VIRGINIA TECH 25, N.C. STATE 24
December 31, 1986 - Atlanta, Ga.
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium - Att: 53,668

ATLANTA, Ga. - Virginia Tech earned its first-ever bowl victory in dramatic fashion when Chris Kinzer's 40-yard field goal as time expired gave the Hokies a heart-stopping 25-24 comeback win over North Carolina State in the Peach Bowl.

Tech started the winning drive at its own 20 with a full compliment of timeouts and 1:53 on the clock. Quarterback Erik Chapman moved the ball to the Tech 44 with a pair of first down passes to tight end Steve Johnson. But another completion, followed by four running plays, left the Hokies facing a fourth-and-three at the State 37 with just 20 seconds left. Again it was Chapman to Johnson, this time for nine yards and a first down on the Wolfpack 28.

With 15 seconds left, Tech opted for a long pass. The Hokies were penalized for holding on the incompletion, moving the ball back to the 38. Chapman once again went to the air on a deep pattern to wingback David Everett. Another flag fell, but this time it was a 15-yard pass interference call against State.

The penalty moved the ball to the 23 with four seconds left. Out trotted Kinzer, whose field goals had already been the difference in five wins and a tie during the regular season. Earlier in the game, he had connected on a 46-yarder, the second longest in Peach Bowl history at the time.

The Wolfpack called a time out, but anyone who knew Kinzer knew it would not matter. Although flattened on his follow through, the Tech kicker was right on target as the final second disappeared in what had been one of the wildest and most exciting finishes in any bowl game.

Tech's last-minute comeback was actually the Hokies' second rally of the game. At one point, State led 21-10 with just six minutes left in the third quarter. The Tech defense turned the tide by forcing fumbles on two consecutive Wolfpack possessions. Both times the Hokies were able to capitalize on State's mistakes, with Chapman directing the team to a pair of touchdowns. Chapman's 6-yard touchdown pass to Johnson with 9:36 remaining in the game put Tech on top 22-21.

State put together its only scoring drive of the second half to regain the lead on a Mike Cofer field goal with 7:12 left in the game. Then, after halting a Tech drive, the ïPack threatened to put the game away when Kelly Hollodick faked a punt and ran for a crucial first down at the Hokie 35.

Linebacker Jamel Agemy kept Tech's hopes alive with back-to-back tackles behind the line. Two plays later State was forced to punt, and the Hokies began their winning drive. Just seconds after Kinzer's kick cleared the goalpost, thousands of Tech fans stormed the field to celebrate.

Virginia Tech  10  0 6 9 - 25
N.C. State      7 14 0 3 - 24