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Fiction: I-A Playoff Results, 12/15/2004

New Orleans Bowl
Memphis demolished North Texas, 42-11, in a game that wasn't even that close. Played in the Superdome in front of a modest crowd of 26,000 fans or so, RB DeAngelo Williams powered for 212 yards and 3 TDs, giving him the New Orleans Bowl MVP Trophy.

Continental Tire Bowl
A sold-out Bank of America stadium witnessed a thriller as lower-ranked Georgia upset the Hokies of Virginia Tech 25-19 in triple overtime.

Fans throughout the south will need some serious valium after this nailbiter.

In this battle of the south, the score was 13-6 in favor of the Bulldogs with 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter. Then Tech Brian Randall finally broke a 24-yard run to the outside, putting Tech in the red zone. Taking no chances, six plays later, RB Cedric Humes powered in on 3rd-and-goal to knot the game up at 13 with 3 minutes left. Bulldog QB David Greene led a 3-and-out, leaving the Georgia defense to hold onto the win. Driving to the 30 yard line, a 47 yard Brandon Pace field goal fell short.

Virginia Tech and Georgia showed the real hearts of champions as both lines held firm in the first two overtimes, forcing 4 made field goals. Bank of America stadium set a new record for loudness as Tech and Bulldog crazies launched primal screams at both kickers, but both prevailed.

The Bulldogs struck first in OT, following a Greene TD pass to WR Fred Gibson. QB D.J. Shockley tried to run the option for the 2-point conversion but was stuffed at the line by the Tech "D". Then it was up the Bulldog line to hold Randall and the Tech defense. After getting first and goal at the 10, the first play was an incompletion. Second down was a huge sack setting up a third and 16. A draw play made it 4th and 9, as both sets of delerious fans made things wild down on the field. Randall's pass was batted down in the end zone, and the Bulldogs made the first-ever I-A playoff game a memorable one, as they advance.

Quentin Moses, with 4 sacks, 3 knockdowns and an interception, was the MVP.

Insight Bowl
Another sellout crowd saw Cal dispose of Miami of Florida 34-21 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona. In this game, it was the Golden Bears fans who did most of the cheering as Cal, led by Bowl MVP J.J. Arrington, scored 21 second-quarter points and never really looked back.

Arrington rushed for TDs of 1, 5, and 20 yards in the second quarter, one of which was spurred by a fumble by QB Brock Berlin, setting up the Bears on the Miami 24. A Tyrone Moss 4 yard explosion through the middle cut the lead to 21-14, but the Bears, led by an impressive passing display by QB Aaron Rodgers, drove the length of the field to set up a Tom Schneider FG at the half to extend their lead to 10.

In the 3rd quarter, Arrington really took over as the Bears drove the length of the field chewing up 8 minutes off the clock, punching it in to extend their lead. Throw in a key Moss fumble at midfield, which the Bears turned into points, and the game was pretty much over. A Brock Berlin TD pass to WR Roscoe Parrish made the score respectable at the end.

Second-Round Matchup
In the second round, Georgia and Cal will play in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida at 3:00PM on December 24th. Gator Bowl officials were a little disappointed that the Hurricanes couldn't pull off the upset to play a "home game" for their fans, but are happy that Georgia fans will be able to make their second trip in as many weeks for postseason football.

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