No. 18 Virginia Tech pulled off the biggest comeback in school history in the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. The Hokies erased a 24-point halftime deficit and scored 35 unanswered points in the second half en route of a 35-24 victory over Arkansas.
Total Team Effort:
Quarterback Jerod Evans led this historic comeback after a dreadful first half. He threw for 330 yards, four total touchdowns, two passing, and two rushing. However, Bud Foster’s defense was the driving force and what got these Hokies going while the Hokie offense took advantage of four turnovers and turned them into 28 points.
Tonight’s win give the Hokies 10 wins on the season for the first time since 2011. This is Virginia Tech’s third straight bowl victory (2014 Military Bowl and 2015 Independence Bowl)
“It’s a fantastic honor,” Coach Justin Fuente said about the victory. “And I think it speaks to our guys — the character and toughness and what it means to play for Virginia Tech. They love Virginia Tech.”
The Dreadful First Half:
The game started horrible and got worse for the Hokies. Running Back Sam Rogers botched an exchange on the game’s first play, setting up an early field goal for Arkansas.
After a 90-yard Razorback drive that ended with a 1-yard sneak for a touchdown by Austin Allen, Evans would get picked off. Arkansas would score a few plays later off Cheyenne O’Grady’s 28-yard touchdown catch, making the deficit 17-0 at the end of the first quarter. Eventually, the lead would grow to 24-0 off a 12-yard touchdown pass from Allen to Keon Hatcher.
The Hokies only real chance at scoring came in the closing seconds of the half. A 48-yard field goal attempt by Joey Slye went wide right. It just seemed like the game was going to be over by the look of things.
The Spark that changed everything:
Virginia Tech needed some hope and got it almost immediately. On the Arkansas’ first possession of the second half, Hokies linebacker Anthony Shegog forced a fumble. Evans would punch a four-yard touchdown run to make it 24-7.
Momentum
Shegog wasn’t finished making an impact in this game. On the next drive, he picked off an Allen pass at the Arkansas 44. The Hokies would cut the to 24-14 off a one-handed diving catch by Rogers from Evans.
The tide started shifting in Virginia Tech’s favor after another turnover by Allen. Hokies Tremaine Edmunds intercepted a pass that bounced off an Arkansas player’s hands, giving the Hokies the ball deep in Razorback territory. Tight end Chris Cunningham’s diving catch on the next play for a touchdown got the Hokies within 24-21.
The Hokies finally took their first lead on the next drive, going 76 yards on 10 plays, with Travon McMillian covering the final 27 with hard-nosed runs, getting into the end zone from 6 yards out to make it 28-24 Virginia Tech.
Arkansas’ total meltdown continued. Allen threw his third interception of the half to Terrell Edmunds, giving the Hokies possession at the Razorbacks 8. Evans plowed his way into the end zone two plays later putting the game out of reach.
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