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Independence Bowl 1984
Air Force 23 Virginia Tech 7
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Tech, 8-3, came into the game ranked No. 2 both against the rush and scoring defense. The Falcons, 7-4, were second in rushing offense with 326.5 yards per game.
The Hokics are 0-5 for their bowl appearances, Air Force became the first team to nail down two straight Independence Bowl titles.
A fourth-quarter option pass by Hokie Mark Cox was intercepted by Air Force's Scott Thomas, who brought the ball back to the Falcons 38. Air Force then drove 67 yards on 12 plays. Mike Brown's 2-yard touchdown iced the game for the Falcons.
The final Air Force score came on a 13-yard run by Weiss, who was named the offensive player of the game. The junior completed 6 of 7 passes for 49 yards and had 29 carries for 93 yards.
The bowl's top defensive player was Tech's Vince Daniels, who had 15 tackles. Outland Trophy winner Bruce Smith had eight tackles. The eligibility of the Hokies’ defensive tackle had been the center of controversy all week after the NCAA said he could not play because of involvement in recruiting violations.
The Falcons took tie lead midway through the second quarter after the Hokies fumbled on their 2-yard line and Air Force's Pat Malackowski recovered. Jody Simmons ran it in from the 3 and the extra point from Carlos Mateos made it 10-7 at the half (video).
Air Force took a 3-0 lead on Mateos’ 35- yard field goal midway through the first quarter (video). The score capped a nine-play, 48-yard drive.
Tech took a 7-3 lead when tailback Maurice Williams ran the ball in from the 3 (video).
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Virginia Tech's Vince Daniels chases down Weiss. |
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Mark Cox led Virginia Tech. |
Va. Tech's Eddie Hunter is corralled. |
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Tech's highly vaunted defense did stop the Falcons on a few occasions. |
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Fullback Pat Evans carries for Air Force. |
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Tech media guide featuring Bruce Smith. Smith was ruled eligible and had eight tackles. |
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Attendance: 41,100
Scoring Summary
First Quarter AF- FG Mateos 35 VT- Williams 3 run (Wade kick)
Second Quarter AF- Simmons 3 run (Mateos kick)
Fourth Quarter AF- Brown 2 run (Mateos kick) AF- Weiss 13 run (kick failed)
Individual Statistics
Rushing VT- Hunter 12-75, Williams 12-60, M. Cox 10-33, Bowe 4-23, Becton 3-18 AF- Weiss 29-93, Evans 15-58, Simmons 5-27, Pittman 1-24
Passing VT- M. Cox 6-17-50, Greenwood 5-8—52 AF- Weiss 6-7-49
Receiving VT- Rider 4-45, Nelson 3-24, Jones 2-21 AF- Simmons 2-7, Coleman 1-16, Fleming 1-14, Brennan 1-9
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SHREVEPORT,
La. (UPI)- Air Force quarterback Bart Weiss led a highly touted rushing
offense Saturday night to an easy 23-7 win over Virginia Tech for its
second straight Independence Bowl crown.
Smith
took the issue to court, receiving court orders from judges both in
Virginia and Louisiana that told bowl officials to allow him to play.
Hours before kickoff, the NCAA asked a Louisiana appeals court to block
Smith from playing. The three-judge panel denied the request.
