Gator Bowl: Virginia Tech Takes Clemson
J A C K S O N V I L L E, Fla., Jan. 1 -- If the Gator Bowl was the final gameof quarterback Michael Vick’s career at Virginia Tech, he went outa winner.
Vick threw for one touchdown and ran for another, and Lee Suggsran for three scores today as the No. 6 Hokies beat No. 16 Clemson41-20.
The game was billed as a duel between Vick and the Tigers’ Woody Dantzler. Both made plenty of dazzling plays, but Vick turned theball over twice and Dantzler left in the third quarter.
Headed to the Pros?
Dantzler was a virtual one-man show for the Tigers after losingtailback Travis Zachery with a broken foot after 16 ½ minutes.
Dantzler rushed 18 times for 81 yards and passed for 180 and onetouchdown, but was hammered repeatedly when the Hokies ran himdown.
Vick was 10-of-18 for 205 yards and rushed for 19 yards.
The sophomore quarterback, who spurned the chance of turning proa year ago, said last month that he’d be back at Tech again nextseason. But last week, he hinted that he might change his mind ifhe had a Gator Bowl performance that could make him one of thefirst picks in the NFL draft.
Virginia Tech (11-1), which played for the national championshiplast season, led 21-10 at halftime after some early help from theTigers.
After failing to make a first down on the opening series, Tigerspunter Jamie Somaini couldn’t handle a bouncing snap. He finallygained control and tried to run, but was tackled for an 8-yard lossat his 23.
On the first play, Vick hit Jarrett Ferguson down the middle,giving the Hokies a 7-0 lead. Ferguson later added a 5-yardtouchdown run.
Vick made it 14-0 with a 6-yard run late in the quarter, andSuggs scored his first touchdown 2:26 before halftime, making it21-10.
In between, Dantzler hit Zachery for a 23-yard touchdown passthat was the 1,000-yard rusher’s final play when he sustained abroken foot. Zachery watched the second half from the Tigers benchin sweats.
Tied for the Record
Suggs’ second score, on a 1-yard run in the third quarter, wasset up by Vick’s 55-yard pass to Andre Davis. His third, on a5-yard run with 3:41 to play, made it 41-20 and erased all hope forthe Tigers (9-3).
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