"It's something I'll remember for the rest of my life," said Martin, a fifth-year senior. "I was supposed to be spying a back on that play, and when he came across the formation, and he came back across and I felt the screen and just jumped in front of the ball. I just dove for it. I used to catch some balls like that back in high school playing tight end but haven't done it in a while."
Cincinnati, champions of the Big East Conference, looked poised to retaliate and cut into the lead with 11:29 left to play in the fourth quarter. On the next possession, it moved the ball 59 yards down to the Tech one-yard line.
However, the Bearcats were stopped on a fourth and goal by redshirt freshman linebacker Barquell Rivers and redshirt junior rover Dorian Porch. Tech (10-4) took over on downs, went three and out and Brent Bowden was poised to punt the ball back to the opposition. But then, a roughing the kicker penalty on Cincinnati's John Goebel meant the Hokies retained possession and got to eat more time off the clock.
Tech moved 33 yards down the field and Bowden was called back on the field for a 41-yard boot. Cincinnati's must-score drive late in the contest began at its 48-yard line, but quarterback Tony Pike's first pass of the series was intercepted by linebacker Cody Grimm at the 45-yard line with 2:18 left.
Tech sophomore quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who went 13-of-22 for 140 passing yards and an interception, knelt the ball for the last plays of the game, confirming the Hokies' first triumph in a Bowl Championship Series contest, their first Orange Bowl victory and the fifth straight season in which the program won 10 games.
"I can't say enough about our players and our coaches," Beamer said, whose bowl record rose to 7-9 after 16 straight appearances. "We've had some great, great seasons and all that, but I think this is the best football team that we've ever had at Virginia Tech."
Beamer's freshmen-laden team produced a season-high 398 yards of total offense.
After the first half, Tech had accumulated 255 yards of offense; 21 more yards in total offense than against Boston College in the ACC Championship game. Tech also controlled the ball with 18:15 time of possession over Cincinnati's 11:45.
The 'Cats gunned to a fast lead after quarterback Tony Pike, 16 for 33, 239 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions, connected with Mardy Gilyard for a 38-yard gain down the right sideline. On third and nine, Pike lofted a pass toward the left end zone corner to Gilyard again, who caught the 15 yard touchdown with a dragging right foot to put Cincinnati up 7-0 early, capping off a six-play, 72-yard drive that wore just 1:52 off the clock.
Tech's offense replied to the Bearcats' potency quickly. On the first play of their first drive, the Hokies got a a 27-yard gain off an end around run from freshman wide out Dyrell Roberts. Next, redshirt freshman Danny Coale caught a 34-yard pass from Taylor to the Cincinnati 14. Ultimately, the drive went for naught, as redshirt senior kicker Dustin Keys missed wide right on a 26-yard field goal attempt.
The second quarter saw the Hokies even the score. After looking to pass on third and nine, the pocket caved, Taylor went up the middle, dived right, slipped up Cincinnati linebacker Corey Smith and then went far left grazing the near corner pylon for an elusive 17-yard touchdown run -- his seventh of the season. Keys knocked the extra point through and finished off a nine-play, 73-yard march that lasted 5:08 and knotted the teams at 7-7.
Later in the period, Taylor threw a pass intended for freshman Jarrett Boykin, who was under double coverage. The throw was eventually intercepted by Cincinnati's Brandon Underwood with 4:52 left in the half.
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