On a beautiful fall afternoon on the first Saturday in October, Virginia quarterback Tony Muskett rolled across the grass at Scott Stadium. In a flash, John Pius, William & Mary’s star linebacker, popped up from the fumble he’d just caused and scooped the ball off the turf.

Pius sprinted nearly 60 yards to put his team on the doorstep of an eventual 13-3 lead. UVA, already 0-5 on the season, suddenly trailed by double digits to the only FCS team on its schedule.

Muskett too had found his feet after the roll. His footing, however, was a different question.

Still nursing the shoulder injury that is expected to require surgery after the season and caused him to sit out three games, Muskett’s early moments as a Hoo had not produced much in the way of success. He had just 94 passing yard while being sacked 4 times in the face of heavy pressure against Tennessee before his injury. Muskett had just returned to the lineup a week prior against Boston College and while he threw for 247 yards and 3 touchdowns, the Hoos lost and he suffered 5 sacks again. Now back at home, he had been sacked again and a worried murmur circulated in the stands as fears of a potentially winless season still existed in that moment.

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