CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Darius Taylor was discussing the College Football Playoff with a reporter on Thursday during a media gathering for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, and he mentioned the play of Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo, who had a monster game in the Peach Bowl that included a halfback option pass for a touchdown.

“You got one of those halfback passes in you tomorrow?” Taylor was asked.

“Naaah!” Taylor responded with a chuckle.

Turns out, he wasn’t tipping his hand.

The sophomore from Detroit got the Gophers offense going with a halfback option pass for a 10-yard touchdown to Elijah Spencer in the second quarter of a 24-10 victory over Virginia Tech on Friday night at Bank of America Stadium. Taylor added a 28-yard TD run, 113 rushing yards on 20 carries and four receptions for 17 yards.

The victory also brought the spoils for Gophers coach P.J. Fleck, who was eager to have a bucket of Duke’s Mayo dumped on his head, the bowl’s signature moment for the winning coach.

“Make it a double,” Fleck said in his postgame radio interview on KFXN-FM. “If they want, make it a triple.”

With his players watching intently, Fleck raised his hands in triumph as he was doused, the mayonnaise covering his entire head. He then hugged Goldy to cover the mascot in mayo as well.