Virginia Tech Beats Tulsa, 55-52

Now, yes, Virginia Tech has won bowl games before, but this one is probably the most significant ever, because this game signaled the final time that legendary coach Frank Beamer would be at the helm of the Hokies.

Before the arrival of Montgomery — a former offensive coordinator under Art Briles at Baylor — Tulsa posted five total wins in two seasons. Fortunately for the Hokies, Dadi Nicolas sacked Evans when it mattered the most.

The Virginia Tech Hokies touched down in Shreveport, Louisiana last night for this coming Saturday’s Independence bowl against Tulsa.

The longtime Hokies head coach, who is retiring once the season comes to a close, has led Tech to a bowl game in 23 consecutive seasons. In fact, the first 3 and a half minutes were anything but vintage Beamer Ball, as the Golden Hurricane and the Hokies combined for 4 touchdowns and the big play reigned supreme.

Nebraska only got in a bowl because there were not enough six-win teams to fill all 80 slots. The Golden Hurricane fell to McNeese State 20-16 in the inaugural postseason game at Independence Stadium.

“Among the records set in the game were most points in a first quarter by two teams (45), most points in a first half by two teams (76), most points in a game by two teams (107), most catches by a receiver (13), most yardage by a receiver (202) and most rushing touchdowns by a team (5)”.

Announced attendance was 31,289, the lowest attendance since the 1988 I-Bowl between Southern Miss and UTEP, when 20,242 watched the contest. The tying score tallied 1,000 receiving yards for Isaiah Ford, making him the first 1,000-yard receiver in Virginia Tech history. Atkinson’s catch helped him slate over 1,000 yards on the season and led to a 9-yard TD connection from Dane Evans to Bishop Louie, cutting Tulsa’s deficit 24-21.

Tulsa scored the final 10 points of the second quarter to pull to 45-31. The previous record for most points in a half was 45 by LSU and Michigan State in 1995. The Indy Bowl could be the ideal tonic for the Hokies’ struggling pass offense (71st in nation, 216 yards per game) as Tulsa ranks No. 123 out of 127 teams allowing 293 yards passing per game.

On the opening drive of the second half, the Hokies went 81 yards in 15 plays, scoring on a 1-yard run byTrey Edmunds with 7:38 left in the third quarter. The Golden Hurricane have a pair of 700-yard rushers, Zack Langer has 17 touchdowns on the ground.

With 9 minutes remaining in the first half, Ford already had 178 receiving yards. Part of a 370-yard output for Tech in the opening two quarters.

Members of the Virginia Tech football team carry their trophy around the field after winning the Independence Bowl NCAA college football game against Tulsa in Shreveport, La., Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015. On Tulsa’s first drive, they went 75 yards in four plays and 46 seconds.

McMillian becomes the first Tech freshman since Ryan Williams in 2009 to reach that mark.

Virginia Tech and Tulsa combined for 1,158 yards of offense Saturday.