As the finals approach in our virtual BCS tournament -- the premise of which you can read here -- the games have become closer and much more exciting. It's sort of how you'd expect it in a real playoff, and the semifinal match between No. 6 Louisville and No. 15 Virginia Tech at Sun Devil Stadium was no exception.
Louisville advanced here by beating No. 11 Notre Dame and No. 3 Michigan. Virginia Tech pulled off two upsets, first over No. 2 Florida and then over No. 7 Wisconsin.
This semifinal game lived up to any expectations. Down four with a minute left, Louisville junior quarterback Brian Brohm began moving his team down the field and eventually found junior wide receiver Harry Douglas for a 59-yard touchdown pass with 23 seconds remaining to give the Cardinals a 31-28 win. It also clinched a berth in the finals against No. 8 Boise State.
The pass capped a third straight unbelievable game from Brohm, who completed 22 of 26 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner.
He was put in the position, though, after Virginia Tech junior linebacker Xavier Adibi returned a fumble 49 yards to give the Hokies the 28-24 lead. It also finished off a three touchdown swing for Virginia Tech, which trailed 24-7 with 3:01 left in the third quarter.
Overall, it may have been the best game of the tournament thus far. See you at the championship between No. 8 Boise State and No. 6 Louisville from the Rose Bowl.
Stats:
Virginia Tech: Passing -- Glennon 16-20-0-207, 1 TD. Rushing -- Bell 9-90, 2 TDs. Receiving -- Royal 6-105, 1 TD; Wheeler 5-46; Bell 2-(-7); Morgan 1-55. Defensive -- Hall 11 tkl., 3 TFL, SK, FF; Flowers 5 tkl.; Hill 4 tkl.; Cheeseman 2 tkl., TFL, SK; Adibi 3 tkl., FR, TD.
Louisville: Passing -- Brohm 22-26-0-292, 3 TDs. Rushing -- Smith 16-45, 1 TD. Receiving -- Urrutia 6-75; Riley 6-45, 1 TD; Douglas 4-91, 2 TDs; Barnidge 2-37; Smith 2-33. Defensive -- Jackson 4 tkl.; Brown 3 tkl., TFL, SK, FF; Harris 3 tkl., TFL, SK; Douglas FF; Grady FR. Kicking -- Carmody 1/1 FG, Long 38.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette
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