Devwah Whaley and his University of Arkansas team-mates ended their season on a sombre note after last night’s gut-wrenching 35-24 loss to Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl.

The Razorbacks dominated the early going and seemed well on course for a fourth straight bowl victory with a 24-0 lead at half-time in Charlotte, North Carolina.

However, an offence that racked up 258 yards in the first half went cold in the second and Virginia Tech took full advantage, scoring 35 unanswered points in front of a crowd of nearly 76,000.

Arkansas failed to add to their tally in the second half and were held to just 56 yards as the Hokies’ stubborn defence blitzed their team back into contention.

It was the second time in as many games the Razorbacks’ blew a lead of at least three possessions after falling 28-24 to Missouri in late November despite leading 24-7 half-time.

“The second half has been our melting point,” Bret Bielema, the Arkansas coach, lamented. “I’ve never seen anything like it and the tide turned against us like that in all three phases of the game.”

Freshman running back Whaley impressed during the regular season, rushing for 601 yards on 105 carries with three rushing touchdowns. He rushed for 50 or more yards seven times and also had 113 receiving yards.

But the son of former local middle distance runner DeVoe Whaley found lean pickings at the Bank of America Stadium as he was held to one rushing yard on five carries.

His biggest contribution of the game was a 26-yard reception on a drive that led to the Razorbacks’ first touchdown in the opening quarter.

Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen went 18-for-31 for 278 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions while counterpart Jerod Evans was 21-of-33 for 243 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Allen was also sacked four times and Evans six.

The Razorbacks struggled on third downs, completing just two of fourteen attempts.

They also turned the ball over four times and gave away 75 yards on 12 penalties as Virginia Tech’s defence took the sting out of the Arkansas offensive line.

The Razorbacks had won their previous three bowl appearances dating back to the 2012 Cotton Bowl, the longest bowl streak in their history, and were bidding for a third straight postseason victory.