Wow, what a game. What a game. Sometimes sloppy, suprising, and weird, the Jayhawks sure did keep the Orange Bowl exciting. All you doubters, and you know who you are, suprised? Yes, Mangino is an excellent coach, and KU is for real.
By Bob Bensch
The University of Kansas beat Virginia Tech 24-21 in the Orange Bowl last night to finish the college football season with the most wins in school history.
Aqib Talib returned an interception for a touchdown and Todd Reesing threw for one score and ran for another as Kansas completed a 12-1 season at Dolphin Stadium in Miami.
Kansas, the No. 8 team in the Bowl Championship Series rankings, was playing in a major bowl game for the first time since the 1969 Orange Bowl. The Jayhawks finished with a 6-6 record last season.
Justin Harper returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown for third-ranked Virginia Tech (11-3), which lost its fourth straight BCS game. Harper also caught a touchdown pass from Sean Glennon.
Kansas took a 7-0 lead when Talib intercepted a pass from Tyrod Taylor and ran 60 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. It was the first interception return for a score at the Orange Bowl since 1968.
The Jayhawks increased their lead to 17-0 in the second quarter as Scott Webb kicked a 32-yard field goal and Reesing threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Henry.
Virginia Tech pulled within 17-7 on Brandon Ore's 1-yard touchdown run 1:24 before halftime. The Hokies then used special team trickery to make it 17-14 early in the third quarter.
Eddie Royal caught a punt and started running to his right. He pitched the ball to Harper, who was running in the opposite direction, and he returned it 84 yards for a touchdown.
Blocked Field Goal
Virginia Tech drove to the Kansas 7-yard line on its next drive before Jud Dunleavy's field goal attempt was blocked. Kansas would get to the Hokies' one later in the quarter, but Reesing threw an interception after two penalties had backed the Jayhawks up to the 29-yard line.
Kansas's Justin Thornton intercepted a Virginia Tech pass early in the fourth quarter, returning it to the Hokies' 2-yard line, and Reesing ran for the touchdown that increased the Jayhawks' lead to 24-14.
Harper's 20-yard touchdown catch would pull Virginia Tech within 24-21 with three minutes remaining. Kansas's Raimond Pendleton then recovered the ensuing onside kick and the Jayhawks ran out the clock.
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