2019 Belk Bowl
{{short description|Postseason college football bowl game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA football yearly game
| game_name = Belk Bowl
| subheader = 18th Belk Bowl
| title_sponsor =
| image =
| caption =
| date_game_played = December 31
| year_game_played = 2019
| football_season = 2019
| stadium = Bank of America Stadium
| city = Charlotte, North Carolina
| visitor_school = Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
| visitor_name_short = Virginia Tech
| visitor_nickname = Hokies
| visitor_record = 8–4
| visitor_conference = ACC
| visitor_rank_AP =
| visitor_rank_coaches =
| visitor_rank_CFP =
| visitor_coach = Justin Fuente
| visitor_1q = 10
| visitor_2q = 7
| visitor_3q = 10
| visitor_4q = 3
| home_school = University of Kentucky
| home_name_short = Kentucky
| home_nickname = Wildcats
| home_record = 7–5
| home_conference = SEC
| home_rank_AP =
| home_rank_coaches =
| home_rank_CFP =
| home_coach = Mark Stoops
| home_1q = 7
| home_2q = 7
| home_3q = 10
| home_4q = 13
| MVP = Lynn Bowden (QB, Kentucky){{cite tweet |author=Jeff Drummond |user=JDrumUK |number=1212108560286519296 |date=December 31, 2019 |title=Cats presented with Belk Bowl trophy as MVP Lynn Bowden holds his son alongside Mark Stoops. #BBN}}
| odds = Virginia Tech by 1.5{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401135283 |title=Virginia Tech vs. Kentucky - Game Summary |website=ESPN.com |access-date=December 31, 2019}}
| anthem =
| halftime =
| referee = David Alvarez (Big 12){{cite web |url=http://www.footballzebras.com/2019/12/2019-20-bowl-officiating-assignments/ |title=2019-20 bowl officiating assignments |website=footballzebras.com |date=December 9, 2019 |access-date=December 20, 2019}}
| attendance = 44,138{{cite tweet |author=Nick Carboni |user=NickCarboniWCNC |number=1212095699149606912 |date=December 31, 2019 |title=44,138 is @belkbowl attendance}}
| payout = 4,780,461{{cite web |url=http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bowl-schedule/2019/ |title=2019 Bowl Schedule |website=collegefootballpoll.com |access-date=December 13, 2019}}
| us_network = ESPN & ESPN Radio
| us_announcers = ESPN: Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Anthony Becht (analyst) and Rocky Boiman (sideline)
ESPN Radio: Chris Cotter (play-by-play), Mark Herzlich (analyst) and Kelsey Riggs (sideline)
| ratings =
| intl_network =
| intl_announcers =
| different_next = 2020
}}
The 2019 Belk Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 31, 2019, with kickoff at 12:00 p.m. EST on ESPN.{{cite web |title=2019-20 college football bowl schedule, games, dates, times, TV channels |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/2019-20-college-football-bowl-schedule-games-dates-times-tv-channels/ |website=CBSSports.com |access-date=June 19, 2019 |language=en}} It was the 18th edition of the Belk Bowl, and was one of the 2019–20 bowl games concluding the 2019 FBS football season. The game was sponsored by department store chain Belk.
Teams
The game was played between the Virginia Tech Hokies from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Kentucky Wildcats from the Southeastern Conference (SEC). This was the 20th meeting between the programs; Kentucky entered the game leading the all-time series, 11–6–2.{{cite web |url=http://www.winsipedia.com/kentucky/vs/virginia-tech |title=Kentucky Wildcats vs. Virginia Tech Hokies football series history |website=winsipedia.com |access-date=December 8, 2019}}
=Virginia Tech Hokies=
{{main|2019 Virginia Tech Hokies football team}}
Virginia Tech entered the bowl with an 8–4 record (5–3 in conference). They finished second in the ACC's Coastal Division. The Hokies were 1–1 against ranked FBS teams, defeating Wake Forest and losing to Notre Dame. This was Virginia Tech's second Belk Bowl; their 2016 team won that season's Belk Bowl over Arkansas, 35–24.
=Kentucky Wildcats=
{{main|2019 Kentucky Wildcats football team}}
Kentucky entered the bowl with a 7–5 record (3–5 in conference). They finished in the three-way tie for fourth place in the SEC's East Division. The Wildcats lost to both ranked FBS teams that they played, Florida and Georgia. This was Kentucky's first appearance in the Belk Bowl.
