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Virginia Tech rolls past Cincinnati in 2014 Military Bowl Virginia Tech rolls past Cincinnati in 2014 Military Bowl
(about 3 hours later)
ANNAPOLIS — J.C. Coleman ran for 157 yards and a touchdown, and Virginia Tech harassed and ultimately injured Cincinnati quarterback Gunner Kiel while rolling to a 33-17 victory Saturday in the Military Bowl. Once the trophy presentation was over, and the son with the famous last name stood soaking wet from a postgame water bath and the oft-forgotten running back cradled his most valuable player award, Virginia Tech director of football operations John Ballein got up in front of the entire team and began to read a note written by Hokies Coach Frank Beamer.
Kiel was knocked out of the game in the third quarter during a play that virtually assured the Hokies (7-6) a 22nd consecutive winning season. The 68-year-old Beamer had just spent Saturday’s Military Bowl wearing a headset in the coaches’ booth, unable to speak loudly or for long stretches as he recovers from throat surgery performed earlier this month. This message, though, ended in familiar fashion – with Frank Beamer gyrating his hips and arms as part of a routine linebacker Deon Clarke later dubbed “The Little Twist.”
Deon Clarke sacked Kiel and forced a fumble at the Cincinnati 43-yard line. Nigel Williams picked up the ball and fumbled at the 12, where teammate Greg Stroman scooped it up and took it into the end zone for a 27-10 lead. “He told the players in the locker room, ‘He may not be able to talk, but he can still dance,’ and went through probably one of his greatest dance routines this year,” Shane Beamer said.
Kiel remained down for several minutes and was helped off the field before being taken to the locker room. The 6-foot-4 sophomore did not return, and without him Cincinnati (9-4) had little chance to mount a comeback. Virginia Tech had plenty of reason to celebrate after storming to a 33-17 win over Cincinnati at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, none more important than salvaging its 22nd straight winning record (7-6) in a season that will ultimately be remembered as disappointing.
Kiel finished 14 for 26 for 244 yards, but his three turnovers led to the end of Bearcats’ seven-game winning streak. But the immediate story lines revolved around Frank Beamer, who had been detached from the program during bowl preparations this month and only arrived in Annapolis on Friday night. He had only missed one other game throughout his 28-year tenure at Virginia Tech – a 30-13 win over Tulane in 1989 when then-associate head coach Billy Hite led the Hokies while Beamer recovered from a heart procedure.
The Notre Dame transfer finished the season with 3,254 yards passing, the third-highest total in school history. Shane Beamer, the program’s associate head coach since 2011, took over his father’s sideline duties Saturday and the team responded with a throwback performance befitting the program’s “Beamerball” moniker.
Michael Brewer went 14 for 24 for 94 yards and a touchdown to guide the Hokies to their highest point total since a 34-17 win at North Carolina on Oct. 4. “I’ve had many proud moments in my time at Virginia Tech, but this is one of my proudest,” Frank Beamer said in a statement read by Shane. “When you consider the constant adversity we’ve had to endure this season, it’s just rewarding that we believed in one another and continued to fight our way through it.
Virginia Tech Coach Frank Beamer worked in the upstairs coaching box to avoid the risk of infection during his recovery from throat surgery. The Hokies were making their 22nd consecutive bowl appearance under Beamer, whose last losing season at Tech was in 1992. “I want to personally thank the players and the coaching staff [for] their focus and hard work going into and during this bowl game. I thought we looked like a prepared football team that played with passion.”
The Hokies opened the second half with a 75-yard drive for a touchdown and a 20-10 lead. Coleman opened the possession with four carries for 43 yards before Brewer tossed a touchdown pass to tight end Ryan Malleck on third and goal from the 1. Junior tailback J.C. Coleman earned MVP honors, rushing for a season-high 157 yards and one touchdown even after Virginia Tech lost center David Wang and fullback Sam Rogers to injury. He also spearheaded a powerful 75-yard drive to begin the second half, pounding the ball on the ground before a play-action touchdown pass from one yard out to tight end Ryan Malleck.
Minutes later, Kiel’s fumble enabled the many Virginia Tech fans among the crowd of 34,277 to breathe easier. The tide then turned for good with one of the wackier plays this season.
Freshman Joey Slye kicked four field goals for the Hokies, who finally got a noteworthy victory to add to their upset at Ohio State on Sept. 6. On Cincinnati’s ensuing drive, Clarke sacked and stripped Bearcats quarterback Gunner Kiel. Sophomore Nigel Williams, a 291-pound defensive tackle, grabbed the loose ball and rumbled down the field before fumbling at the 12-yard-line. But defensive back Greg Stroman (Stonewall Jackson) scooped up the ball in full stride and dragged Cincinnati wide receiver Chris Moore into the end zone to give the Hokies a 30-10 lead midway through the third quarter.
Virginia Tech led 13-10 at halftime despite a 307-148 deficit in yardage. “That was a gut puncher,” said Coleman, who had at least 95 rushing yards in the past four games after being relegated to a minor role midway through this campaign.
The Hokies picked off two passes and Slye kicked field goals of 45 and 49 yards, the latter coming on the final play of the half. Kiel, who threw for 233 of his 244 yards in the first half, did not return after that hit due to concussion-like symptoms and Cincinnati (9-4) never recovered. The Bearcats were forced to use Wildcat formations and fourth-string quarterback Michael Colosimo because of an injury to back-up Munchie Legaux and a suspension to third-string signal caller Jarred Evans.
Kiel threw for 179 yards in the first quarter, including a 40-yarder to Shaq Washington on the game’s first play. But the drive ended with a missed field goal. Virginia Tech’s defense gave up more than 300 yards before halftime, including seven plays of more than 15 yards in the first quarter, and allowed 489 yards for the game. But first-half interceptions by cornerbacks Kendall Fuller and Chuck Clark helped stem Cincinnati’s early momentum.
Kiel threw for 84 yards in an 89-yard drive later in the quarter that ended with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Rod Moore. Offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler sat next to Beamer in the coaches’ box and noted his boss was “very into the game,” and made sure to tell Loeffler, “Just make sure we run the ball here,” when Virginia Tech took its commanding third-quarter lead and Kiel left the game.
Virginia Tech answered with a one-yard touchdown run by Coleman, who was named the game’s most valuable player. The Hokies successfully executed a trick play during the possession when Brewer caught a 30-yard pass from freshman wide receiver Isaiah Ford. “There were a few grunts and groans on some plays. I did hear that over the headphones,” Shane Beamer added.
Kiel’s second interception led to a Virginia Tech field goal. Late in the half, Kiel directed an 86-yard drive that produced a field goal for a temporary tie. By the time Frank Beamer got to the locker room, though, any concerns took a backseat to the dance moves that have become a comic tradition after every win this year.
“We knew how badly he wanted to be out there,” quarterback Michael Brewer said. “He can’t say much right now, but he shook my hand, gave me a hug and said that he’s proud of me, and that was a special feeling.”