College football

Hokies rally, return triumphantly

Virginia Tech helps ease memories of its ACC title game loss in Jacksonville.

JACKSONVILLE - Virginia Tech players danced around the field, pausing for hugs, posing for photographs and praising their come-from-behind victory.

The Hokies had a much better experience in the River City this time around.

Marcus Vick threw for two touchdowns, Cedric Humes ran for 113 yards and a score and No.12 Virginia Tech rallied to beat 15th-ranked Louisville 35-24 in the Gator Bowl on Monday.

The Hokies overcame numerous penalties, the absence of a key offensive lineman and the ejection of a defensive leader to rebound from a surprising loss to Florida State on the same field in the ACC Championship Game on Dec.3.

"This is a much better feeling than when we were here last time," tight end Jeff Kind said. "We wanted to go out on a better note than what we showed when we played Florida State. We had a lot of guys come in and step up. That's what good teams will do to get back on the winning track."

Virginia Tech (11-2) scored on three consecutive possessions in the second half, turning a 17-10 deficit into a 28-24 lead. James Anderson sealed the victory when he intercepted a Hunter Cantwell pass and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown with 5:04 to play.

"That was a big play," Anderson said. "It came at the right time and I was in the right spot. We got good pressure on the quarterback, he threw it right to me and I just made a play."

Vick made several plays in the comeback, which snapped a five-game winning streak for Louisville (9-3).

He completed a 54-yard pass to David Clowney, then Humes scored on the next play from 24 yards. The Hokies made the two-point conversion when Vick scrambled right and threw to Josh Morgan, cutting the lead to 24-21.

Chris Ellis sacked Cantwell on the ensuing drive and knocked the ball loose. Anderson recovered near midfield, and Vick did the rest.

He completed a sharp throw to Clowney to set up first and goal. Two plays later, he found King for the go-ahead score. Vick finished 11-of-21 for 203 yards and ran 13 times for 10 yards.

But Vick found himself engulfed in controversy following the game because he stepped on the back of NCAA sack leader Elvis Dumervil's leg just before halftime. Vick wasn't penalized, but it looked intentional on television replays.

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said he sent Vick to Louisville's locker room after the game to apologize, but Dumervil never emerged.

Senior cornerback Jimmy Williams also was ejected for bumping an official in the first quarter after an extra point. Noland Burchette was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct after he celebrated a hit on Cantwell. Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said Cantwell's nose might have been broken.

A freshman walk-on making his second start in place of Brian Brohm, Cantwell finished 15-of-37 for 216 yards with three touchdowns but also four sacks and four turnovers.

[Last modified January 3, 2006, 04:38:46]