Game summary
{{Americanfootballbox
|titlestyle= background:#032BED; color:#FFFFFF; border: 2px solid #49BCFF; text-align:center;
|state=autocollapse
|bg=#fff
|bg2=#eee
|title=2019 Belk Bowl
|date=Tuesday, December 31, 2019
|time=12:00 p.m. EST
|road=Virginia Tech
|R1=10|R2=7|R3=10|R4=3
|home=Kentucky
|H1=7|H2=7|H3=10|H4=13
|stadium= Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, North Carolina
|attendance=44,138
|weather=Sunny • Temperature: {{convert|52|F|C}} • Wind: SW 9 mph
|National Anthem=Sofia Swade
|referee=David Alvarez
|TV=ESPN
|TVAnnouncers=Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Anthony Becht (analyst) and Rocky Boiman (sideline)
|reference= [https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401135283 ESPN game summary]
|scoring=
;First Quarter
- (11:15) VT – Brian Johnson 54 yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 39 yards, 3:45; Virginia Tech 3–0)
- (4:20) UK – Lynn Bowden 25 yard rush, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 6:55; Kentucky 7–3)
- (2:04) VT – Hendon Hooker 18 yard pass to Damon Hazelton, Brian Johnson kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:16; Virginia Tech 10–7)
;Second Quarter
- (10:20) VT – Hendon Hooker 6 yard pass to Dalton Keene, Brian Johnson kick (Drive: 9 plays, 60 yards, 4:40; Virginia Tech 17–7)
- (0:53) UK – Chris Rodruiguez Jr. 2 yard rush, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 8 plays, 64 yards, 4:09; Virginia Tech 17–14)
;Third Quarter
- (11:29) UK – Matt Ruffolo 40 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 43 yards, 3:31; Tied 17–17)
- (9:57) VT – Deshawn McClease 43 yard rush, Brian Johnson kick (Drive: 4 plays, 76 yards, 1:26; Virginia Tech 24–17)
- (7:57) UK – Lynn Bowden 61 yard rush, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:00; Tied 24–24)
- (3:13) VT – Brian Johnson 40 yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 53 yards, 4:44; Virginia Tech 27–24)
;Fourth Quarter
- (12:47) VT – Brian Johnson 27 yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 30 yards, 2:46; Virginia Tech 30–24)
- (0:15) UK – Lynn Bowden 13 yard pass to Josh Ali, Matt Ruffolo kick (Drive: 18 plays, 85 yards, 8:10; Kentucky 31–30)
- (0:00) UK – Jordan Wright 28 yard fumble return (Kentucky 37–30)
}}
=Statistics=
{{AmFootballGameStatistics
| Float = left
| Visitor = Virginia Tech Hokies
| VisitorDisplay = VT
| Home = Kentucky Wildcats
| HomeDisplay = UK
| VisFirsts = 20
| VisPlaysYds = 55–329
| VisRushing = 33–219
| VisPassYds = 110
| VisPassing = 12–22–0
| VisTOP = 24:14
| HomeFirsts = 22
| HomePlaysYds = 68–404
| HomeRushing = 55–331
| HomePassYds = 73
| HomePassing = 6–13–1
| HomeTOP = 35:46
}}
{{AmFootballGameTopPlayers
| Float = right
| Visitor = Virginia Tech Hokies
| VisitorDisplay = Virginia Tech
| Home = Kentucky Wildcats
| HomeDisplay = Kentucky
| VisPasser = Hendon Hooker
| VisPassStats = 12/22, 110 yards, 2 TD
| VisRusher = Deshawn McClease
| VisRushStats = 11 carries, 126 yards, 1 TD
| VisReceiver = James Mitchell
| VisReceivingStats = 3 receptions, 36 yards
| HomePasser = Lynn Bowden
| HomePassStats = 6/12, 73 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
| HomeRusher = Lynn Bowden
| HomeRushStats = 34 carries, 233 yards, 2 TD
| HomeReceiver = Josh Ali
| HomeReceivingStats = 4 receptions, 52 yards, 1 TD
}}
{{clear}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{official website|https://belkbowl.com/}}
- [http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=288110 Game statistics] at statbroadcast.com
{{2019 bowl game navbox}}
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