Although most people still will talk about the "once-in-a-career" hook-and-ladder call to win the game, it was the play of quarterback Bryson Spinner that led Virginia to victory over Georgia Tech.
For most of the season, the two-headed quarterback system has played out like an unsuccessful game of Russian roulette. On Saturday, Spinner came into his own and turned in the Cavaliers' best performance of the year.
After a productive outing last week against Wake Forest, the sophomore signal-caller earned the chance to start for the first time in five games. With control of the only offense in the ACC to be shutout this season, Spinner opened the game inauspiciously.
Virginia's first two drives resulted in turnovers: a fumble by wide receiver Billy McMullen and an interception by Georgia Tech defensive back Jeremy Muyres. Following three more fruitless possessions that resulted in punts, the Cavaliers trailed the Yellow Jackets, 13-0. Through a quarter-and-a-half of play, Spinner was 5-of-11 for 35 yards with one interception and one sack.
Then everything changed.
"I got more comfortable," Spinner said after the game. "I think we were pressing a little bit in the beginning. I know I was. Once I settled down, we were good to go."
Beginning with a drive halfway through the second quarter, Spinner completed 27 of 35 attempts for 292 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions or sacks for the rest of the game.
Spinner led Virginia to a touchdown on five of its last six drives. With the perfect mix of pinpoint passing and remarkable scrambling, Spinner matched and out-dueled heralded Yellow Jackets' quarterback George Godsey.
Looking much more patient in the pocket, Spinner did not force any balls into covered receivers and spread the ball around to whoever was open. He converted passes to nine different Cavalier receivers in the game: four wide receivers, three running backs and two tight ends.
As a further testament to his willingness to not force the issue, Spinner only threw two passes for more than 20 yards after he calmed down. Conversely, his first quarter interception was a 40-yard bomb that got picked off by waiting Georgia Tech free safety, Jeremy Muyres.
Spinner also made a difference with his feet. Because of his ability to scramble in the pocket and avoid the swarming Yellow Jacket defenders, Spinner either bought time to attempt a pass or turned it up field for large ground gains.
Beginning the second half with minus-2 rushing yards, Spinner finished with 72 yards on the ground, more than all other Cavalier backs combined.
"We've been telling Bryson for a long time that he's a big boy and to run the ball," running back Antwoine Womack said. "There aren't too many people who want to tackle him. He's a big, strong kid."
Maybe the most important contribution of the sophomore rifleman was his poise on third downs. The inability to convert on third down has plagued the Cavaliers all season by killing drives. They had only converted on 34 percent of their attempts (43-for-128) until the Georgia Tech game.
After opening the game 1-for-4 on third-down conversions, Spinner finished the game 7-of-8 on crucial third-down attempts and kept many of the touchdown drives alive. He ran for the first down on three of those conversions and completed passes for three more first downs.
With his ability to spread the ball around the field and scramble when necessary, Spinner brought the Cavaliers back and guided them to victory.
"He played like a warrior," Womack said. "He had the fire in his eyes. It was just amazing to see. It was cold outside, but it was warm in the huddle. It was his huddle. He stayed calm and didn't get overanxious. He led us to victory. He won the game for us."
All too often the quarterback receives too much blame for a loss and too much credit for a victory, but Spinner definitely deserves the game ball for his dazzling performance against the Yellow Jackets.
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