The game was the final contest of the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season for both teams, and ended in a 20–13 victory for Virginia Tech.
Virginia Tech was selected for the inaugural edition of the San Francisco Bowl after a 9–4 record during the 2002 college football season.
The Virginia Tech offense slowly climbed back from the initial 10-point deficit, scoring a touchdown in the first quarter and a field goal in the second.
With seven seconds remaining, Air Force quarterback Chance Harridge tried to scramble into the end zone, but was stopped before the goal line by Tech cornerback Ronyell Whitaker.
The defensive stop preserved the 20–13 Hokie victory, and Tech quarterback Bryan Randall was named the game's most valuable player.
[15] Despite that advantage, Tech head coach Frank Beamer warned his team and the public about the threat underdog Air Force posed to the Hokies' chances of winning.
[21] Air Force running back Leotis Palmer was having the best season of his career heading into the San Francisco Bowl.
[24] In the weeks before the San Francisco Bowl, Virginia Tech running back Lee Suggs was cast as the key for that offense in the game.
[30] In the starting lineup, Air Force sophomore Joel Kurzdorfer replaced Mark Marsh at strong safety who was pronounced doubtful for the game due to a lower leg injury he suffered in the days leading up to the San Francisco Bowl.
[33] Virginia Tech defensive tackle Jimmy Williams injured his ankle two days prior to the game, causing him to be unable to play.
Rain showers had fallen earlier in the day and throughout the week leading up to the game,[34] causing the field to become slippery for players.
[37] After the short gain, Falcons quarterback Chance Harridge completed a 47-yard pass to junior wide receiver Anthony Park.
The pass drove the Falcons offense deep into Virginia Tech territory, and Air Force continued to advance the ball with a series of short rushes that resulted in a first down.
Then, on the sixth play of the Air Force drive, freshman running back Matt Ward ran a reverse for 15 yards and the game's first touchdown.
[39] Air Force's post-score kickoff went out of bounds, resulting in a penalty that allowed Tech to automatically start its second offensive possession of the game at its 35-yard line.
On his first play, Randall completed a 19-yard pass that drove the Hokie offense into Air Force territory for the first time and gained Tech another first down.
Running back Anthony Butler broke free for an 18-yard gain on the third play of the drive, giving Air Force a first down.
Bryan Randall completed two quick passes to wide receiver Shawn Witten for a total of 26 yards before time in the quarter ran out.
Bryan Randall was sacked for a loss of 10 yards, however, and the Hokies turned the ball over to Air Force after failing to gain the first down.
[40] Air Force began its offensive possession at its 39-yard line, and like Virginia Tech, soon found itself facing a fourth down.
Tech began advancing the ball, and was aided by a 15-yard penalty against Air Force that pushed the Hokies deep into Falcons territory.
[40] Air Force received the kickoff and ran one quick rushing play to allow the first half to come to an end with the score tied at 10.
The Tech offense used rushes by Lee Suggs and passes by Bryan Randall to pick up several first downs and drive into Air Force territory.
[41] On the first Air Force play of the second half, quarterback Chance Harridge ran up the middle of the field for a 21-yard gain.
Instead of punting the ball, however, Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry kept his offense on the field to attempt to gain the needed two yards on fourth down.
[41] Air Force began the final quarter of play in possession of the ball and facing a third down at the Virginia Tech 29-yard line.
Considering his third fourth-down conversion in the same drive, coach DeBerry instead sent in kicker Joey Ashcroft, who kicked a 21-yard field goal to cut Virginia Tech's lead to 17–13 with 9:50 to go in the quarter.
From there, the going was less easy, as Air Force used short rushes by Anthony Butler, Harridge, and Steve Massie to gain two first downs and advance the ball into Virginia Tech territory.
[43] Tech wide receiver Ernest Wilford, who caught five passes for 50 yards, set what was then a school record for receptions in a season with 51.
[20] Attendance was low, in part due to Tech fans' reluctance to travel across the country and pay high prices for the chance to do so.