Virginia Tech recovers to defeat N. Dame

Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, IND.

Virginia Tech proved it can overcome a slow start and turnovers.

The Hokies fell behind by 17 points early and trailed by 10 to start the fourth quarter, but Jerod Evans guided them to a touchdown and a pair of field goals by Joey Slye in the quarter to beat Notre Dame 34-31 Saturday.

Evans threw for 267 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another in intermittent snow and 20 mph winds.

The Hokies (8-3) had been 0-3 when trailing at halftime this season and minus-9 in turnovers in its three losses. Evans threw an interception on a pass that bounced off the hands of Cam Phillips and fumbled when he was sacked, leading to 10 points by the Irish on the two turnovers.

Evans said the Hokies knew the game wasn’t over after falling behind 17-0.

“We know we’re more than capable of doing of what we do with the high-powered offense, so you don’t lose confidence easily when you’ve got that type of talent,” he said.

The Virginia Tech defense shut down the Irish offense in the second half.

After giving up 299 yards in total offense, the Hokies held the Irish to 150 yards in the second half — with 67 yards of that came on a touchdown run by Josh Adams that extended Notre Dame’s lead to 31-21 and 57 coming on the final drive of the game.

“They hit us on a couple of plays early that they had not shown, but our kids hung in there,” Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster said. “It was a tale of two halves. They did some unique things and we adjusted.”

DeShone Kizer, who was 13-of-18 passing for 199 yards with two touchdowns in the first half, was just 3 of 15 for 36 yards in the second half.

“We had some balls that were catchable that we didn’t catch,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said.