2018 Military Bowl

The 2018 Military Bowl was a college football bowl game that was played on December 31, 2018.^[5] It was the 11th edition of the Military Bowl, and was one of the 2018–19 bowl games concluding the 2018 FBS football season. Sponsored by defense contractor Northrop Grumman, the game was officially known as the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman.

2018 Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman
11th Military Bowl
Coin toss prior to the game
Cincinnati Bearcats Virginia Tech Hokies (10–2) (6–6) The American ACC 35 31 Head coach:  Luke Fickell Head coach:  Justin Fuente
1 2 3 4 Total Cincinnati 7 7 7 14 35 Virginia Tech 7 7 10 7 31
Date	December 31, 2018
Season	2018
Stadium	Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Location	Annapolis, Maryland
MVP	Michael Warren II (RB, Cincinnati)[1]
Favorite	Cincinnati by 5[2]
Referee	Kevin Hassell (Mountain West)
Attendance	32,832[3]
Payout	US$2,067,000 [4]
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN & ESPN Radio
Announcers	Mike Corey, Rene Ingoglia and Alex Corddry (ESPN) Marc Kestecher and Brad Edwards (ESPN Radio)
Military Bowl  < 2017  2019 >

Teams

The game was played between Virginia Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Cincinnati of the American Athletic Conference (The American).^[6] The two programs had previously met 11 times, with Virginia Tech holding a 6–5 lead in the series.^[7] It was their second meeting in the Military Bowl, having previously contested the 2014 edition, with Virginia Tech winning 33–17.

Virginia Tech Hokies

Main article: 2018 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

Virginia Tech received and accepted a bid to the Military Bowl on December 2.^[6] The Hokies entered the bowl with a 6–6 record (4–4 in conference). After starting the season 4–2, the Hokies lost four games in a row, then finished with two wins, giving them the six wins needed for bowl eligibility. This was Virginia Tech's 26th consecutive bowl appearance, having played in a bowl every season since the 1993 Independence Bowl.^[8]

Cincinnati Bearcats

Main article: 2018 Cincinnati Bearcats football team

Cincinnati received and accepted a bid to the Military Bowl on December 2.^[6] The Bearcats entered the bowl with a 10–2 record (6–2 in conference).

Game summary

Scoring summary

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP CIN VT 1 10:22 10 63 4:38 VT Eric Kumah 21-yard touchdown reception from Ryan Willis, Brian Johnson kick good 0 7 1 7:46 6 75 2:36 CIN Charles McClelland 38-yard touchdown reception from Desmond Ridder, Ryan Jones kick good 7 7 2 11:22 7 50 3:31 CIN Michael Warren (CIN) fumble recovered by Kahlil Lewis in the end zone, Ryan Jones kick good 14 7 2 7:04 12 84 4:18 VT Steven Peoples 1-yard touchdown run, Brian Johnson kick good 14 14 3 10:21 8 69 3:43 VT 28-yard field goal by Brian Johnson 14 17 3 9:16 6 65 1:05 CIN Michael Warren 40-yard touchdown run, Ryan Jones kick good 21 17 3 1:52 14 72 4:13 VT Chris Cunningham 2-yard touchdown reception from Ryan Willis, Brian Johnson kick good 21 24 4 12:44 10 75 4:08 CIN Hayden Moore 19-yard touchdown run, Ryan Jones kick good 28 24 4 10:32 4 45 2:12 VT Ryan Willis 5-yard touchdown run, Brian Johnson kick good 28 31 4 1:29 5 64 2:16 CIN Michael Warren 8-yard touchdown run, Ryan Jones kick good 35 31 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 35 31

Statistics

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearcats	7	7	7	14	35
Hokies	7	7	10	7	31

Statistics	CIN	VT
First downs	23	24
Plays–yards	68–462	76–443
Rushes–yards	36–256	45–224
Passing yards	206	219
Passing: comp–att–int	15–32–1	20–31–1
Time of possession	28:55	31:05

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Cincinnati	Passing	Hayden Moore	11/25, 120 yds, 1 INT
	Rushing	Michael Warren	20 car, 166 yds, 2 TD
	Receiving	Charles McClelland	2 rec, 47 yds, 1 TD
Virginia Tech	Passing	Ryan Willis	20/31, 219 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Deshawn McClease	13 car, 102 yds
	Receiving	Damon Hazelton	6 rec, 57 yds