC history. Freshman place-kicker Connor Hughes, who assumed UVa’s kick scoring duties late in the season, connected on field goals of 27 and 30 yards. Linebacker Angelo Crowell had a team-high 14 tackles, followed by safety Jerton Evans with eight. SCORING SUMMARY First Quarter Attendance-73,535 WVU UVa INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Passing-West Virginia, Rasheed Marshall 12-18-1-215, Danny Embick 0-1-0-0, Phil Braxton 0-1-1-0. Virginia, Matt Schaub 16-22-0-182, Marques Hagans 1-1-0-14. Receiving-West Virgina, Phil Braxton 4-108, Miquelle Henderson 2-75, Derrick Smith 2-9, Darnell Glover 1-14, A.J. Nastasi 1-5, Tory Johnson 1-5, Quincy Wilson Continental Tire Bowl Quarterback Matt Schaub threw for 244 yards and a touchdown to lead the Cavaliers to a 23-16 win over Pittsburgh in UVa’s second straight trip to the Continental Tire Bowl. Playing in his final game, Schaub was named the game’s MVP. After stopping Pittsburg on four straight plays from the UVa one-yard line, the Cavaliers needed just four plays to drive the length of the field for the game’s first score. Schaub capped the drive by finding tight end Heath Miller for a 52-yard touchdown, the 56th of his career, setting a new school record. After Pittsburgh responded with a score, Virginia used a 51-yard run by Alvin Pearman on a drive that ended with Wali Lundy’s one-yard plunged into the end zone. Pittsburgh drove 85 yards in 10 plays, however the Panthers missed the extra point and Virginia maintained its lead at 14-13. Connor Hughes’ 44-yard field goal as time expired at the end of the half extend the lead to 17-13. On the opening series of the second half, Pitt was intercepted by Robbie Catterton, who returned the ball 24 yards to the Pitt 18-yard line. That play set up a 30-yard field goal by Hughes that pushed UVa’s lead to six points. Pittsburgh responded with a field goal drive of its own to trail 20-16. The Panthers had a chance to further chip away at the lead with 7:51 remaining, but Pittsburgh’s missed a 36-yard field goal attempt. Virginia then mounted its final scoring drive of the day, as Lundy rushed 27 yards on six carries and Schaub connected on three of four pass attempts to set up Hughes’ third field goal of the day, a 39-yard score with 2:28 remaining. Pittsburgh looked for a late scoring drive to tie the game. William Ferguson gave the Panthers excellent field position with a 45-yard kickoff return to the Pitt 48-yard line. On the first play of the drive, the Cavalier defense forced their second turnover of the day to end the threat. A Brennan Schmidt sack caused Rutherford to fumble, and the ball was recovered by Kai Parham. It was the fifth sack of the day by the Virginia defense. In addition to Schaub’s 244 yards through the air, the Cavaliers compiled 196 yards rushing led by Pearman’s 104 yards and Lundy’s 90 yards. Pearman also made a team-high six catches, while Miller led UVa with 84 receiving yards on four catches. The Cavalier defense held Panther wideout and Heisman Trophy runner-up Larry Fitzgerald to 77 yards on five catches, snapping his NCAA record 18-game touchdown reception streak. Linebackers Parham and Brooks led Virginia with 13 and 12 tackles, respectively. SCORING SUMMARY First Quarter |