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Defense Leads Kansas To Victory

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The Associated Press

Published: January 4, 2008

Updated: 01/04/2008 12:33 am

MIAMI - The surprising Kansas Jayhawks achieved the unexpected again Thursday - they won the Orange Bowl with defense.

While their high-powered offense was stymied most of the night, the Jayhawks came up with three interceptions and beat Virginia Tech 24-21 in the Orange Bowl to cap one of the finest seasons in school history.

The turnovers led to 17 Kansas points, including Aqib Talib's 60-yard return for the game's first score. He was chosen the game's most valuable player.

No. 8 Kansas (12-1), perhaps the biggest surprise in college football this season, won in its first Bowl Championship Series game to set a team record for victories. A year ago, the Jayhawks went 6-6.

The No. 5 Hokies (11-3) lost their fourth consecutive BCS game. It was a bittersweet finish for the Hokies, who revived campus spirits this season following the April 16 massacre that left 32 students and professors dead.

The Jayhawks played in their first major bowl since the 1969 Orange Bowl, and they made a big splash at the start, racing to a 17-0 lead after 23 minutes.
Virginia Tech closed the deficit to 17-14 before Sean Glennon was intercepted by Justin Thornton, whose 30-yard return gave Kansas the ball at the 2 with 11 minutes left. Quarterback Todd Reesing scored on the next play.
Chris Harris also had an interception to set up a field goal, and the Jayhawks totaled five sacks while allowing only two scoring drives.
Virginia Tech drove 78 yards to score with 3 minutes left on Glennon's 20-yard pass to Justin Harper. The Jayhawks' Raimond Pendleton fielded the ensuing onside kick, and they ran out the clock.

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