December 31, 1998

ATLANTA (AP) - This time, it was Georgia that finished off a thrilling Peach Bowl comeback.

Quincy Carter accounted for three touchdowns and Olandis Gary ran for 110 yards and two scores as the No. 19 Bulldogs rallied from a 21-0 deficit, then held on to beat No. 13 Virginia 35-33 Thursday night.

The Cavaliers (9-3) made a thrilling comeback of their own after Georgia (9-3) went ahead 35-27 on Carter's 1-yard sneak for a touchdown with 7:01 remaining.

Aaron Brooks threw an interception in the end zone with just over four minutes to go, but Virginia got the ball back and Brooks broke loose for a 30-yard scoring run with 1:34 to go.

On the 2-point attempt, Brooks escaped heavy pressure but his pass at the goal line for Terrence Wilkins was batted down by Jeff Harris.

The Cavaliers weren't through. Devon Simmons recovered an onside kick at the Virginia 47 and Jones moved his team into field goal range with a 26-yard run. Todd Braverman, who earlier had missed a critical extra point, attempted to win the game with a 48-yard kick.

But it hooked just wide of the upright with 19 seconds to go.

In the 1995 Peach Bowl, Georgia bounced back from a 24-6 deficit against the Cavaliers, tying the game at 27 with just over a minute remaining. But Petey Allen returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown and a 34-27 victory for Virginia.

This marked the 15th year in a row the Peach Bowl was decided by seven points or less.

For the second time this year, Virginia dropped a 21-point leads in Atlanta.

During the regular season, the Cavaliers led Georgia Tech 38-17 in the second half, only to suffer a bitter 41-38 loss that wound up costing them a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference title. Braverman had a chance to tie that game, missing a 54-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining.

Carter, a 21-year-old freshman who spent the last two years playing minor-league baseball, actually had a hand in six TDs - three for Georgia, three for Virginia.

He threw three interceptions in the first half, all leading to Cavaliers touchdowns: Anthony Southern's 2-yard run and TD passes by Brooks of 43 yards to Wilkins and 24 yards to Thomas Jones.

Larry Mann sparked Georgia by blocking Donnie Scott's punt late in the first half, setting up Carter's 11-yard TD pass to Tony Small.

The Bulldogs tied it in the third quarter on Carter's 14-yard pass to Champ Bailey - an All-American junior likely playing his final college game - and Gary's 15-yard scoring run.

Wilkins, who had six receptions for 161 yards, put the Cavs back ahead with a brilliant, 67-yard touchdown reception. He beat Bailey over the middle and got away from two attempted tackles by Kirby Smart, Georgia's All-Southeastern Conference safety.

But Braverman missed the extra point, leaving the margin at 27-21 and eventually forcing the Cavs to go for two late in the game.

Georgia went ahead for the first time when Gary dove over from the 2 with 12:52 remaining and Hap Hines converted the extra point, making it 28-27.

On Georgia's next possession, Carter threw a 52-yard pass to Michael Greer, who made a great diving catch down the sideline. Carter finished the drive by sneaking in with 7:01 left.