KANSAS 24, VIRGINIA TECH 21

MIAMI — All season long the Jayhawks broke record after record and reached milestone numbers. So it was appropriate that they ended the season by becoming the only Kansas team to ever win 12 games in a 24-21 victory against Virginia Tech.

Kansas used defense and special teams to catapult its program to a whole new level in the victory. Sophomore strong safety Justin Thornton intercepted a pass from Virginia Tech quarterback Sean Glennon with 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter He returned the interception to the 2-yard line and set up a Todd Reesing rushing touchdown. The touchdown made the score 24-14 and sealed the victory for the Jayhawks.

THIRD QUARTER

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Kansas got more than a taste of ‘Beamerball’ in the third quarter – it got a meal – as Virginia Tech inched closer and only trails 17-14.

After Kansas failed to move the ball past the 35-yard line on the first possession of the second half, the legendary Virginia Tech special teams struck. Senior receiver Eddie Royal fielded the punt but tossed it back to senior receiver Josh Morgan, who sped 83 yards for a touchdown.

But it was Kansas that crashed Virginia Tech kicker Jud Denlevy’s party. Jayhawk junior linebacker Joe Mortensen burst through the line from the right side and blocked the kick.

The field goal attempt was set up by an odd play to begin with. Glennon threw up a wobbly deep pass that Talib and sophomore Justin Thornton seemed to break up. But the ball rolled onto Royal’s body and Virginia Tech sophomore tight end Greg Boone picked it up for a 31 yard completion.

The Jayhawks weren’t done with special team tricks. On a fourth down play from midfield Kansas lined up in a punt formation but direct snapped the ball to McAnderson. Instead of running, McAnderson threw a pass to sophomore receiver Micah Brown for 28 yards and a first down.

Kansas got the ball at the one-yard line following a 28-yard completion to junior Dexton Fields but ended up at the 29-yard line following two straight penalties.

Reesing then threw an interception to linebacker Cody Grimm. Reesing never could find open receivers in the third quarter. His game statistics have fallen to 19-for-34 passing with 216 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

SECOND QUARTER

Just when it was starting to look easy, Virginia Tech drove 68 yards in less than six minutes. But Kansas still leads 17-7.

Kansas seemed to be running away with the Orange Bowl for most the second quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, the Jayhawks recorded their second interception of the game. This time it was freshman cornerback Chris Harris who jumped in front of Virginia Tech junior quarterback Sean Glennon’s pass over the middle.

The Kansas offense failed to find the end zone but senior kicker Scott Webb knocked a 32-yard field goal through to put the Jayhawks up 10-0.

The Jayhawk offense got to work after that and covered 59 yards before Reesing found senior receiver Marcus Henry for a 13-yard touchdown strike. Reesing has been solid and has completed 13 of 20 passes for 123 yards.

The Virginia Tech fans at Dolphin Stadium sat down seemingly glued to their seats – subdued. But the Hokies used a Jayhawk blunder as a key moment in their only touchdown drive.

Kansas junior defensive end John Larson was called for a personal foul face-mask penalty that gave Virginia Tech the ball in the red zone. Five plays later, Virginia Tech senior running back Brandon Ore pushed forward for a one-yard touchdown.

Ore, who didn’t play the first half because of a suspension, ran for 53 yards on 12 carries in the second quarter.

FIRST QUARTER

MIAMI — Much of the talk in the week leading up to the Orange Bowl revolved around the efficiency Virginia Tech had established with its two-quarterback system.

But that efficiency didn’t find its way to Miami in the first half. When Virginia Tech freshman quarterback Tyrod Taylor entered the game, bad things happened. The worst for Virginia Tech was an interception by Kansas senior cornerback Aqib Talib, who returned it for 51 yards and a touchdown. The Jayhawks lead 7-0.

Taylor was also sacked twice and didn’t re-enter the game. Talib prematurely celebrated his touchdown by high-stepped his way into the endzone. It drew an unsportsmanlike penalty call on the Jayhawks.

But Kansas coach Mark Mangino didn’t berate Talib like he infamously did to punt returner Raimond Pendleton earlier in the season. Maybe that’s because he was counting on Talib to stand out more in the first quarter.

After a missed field goal by Virginia Tech kicker Jud Dunlevy, Talib fielded in the back of the end zone and returned it to the 40-yard line. Talib needed a big night to boost his NFL Draft status and so far, he’s done that.

Senior kicker Scott Webb couldn’t put early points on the board for the Jayahwks once again. Webb, who missed two field goals in the season-ending loss to Missouri, soiled a 43-yard Kansas drive when he missed a 44-yard field goal. The Jayhawk offense had started as slow as a 1960s Ford pick-up truck all season but looked more like a Porsche in Dolphin Stadium.

The Jayhawks had four first downs on their first drive. Coming into the game, Kansas only had one first down on its first possession all season. The highlight of the possession came on a play-action pass out to senior running back Brandon McAnderson in the flat. McAnderson rumbled down the field for 18 yards.