Colandrea and Bettridge earn ACC Weekly Honors
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 SPORTS)-- Coming off Tony Elliott's first ACC home victory a pair of Cavaliers start the week with ACC honors. Freshman quarterback Anthony Colandrea was named ACC Rookie of the Week while sophomore kicker Will Bettridge was named Specialist of the Week.
In his fifth start this season Colandrea threw for a career high 3 touchdowns to help lift Virginia to their sixth straight home win over Duke. The freshman went 21 for 30 with 278 passing yards while rushing for 66 yards. In total the Colandrea was responsible for 344 yards for total offense. The win was his first as starting quarterback.
Colandrea was thrust back into the starting role just three weeks ago after Tony Muskett left the Georgia Tech game with a high ankle sprain. The Florida native burned his redshirt and since then has shown vast improvement according to head coach Tony Elliott. In addition to being named ACC Rookie of the Week Colandrea was also featured on the Davey O’Brien Award Great 8 Quarterbacks list, was one of On3 True Freshman Weekly Standouts and was named the College Football Network Freshman of the Week.
Special teams also shined in Virginia's win on Saturday as Bettridge went 3-3 on field goal attempts. The sophomore kicker hit a season long 46 yard field goal and a 30 yard field goal that helped extend the lead with 1:13 left in the game. Bettridge has made 12-straight field goals from 39 yards and in and has made three field goals from 45 yards or more this season.