2002 San Francisco Bowl
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| 2002 San Francisco Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Game | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | December 31, 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Pacific Bell Park | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | San Francisco, California | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 25,966 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Network | ESPN2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2002 San Francisco Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Air Force Falcons at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, California on December 31, 2002. The game was the final contest of the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season for both teams, and ended in a 20-13 victory for Virginia Tech.
Virginia Tech was selected for the inaugural edition of the San Francisco Bowl after a 9–4 record during the 2002 college football season.[1] Facing the Hokies were the Air Force Academy Falcons, who received their bid following an 8–4 regular season.[2]
The 2002 San Francisco Bowl kicked off on December 31, 2002 at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, California. The weather was clear and unseasonably warm for San Francisco in late December, but the field was soggy after several days of rain.[3] In the first seven minutes of the game, Air Force scored 10 consecutive points to take an early 10–0 lead. The Tech defense eventually clamped down on the Falcons' offense, however, and only allowed three points for the remainder of the game. The Virginia Tech offense slowly climbed back from the initial 10-point deficit, scoring a touchdown in the first quarter and a field goal in the second. By halftime, the Hokies had equalized the score at 10–10.[4]
In the second half, defense continued to dominate as Tech built a lead. The Hokies scored the only points of a third quarter as running back Lee Suggs ran into the end zone from one yard out, allowing Tech to take a 17–10 lead into the fourth quarter. The Falcons didn't give up easily, however. Air Force kicker Joey Ashcroft cut into the Tech lead with a 21-yard field goal. Tech matched the score later in the quarter to restore the one-touchdown lead. As time ran down, Air Force had one final chance to tie the game and send it into overtime. Beginning at its own 18-yard line with 4:11 left to play, the Falcons drove deep into Tech territory. With seven seconds remaining, Air Force quarterback Chance Harridge tried to scramble into the end zone, but was stopped before the goal line by Tech cornerback Ronyell Whitaker. The defensive stop preserved the 20–13 Hokie victory, and Tech quarterback Bryan Randall was named the game's most valuable player.[4]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Virginia Tech Football Past Schedules: 2002-2003 Virginia Tech athletics department, Hokiesports.com. Accessed February 26, 2008.
- ^ 2002 Air Force Academy Falcons football team Air Force athletics department, Goairforcefalcons.cstv.com. Accessed February 26, 2008.
- ^ Falcons Lose Inaugural San Francisco Bowl To Hokies Greg Beacham, The Associated Press. Goairforcefalcons.cstv.com. January 1, 2003. Accessed February 26, 2008.
- ^ a b 2002 San Francisco Bowl Virginia Tech athletics department, Hokiesports.com. Accessed February 26, 2008.
| Preceded by None |
San Francisco Bowl 2002 |
Succeeded by 2003 San Francisco Bowl |
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