Evans rallies Virginia Tech to 34-31 victory over Notre Dame

Notre Dame wraps up the season at USC next Saturday in what will likely be Kizer’s last game as the Notre Dame quarterback unless he makes a surprising decision to return for his senior season.

The Hokies close the regular season next Saturday when they take on Virginia in the two programs’ annual rivalry game. From there, it took two runs from Steven Peoples to get the visitors within 24-21 just over two minutes into the second half. Then, I really wasn’t very happy when I got the penalty – not with the officials, but with myself.

The Hokies turned it over on their opening drive, with the ball slipping out of Evans’ hand on a screen pass near midfield for a fumble. “I’m a Texas boy, so anything below 60 is super cold to me, but I definitely don’t let that affect me”. I’m really excited about the character we have on this team and I know we’re going to bounce back. That score cut the Notre Dame lead to 24-21.

Between the start of the second half and the Fighting Irish’s final drive of the game, the Hokies allowed just 98 yards of offense to give Evans and Co. a chance to come back from a 24-14 halftime deficit. In 2012, Tech trailed Duke 20-0 before rallying to beat the Blue Devils 41-20.

A gutty effort by DeShone Kizer wasn’t enough to get it done.

Notre Dame’s young secondary couldn’t keep pace with Virginia Tech’s talented receivers.

“Destiny was in our hands”, Tech defensive end Ken Ekanem said of stopping Notre Dame late in the game. Kizer picked apart the secondary again before finding Miles Boykin on an 18-yard touchdown.

Evans paced the Hokies’ offense, accounting for 334 yards of offense.

The Hokies finally responded early in the second quarter when Evans ran 23 yards for a touchdown to complete a nine-play, 61-yard drive. And after leaning on National Football League talent like Will Fuller and C.J.

“I obviously disagreed with the call vehemently”, Fuente said.

“It’s definitely frustrating in the fact that we’ve lost by three points, five points, seven points, eight points – nothing substantial”, senior defensive end Isaac Rochell, who’s among the guys who deserved better in their final seasons at Notre Dame, said.

Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente said the Hokies played better after halftime.

“I don’t know yet”, Kizer said of whether he will stay or go. Sanders for a 22-yard gain on third-and-10, setting up the first one-yard touchdown run on the following play.

Each week of the season, Tech has awarded the No. 25 jersey to the team’s top performing special teams player that week.

Items: Tranquill’s interception was the second of his career. The Irish win by a touchdown.

When asked about the offensive coaching structure and the decision to give-up play-calling, Kelly steered clear of any second-guessing. On first down from the Irish’s own 33, Adams burst through for a touchdown to stun Tech’s defense.

Hodges’ touchdown catch highlighted a productive fourth quarter for Tech’s offense.

“Six and six is a big feat to get to rather than being 5-7”.

“We had some balls that were catchable that we didn’t catch”. And any hope of stealing a bowl appearance with two wins against the season’s toughest back-to-back is finished. In a three-point game, those matter. The Hokies are 6-4 with the under this season, having hit the under in three straight games. Evans found Ford for a 20-yard reception down the sideline and the Jacksonville, Florida, native used his legs to set up Slye for a 20-yard field goal.