UK All-American Lynn Bowden Jr. was named the game's Most Valuable Player at the 2019 Belk Bowl on New Year's Eve in Charlotte, N.C. Bowden's 233 rushing yards are an NCAA record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a bowl game.
With only 19 seconds and one timeout remaining, from the Virginia Tech 13-yard line, Bowden had to go to the air. He found junior Josh Ali in the back of the end zone for the game-tying touchdown, leaving just 15 seconds on the clock. Matt Ruffolo kicked PAT to make it 31-30 before a Virginia Tech fumble led to UK's Jordan Wright's 28-yard touchdown on the last play of the game.
Moments earlier, Kentucky, trailing 30-24, took over on its own 15-yard line with 8:25 remaining in the contest. Bowden led the crucial drive with 85 yards in 18 plays, taking 8:10 off the clock. Eighteen plays are the most plays for a UK scoring drive this season. Bowden also ran or passed the ball on 16 of the 18 plays while converting a pair of fourth downs.
Kentucky finished its surprising 2019 campaign with an 8-5 mark. Virginia Tech, which owns the nation's longest active bowl streak at 27 seasons, drops to 8-5.
Photos by Jamie H. Vaught
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