Best Performances from the Commonwealth Cup
The Commonwealth Cup is always a pivotal game in the Hokies football season. It is a game that the Hokies had their way with this century, but it hasn’t had any shortages of great performances by those in Orange & Maroon.
Let's start off with Tayvion Robinson in the thrilling 29-24 victory over the Hoos in the last matchup in the series. Braxton Burmeister tossed a deep post route to Robinson who shed a tackle to take it 61 yards for a Hokie score. Robinson was targeted a few more times before a pivotal third and goal to start the second half down by seven. Robinson was put in motion and tossed the ball as Burmeister released into the flat. Robinson, a high school quarterback, delivered the pass to his quarterback to tie the game at 24. Of course, we all remember how it ended, with the infamous pass to their tackle on the goal line, but Robinson did his part in multiple facets to seal the deal at Scott Stadium.
Going way to back to pre-ACC Commonwealth scuffles, Lee Suggs had a field day Vs. the Wahoos in 2000. Legendary QB Michael Vick was held rather in check that game, but they couldn’t account for the power running game of Suggs. Suggs accumulated four touchdowns that game, 3 on the ground and one long receiving score from the golden arm of Vick. Suggs had UVAs number two years later, having 117 total yards and two scores.
Dubbed “Big Play Tre”, Tre Turner lived up to the hype in the 2018 matchup in Blacksburg. Turner caught a spectacular one handed catch on a fade route from Ryan Willis with two minutes left in the first half to open the scoring. Then, the defense forced a three and out deep in UVA territory. Turner raced around the edge and blocked the punt into the endzone. Jovonn Quillen scooped it up in the endzone and widened the margin to 14-0. Turner had a couple more key receptions later in the game, included an 11 yard catch that preceded the wild fumble into the endzone that was recovered by the offense late in the game.
If there’s a game that players want to show out in, it’s always that game near Thanksgiving that dreams are made of. It’s always Go Hokies and Beat UVA!