ORLANDO, Fla. — Cody Journell kicked a 22-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime to help Virginia Tech beat Rutgers 13-10 in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Friday night.
Virginia Tech (7-6) won its third straight game to avoid its first losing season since 1992.
Rutgers (9-4) had a chance to tie it in overtime, but Nick Borgese missed a 42-yard try.
Virginia Tech trailed 10-0 at the half, then rallied in the final 30 minutes thanks to some timely turnovers and offense. Quarterback Logan Thomas struggled in the first and finished with a pair of interceptions, but also had 192 yards passing.
Virginia Tech cornerback Antone Exum, selected the most valuable player of the game, picked off Gary Nova’s pass early in the fourth quarter to set up the tying score — Thomas’ 21-yard pass to Corey Fuller with 10:56 left as steady rain began to fall.
Also on Friday:
INDEPENDENCE BOWL
Ohio 45
Louisiana-Monroe 14
SHREVEPORT, La. — Tyler Tettleton threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns, and Beau Blankenship scored four touchdowns to set an Independence Bowl record in Ohio’s victory over Louisiana-Monroe.
MEINEKE BOWL
Texas Tech 34
Minnesota 31
HOUSTON — D.J. Johnson returned an interception 39 yards and Ryan Bustin made a 28-yard field goal as time expired to give Texas Tech a comeback victory over Minnesota. Seth Doege found Eric Ward on a short pass, and he outran a defender for a 35-yard scoring play to tie it at 31 with just more than a minute remaining.
