Gator Bowl results - final score: Texas Tech 31, Virginia 28

It took most of the game to really get going, but when it counted Graham Harrell and the Texas Tech defense came through, scoring 17 4th quarter points to win the Gator bowl 31-28.

Down 14 with less than 5 minutes to go, Harrell led a drive from midfield that resulted in a 20 yard TD strike to Michael Crabtree. A few plays later, Rajon Henley forced Virginia quarterback Peter Lalich to fumble, and the Red Raiders recovered on the Cavaliers' four yard line. One play later the game was tied.

Tech's defense held Virginia again, and a poor punt put them near midfield for the final drive. Kobey Lewis did most of the work, rushing four times and catching a pass from Harrell that set up the winning field goal with 7 seconds left.

The flow of the game was somewhat reminiscent of the first Virginia Tech-Boston College game, where the Hokies led the entire game until Matt Ryan led a comeback with less than five minutes to go.

After an early Harrell TD pass, the game was all Virginia for the next three quarters. The Cavaliers tied the game 7-7, with Jameel Sewell hitting Jon Stupar in the end zone.

Then the Cavalier defense got the first of its two safeties on Harrell. The second one came in the 2nd quarter, as Harrell was called for intentional grounding while in his end zone. In between the safeties, Mikell Simpson scored for Virginia on a Gator-bowl-record 96 yard run. Chris Gould added a field goal and it was 21-7 Virginia at the half.

Harrell hit Danny Amendola in the third quarter to cut the lead, but Virginia responded with a TD pass of their own, this time from Lalich, giving them a seemingly secure 28-14 lead.

Texas Tech drove to the 1-yard-line, but failed to score as Crabtree couldn't handle Harrell's fourth down throw. But the defense held and the Red Raiders got the ball back to begin the comeback effort.

Harrell finished the game 44 of 69 for 407 yards and three touchdowns and was not intercepted, despite being harrassed on many plays and, when given time, often finding few open receivers. But Michael Crabtree (9 catches, 101 yards, 1 TD) Ed Morris (9 catches, 74 yards) and Amendola (6 catches, 70 yards, 1 TD) made the most of what they could haul in.

The heartbreaking loss drops Virginia to 9-4, and raises Tech's record to the same. There might not be room in the top 25 for all these 9-4 teams!