Gator Bowl Wrap-Up

After taking a week to calm down after the monstrosity, I can now effectively sum up this game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the University of Virginia Cavaliers.

I must give credit to the Raiders—they were able to capitalize on some mistakes by UVA to come out on top.

UVA jumped ahead at the beginning of the game, engineering some great drives and some nice plays.

Mikell Simpson set an NCAA record for the longest run in bowl history by a running back with his 96-yard TD run in the second quarter. Simpson's score, along with a pair of intentional grounding penalties for safeties, gave Virginia a 21-7 advantage at halftime.

Texas Tech opted to open the second half with a surprise onside kick, catching UVA off guard.

Virginia still controlled it's own destiny until midway through the fourth quarter, when star quarterback Jamell Sewell went down with true freshman Peter Lalich appearing in relief. Lalich wasn't playing all that badly, but when thrown into a situation to have to stifle the momentum that Texas Tech was gaining, he showed his true freshman classification.

Texas Tech proceeded to tie the game up with 3:10 left to play after forcing a fumble from Lalich on Virginia's own four-yard line.

All UVA had to do was control the clock and take it to overtime or at least get into field goal range, but it didn't work out that way. UVA was forced to punt, giving Texas Tech great field position where they went on to drive and nail the game winning field goal with two seconds left in the game.

UVA finished this season far beyond anyone's expectations. Now Wahoo Nation sits back and waits until August 2008, where UVA will open up in Charlottesville against national powerhouse and this year's Pac-10 champ, Southern California. 

I'd also like to throw out a congrats to Kansas on a great win over that other Virginia school.