The Game
Alabama played in and won the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff for the second consecutive year, defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies 34-24. After Bama opened the game by kicking two field goals, Dyrell Roberts of Tech ran back a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown to give VT a 7-6 lead. After a third Leigh Tiffin field goal Virginia Tech intercepted a Greg McElroy pass and took possession at the Alabama 14, but the Tide defense held up and the Hokies settled for a field goal and a 10-9 lead. Alabama responded by driving 76 yards for a touchdown and a 16-10 lead, the big plays coming on a 14-yard run by Mark Ingram and passes of 16 and 10 yards from McElroy to Julio Jones. However, on the ensuing Virginia Tech possession three personal foul penalties and a pass interference penalty carried the Hokies downfield for a touchdown and a 17-16 lead. The score remained 17-16 after Leigh Tiffin missed a 36-yard field goal at the end of the first half.
In the third quarter Roy Upchurch fumbled the ball away at the Virginia Tech 9 after a long run and another opportunity was missed. Early in the fourth quarter, with Tech still leading by a point, McElroy hit Marquis Maze for a 48-yard completion to the Virginia Tech 6 and Mark Ingram scored a touchdown on the next play. A successful two-point conversion gave Alabama a 24-17 lead. Alabama got the ball back immediately when Virginia Tech fumbled the kickoff and Chris Rogers recovered for the Tide at the Tech 21. The ensuing Alabama drive stalled at the 3 but Leigh Tiffin's fourth field goal made the score 27-17. Strong special teams play by the Hokies and Alabama penalties victimized the Tide again as a long return and a personal foul set up a 32-yard run by Ryan Williams of Tech that cut the lead to 27-24. Alabama quickly struck back, as Ingram rushed for 39 yards, McElroy completed a 19-yard pass to tight end Colin Peek, and then McElroy threw to Ingram for an 18-yard touchdown and a 34-24 lead. Virginia Tech never threatened to score again and Alabama won its opener, 34-24.
Virginia Tech went on to go 10-3 on the season and finish tenth in the final AP poll. Alabama would finish the season a perfect 14-0, winning both the SEC and National Championships.
Read more about this topic: 2009 Chick-fil-A College Kickoff
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