Virginia Tech's freshman quarterback used spin moves to leave defenders sprawled on the carpet and speed to leave them grabbing at air Tuesday night against Florida State in the national championship game.

	A weary Michael Vick (7) grimaces in the second half.

And even though his fumble in Hokies territory with 11:58 left gave Florida State the chance to build a cushion on their way to a 46-29 victory in the Sugar Bowl, Vick still turned in his biggest, best performance.

"I did everything in my power I could," the banged-up and exhausted Vick said. "I tried to get away from people, tried to make tough throws, took so many hits. I got knocked around more than I ever have in a football game."

Vick, 19, was sacked seven times for minus-48 yards, a frightening number since it was the hits he avoided that left the crowd gasping, especially as he rallied the Hokies like a cagey veteran from a 28-7 deficit to a 29-28 lead in the third quarter. But the energy required to do that left him with little afterward.

"We did a lot of things in the second half," he said. "We made plays, got some points and jumped ahead. We showed everybody that we could come back."

The left-hander did most of his damage with his feet, repeatedly sidestepping drooling defenders as they closed in for the kill, then using his 4.33 speed to burst into the open field and pick up huge chunks of yards.

"That guy is a tremendous athlete, I think next year he's only to get better with more experience," Florida State linebacker Tommy Polley said. "They're going to be back in the hunt again next year."

Vick gained 97 yards on 23 carries, including a remarkable 42-yard jaunt that started when he spun away from a Seminoles lineman who seemed to have a free shot at him. It was a sight repeated over and over in the ballgame.

		Michael Vick had a terrific game, and there is no question about what he meant to Virginia Tech. However, the MVP usually goes to someone on the winning team who has made the biggest contribution. Vick was also involved with two fumbles that were lost that cost his team points and field position.

Four plays later, Vick's 3-yard touchdown run made it 28-14, capping a seven-play, 80-yard drive to give the Hokies hope just 37 seconds before halftime.

Later, with the Hokies dominating the third quarter, Vick pitched to Andre Kendrick out of the option and Kendrick went 29 yards for a TD to make it 28-23.

Vick also had runs of 15 and 22 yards on the next series, which Kendrick ended with a 6-yard scoring run that gave the Hokies their first lead, 29-28.

"He made some unbelievable moves out there," Hokies coach Frank Beamer said of Vick, agreeing that a sprained left ankle that kept tailback Shyrone Stith on the sideline in the second half left Vick feeling he had to do too much.

But it wasn't just the big gainers that dazzled. Vick frequently found a space where there appeared to be none, leaving even the Seminoles fans gasping with disbelief as he moved around the backfield trying to find a way to make a play.

He was still trying to make something happen when Seminoles linebacker Bobby Rhodes hit him after a 12-yard gain in the final quarter and jarred the ball loose. The Hokies trailed 36-29 at the time, and when Sean Key recovered and Florida State added a field goal five plays later, the Hokies were in trouble.

"Vick didn't see me," Rhodes said of the crucial turnover. "I just came around and slapped right under his arm, and lucky enough the ball came out."

It was only Vick's seventh fumble of the season, but his second of the game. He also lost the ball on the Hokies' first series when Beamer opted to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 1 and Vick was swarmed in the backfield.

Vick was 15-of-29 for 225 yards with a 49-yard scoring pass to Andre Davis. He threw behind several receivers, but also was victimized by several drops and was almost always throwing while in an all-out sprint.

"I've got all offseason to rest," Vick said.