West
Virginia Overcomes 18-Point Deficit
by Mike Mitchell
1/1/07
4:50 pm est
West
Virginia beat Georgia Tech 38-35 for its first Gator Bowl win in six tries. The Mountaineers over came deficits of 28-10
in the first half and 35-17 early in the third quarter.
The Mountaineers won their second straight bowl game after losing
eleven of its previous twelve. Ironically, they beat Georgia
in the Sugar Bowl by the same 38-35 score last year. But in that
game, they stormed out to a 28-0 first-half lead and then held
on for dear life.
Georgia Tech was playing without four-year starting quarterback
Reggie Ball who was ruled academically ineligible. But backup
Taylor Bennet, who had thrown just 29 passes all season, played
magnificently as he threw for 326 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Bennett took advantage of his major weapon, too. He completed
9 passes to college football's top receiver, Calvin Johnson,
2 of which went for scores of 31 and 48 yards as the Yellow Jackets
jumped out to a 28-10 lead in the second quarter.
Georgia Tech also benefited from Tashard Choice best rushing
game of the year. The junior running back had his ninth 100-yard
game of the season with 169 yards and 2 TD's on 27 carries.His
second score with 13:48 to go in the game, but the Jackets back
up by 18 at 35-17.
One of West Virginia's major offensive weapon, running back Steve
Slaton, played sparingly due to injuries. He carried the ball
three times and caught two passes but was largely ineffective.
In his place, Owen Scmitt ran 13 times for 109 yards and two
touchdowns.
But it was ultimately up to a banged-up Pat White to provide
the spark the Mountaineers needed.
After Choice's last TD gave Georgia Tech the 18-point lead, White
hit Tony Gonzalez for a 58-yard touchdown on the second play
after the kick-off. The trick play had the offensive line freeze
when the ball was snapped, momentarily catching the defense off-guard.
Gonzalez sped past the secondary and hauled in the downfield
throw from White.
Georgia Tech went 3-and-out on its next series and White took
advantage of the defensive stop, hooking up with Brandon Myles
on a 14-yard touchdown pass to close to within four points at
35-31.
West Virginia took the lead a minute later when the ensuing kick-off
was a line drive that struck Georgia Tech's Tony Clark in the
leg and was recovered by the Mountaineers. Two plays later, White
called his own number for a 15-yard touchdown run and West Virginia's
first, and only, lead of the game.
Georgia Tech threatened to retake the lead, driving to the West
Virginia 23-yard line, before Bennett threw his lone interception
at the WVU 2-yard line. A 54-yard field goal attempt fell short
with 1:14 left and West Virginia ran out the clock.
White went over the 100-yard mark passing and rushing for the
fourth time this season. The sophomore sensation threw for 131
yards on a 9-of-15 day, and ran for 145 yards on 22 carries.
He finished the season with 1,655 yards and 13 TD's passing,
and added 1,219 yards and 18 TD's rushing.
Georgia Tech lost its second straight bowl game as the Big East
runners-up beat the ACC runners-up. It was the Yellow Jackets'
third straight loss, including the ACC title game to Wake Forest.
The Big East won a Gator Bowl for the first time since the 2000
season when Virginia Tech defeated Clemson in Michael Vick's
last collegiate game. |
