By Jojo Doria

Miami, FL

Geno Smith's six TD passes was one of the record-setting performances as the No. 23 West Virginia Mountaineers overwhelmed the No. 14 Clemson Tigers 70-33 in Wednesday night's Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium.

It marked the first triumph in the first Orange Bowl appearance by the Mountaineers.

Smith, who has had a huge season, tied the record for any bowl game with six touchdown passes. He went 31 for 42, and had 401 yards passing to shatter Tom Brady's Orange Bowl record.

Smith, who did not throw an interception, also ran for a score, helping the Mountaineers set a record for most points scored in a bowl game.

It broke the bowl mark for points set six nights earlier when Baylor routed Washington 67-56 in the Alamo Bowl.

WVU's Tavon Austin tied a record for any bowl game with four TD catches. Shawne Alston ran for 77 yards and a pair of scores for the victors.

West Virginia, which earned a BCS bid by winning a share of the Big East title, was making its third BCS bowl appearance since 2006.

The triumph enabled West Virginia (10-3, 5-2 Big East) to improve its BCS record to 3-0, making it is one of only two teams that have been perfect with three or more BCS appearances. LSU is the other with a 4-0 mark.

WVU tied or broke nine bowl records in the victory.

Clemson (10-4, 6-2 ACC), which was appearing in its first-ever BCS Bowl game, was actually leading the Mountaineers after the end of the first quarter 17-14, before WVU started to take control in the second period.

In the second frame, Clemson's Andre Ellington fumbled on the Mountaineers' goal line and Darwin Cook returned it 99 yards for the game-changing TD.

That huge play gave West Virginia a 28-17 lead.

The Mountaineers then scored three touchdowns in the final 2:29 of the second quarter. WVU was up 49-20 at halftime.

Tajh Boyd threw for 250 yards and two TDs but had two interceptions and a fumble for the Tigers. Ellington ran for 116 yards and a score and DeAndre Hopkins had 10 grabs for 107 yards and a TD in the loss.

 

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Orange Bowl: West Virginia crushes Clemson