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1 7 F O O T B A L L ME D I A G U I D E
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Virginia Tech
quarterback Jerod Evans accounted for
four second-half touchdowns and Tech’s
defense forced four turnovers in the
second half, as the No. 22 Hokies rallied
from a 24-0 halftime deficit to knock off Arkansas 35-24 in the Belk
Bowl played Thursday night at Bank of America Stadium.
With the win, the Hokies finished the season with a 10-4 record,
recording at least 10 wins for the first time since 2011 and for the 14th
time in program history. The Hokies also won their third straight bowl
game for the first time in school history.
“I’m awfully proud of our kids and the way they battled today,” Tech
head coach Justin Fuente said. “We did not play well in the first half, and
they did play well, but our kids didn’t panic. They had to take it on play at
a time in the second half, and they came out and played really well in all
three phases of the game.
“I’m awfully proud to coach this group of kids. Our senior leadership,
I’ve talked about since day 1. I can’t say enough good things about those
kids. I think it’s fitting that, at least it’s my understanding, it’s the biggest
comeback in Virginia Tech history. I think that senior class, being able to
pull that off, is awfully fitting because of the character they have and the
discipline and the work ethic.”
The Hokies’ 24-point rally was the biggest since 1987 and believed
to be the biggest in school history. Tech turned the ball over twice in the
first half, and the Razorbacks scored 10 points off of those – part of their
24-point barrage.
But Tech’s Chuck Clark arguably turned the game, forcing a fumble on
Arkansas first possession of the second half. Woody Baron recovered
for the Hokies, and Evans scored on a 4-yard run for Tech’s first score
of the game.
Arkansas turned it over four times in the second half – and the Hokies
scored touchdowns after every one of them. A Tremaine Edmunds
interception led to a 5-yard touchdown pass from Evans to tight end
Chris Cunningham with 4 minutes left in the third quarter that cut the
lead to 24-21.
Tech took its first lead of the game on a 6-yard touchdown run by
Travon McMillian with 12:03 left in the game. The Hokies then iced it
when Terrell Edmunds’ interception led to a 1-yard touchdown run by
Evans with 6:41 remaining that accounted for the final margin.
“I think it [the turnovers] changed the game completely,” said Tech’s
Anthony Shegog, who recorded an interception and forced a fumble in
the game. “Just like in the first half, when we had that first turnover on
offense, that gave all the momentum to them. In the second half, we were
able to get those turnovers, and that helped significantly.”
Evans completed 21 of 33 for 243 yards, with two touchdowns and
an interception to lead the Hokies. He also rushed for 87 yards and two
scores.
Tech finished with 402 yards of offense. Arkansas amassed 314 –
but only 56 in the second half.
HOK I ES ’ SECOND - HAL F RAL LY
L EADS TO BE LK BOWL WI N
Tech trailed 24-0 at halftime, but behind
quarterback Jerod Evans and a stingy defense,
the Hokies scored 35 unanswered points to
record their third straight bowl win
BELK BOWL BOX SCORE, PAGE 167
2016 GAME-BY-GAME
CAMPING WORLD STADIUM • ORLANDO, FLA. • DECEMBER 3, 2016 • ATTENDANCE: 50,628
Virginia Tech’s Jerod Evans accounted for 310 yards and three TDs, but
Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, the game’s MVP, accounted for five touchdowns
and led the Tigers to a 42-35 victory over the Hokies in the ACC Championship
Game.
With the loss, the Hokies fell to 9-4 overall on the season. Tech fell to 3-3
in ACC championship games. Clemson moved to 12-1 overall and all but
clinched its spot as one of the four teams in the College Football Playoff.
The Hokies trailed the Tigers 35-14 late in the third quarter, but responded
by scoring touchdowns on three straight possessions. A 5-yard touchdown
pass from Evans to Cam Phillips pulled Tech to within 42-35 with 5:43
remaining.
Tech held Clemson to three-and-out on its next possession and got the ball
back with 4:03 to go. The Hokies drove to the Clemson 23, but on third-and-6,
Evans was held to no gain, setting up a must-go-for-it fourth-down situation.
On the play, Evans dropped back to pass and was hit as he was trying to
deliver a pass to Bucky Hodges. The Tigers intercepted the pass, and then ran
out the clock.
GAME NOTES
• Evans’ 264 passing yards give him 3,303 passing yards on the season,
enabling him to break Don Strock’s record of 3,243 passing yards set in
1972.
• Evans’ 21 carries give him 184 carries on the season – the most ever by
a Tech quarterback. Logan Thomas held the previous mark of 174 carries
set in 2012.
• Ford’s 53-yard catch enabled him to become the school’s all-time leader
in career receiving yardage. Jarrett Boykin (2008-11) held the previous
mark of 2,884 yards.
• Phillips’ career-high 12 receptions gave him 70 on the season – a number
that ranks third on Tech’s single-season list.
CLEMSON
14 7 14 7 - 42
VIRGINIA TECH
7 7 7 14 - 35
CU (11:47 - 1st) -Watson 3 run (Huegel kick)
CU (5:57 - 1st) - Leggett 21 pass from Watson (Huegel kick)
VT (:51 - 1st) - McMillian 1 run (Slye kick)
CU (11:46 - 2nd) - Leggett 10 pass from Watson (Huegel kick)
VT (4:09 - 2nd) - Evans 11 run (Slye kick)
CU (9:17 - 3rd) - Gallman 8 run (Huegel kick)
CU (4:45 - 3rd) - Watson 2 run (Huegel kick)
VT (2:27 - 3rd) - McMillian 27 run (Reed kick)
VT (11:35 - 4th) - Evans 5 run (Slye kick)
CU (7:33 - 4th) - Renfrow 15 pass from Watson (Huegel kick)
VT (5:43 - 4th) - Phillips 26 pass from Evans (Slye kick)
TEAM STATS CU
VT
First downs
30
19
Rushing yds.
41-182
35-102
Passing yds.
288
284
Return yds.
-5
110
Passes
23-34-1 22-36-1
Punts-avg.
5-34.6
6-44.8
Fumbles-lost
0-0
1-0
Penalties-yds.
8-65
8-89
Time of poss.
31:52
28:08
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing —
VT: Evans 21-46, McMillian 7-37, Rogers 4-10, Phillips 3-9; DU:
Watson 17-85, Gallman 17-59, Fuller 5-40, Team 2-(-2).
Passing —
VT: Evans 21-35-2 264, Ludwig 1-1-0 20; CU: Watson 23-34-1 288.
Receiving —
VT: Phillips 12-92, Ford 4-89, Rogers 3-36, Carroll 1-5, Edmunds
1-20, Hodges 1-42; CU: Scott 7-48, Williams 5-57, Leggett 4-49, Cain 2-69,
Renfrow 2-46, McCloud 1-9, Gallman 1-7, Thompson 1-3.
3
CL EMSON
4 2
1 9
V I RG I N I A TECH 3 5
GAME TH I RTEEN