Top Virginia Sports Moments: No. 7

We hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing Christmas Day, but now it’s time to move on to No. 7 in our Top 30 Virginia Cavaliers sports moments of 2019 countdown!

But, before we get to the latest reveal, make sure you’ve seen our previous installments first:

• Top Moments of 2019: 30-25
• Top Moments of 2019: 24-20
• Top Moments of 2019: 19-15
• Top Moments of 2019: 14-11
• Top Moments of 2019: 10
• Top Moments of 2019: 9
• Top Moments of 2019: 8

7. Brian Delaney Takes The Lead

Without Brian Delaney, it’s very possible Virginia Tech would have extended their streak to sixteen.

His 48-yard go-ahead field goal - just one yard shorter than the junior’s career long - that went through at the 1:23 mark of the fourth quarter, then, was fundamental to what made this year different.

“It is just about taking it one rep at a time and trusting the guys around me that we will all do what we need to do,” said Delaney in the postgame, touching on his mentality ahead of the kick. “It felt good coming off of the foot.”

Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images

Besides the man himself, let’s give some credit to Bronco Mendenhall and the coaching staff, too, who kept faith in the Virginia native despite him missing a point after attempt on the Cavaliers’ opening touchdown.

“How fitting after a missed extra point early? I thought that was going to haunt us,” Mendenhall noted in his press conference following the win. “When was the last time, at least in my tenure, that we kicked the ball through the uprights in that kind of pressure-filled moment to win a football game? It’s just another breakthrough. [I’m] really proud and happy for Brian because he’s done a really nice job all year.”

We’ll be back with No. 6 soon!