2002 Continental Tire Bowl
The first edition of the Continental Tire Bowl, the game was the final contest of the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season[Note 1] for both teams, and ended in a 48–22 victory for Virginia.
[2] The two teams had played each other twenty-two times historically, although not since 1985; the Cavaliers held a 12–10–1 advantage in the all-time series.
[3] West Virginia's first game of the 2002 season was against Division I–AA Chattanooga; the Mountaineers won handily 56–7.
22[Note 2] South Carolina, saw the breakout of future National Football League (NFL) starting quarterback Matt Schaub, who threw three touchdown passes in a 34–21 win.
[6] The Virginia Cavaliers received the ball to start the game, fielding the kickoff at the 1-yard line and returning it to the 15.
The play was good for a touchdown; after the successful extra-point, the Cavaliers held a 7–3 lead with 4:06 left in the first quarter.
On 3rd-and-5 from their own 27-yard-line, Mountaineer quarterback Rasheed Marshall completed a 43-yard pass to wide receiver Phil Braxton, moving his team into Virginia territory.
This play was far less successful, however; Phil Braxton's pass was intercepted by Cavalier linebacker Darryl Blackstock.
With only seconds left in the half, West Virginia upon getting the ball back attempted a Hail Mary pass that was caught by wide receiver Miquelle Henderson; unfortunately, he was four yards short of the goal line, and West Virginia did not have enough time to run a play before the half expired.
Virginia began their drive at their own 25-yard-line, and achieved two first downs off Matt Schaub passes, moving to midfield.
[9] West Virginia's misfortunes continued on their next drive, when, on the first play from scrimmage, Rasheed Marshall's pass was intercepted by cornerback Almondo Curry.
Instead, Connor Hughes kicked a 27-yard field goal, expanding the Virginia lead to 38–10 with 6:48 left in the quarter.
Starting from their own 20-yard-line, West Virginia drove down the field off of Rasheed Marshall passes and Avon Cobourne runs.
Connor Hughes kicked the 30-yard field goal, giving Virginia a 41–16 lead with 12:12 left in the game.
Starting from their own 19-yard-line, West Virginia earned six first downs and finally scored the touchdown on a 1-yard rush by Avon Cobourne.
On 3rd-and-4 from the West Virginia 31-yard-line, however, Wali Lundy broke free and ran all the way to the end zone for the final score of the game.
[10] For his performance in the 2002 Continental Tire Bowl—4 touchdowns and 203 total yards receiving and rushing—Virginia running back Wali Lundy was named the most valuable player of the game.
In the running game, second after Lundy's performance was Matt Schaub's effort—seven carries, 39 yards, and a touchdown.
Safety Marquis Weeks, playing offense, ran three times for a net loss of three yards.
West Virginia's receiving attack was led by Phil Braxton, who caught four passes for 108 yards.
