Miami (6)............... 3 7 17 0 - 27 Virginia Tech (3)....... 0 0 0 7 - 7 Scoring Summary: 1st Quarter 08:40 UM - Peattie 27 yd FG 2nd Quarter 09:49 UM - Jones 1 yd run (Peattie kick) 3rd Quarter 10:56 UM - Peattie 24 yd FG 03:22 UM - Jenkins 9 yd pass from Wright (Peattie kick) 01:43 UM - Brown 0 yd fumble recover (Peattie kick) 4th Quarter 08:06 VT - Vick 2 yd run (Pace kick)
Virginia Tech’s perfect season and national championship hopes were spoiled on Saturday night in a 27-7 defeat at the hands of #6 Miami. The Hurricanes dominated the Hokies at the line of scrimmage and used six Marcus Vick turnovers to cruise to an easy victory.
Virginia Tech, ranked third in the nation coming into the contest, was never really in the game. Miami jumped out to a 10-0 halftime lead, extended it to 27-0 in the third quarter, and then coasted to the win. The victory puts the Hurricanes in the driver’s seat to represent the Coastal Division in the ACC Championship game.
Marcus Vick, coming off the best passing performance in his career against Boston College, had his worst game against Miami. Vick was under pressure all night and he didn’t respond like the calm player he has been all season. He turned the ball over six times, with two interceptions and four fumbles. Vick finished the game 8 of 22 passing for 90 yards and no touchdowns. He did score Tech’s only touchdown on a two yard run in the fourth quarter.
Not only were the Hokies stifled through the air, but they were shut down on the ground as well. Miami held Tech to just 77 yards rushing on the game, a stat that was helped by four sacks for a loss of 28 yards. Branden Ore led the Hokies in rushing with 35 yards on four carries.
Despite being put in bad situations because of Vick’s six turnovers, the Tech defense managed to hold Miami to 304 total yards. The Hurricanes were perfectly balanced, with 152 yards rushing and 152 yards passing. Miami totally controlled the clock, holding the ball for 34:03, compared to just 25:57 for the Hokies.
Both teams were penalized heavily, with Miami being flagged ten times for 84 yards. Virginia Tech had eight penalties for 56 yards.
In another key statistic, the Hokies were thoroughly dominated on third down during the game. Miami converted seven of 15 third downs, and Tech managed just two conversions in 12 attempts.
The loss drops the Hokies to 8-1 overall and 5-1 in the ACC. Miami improves to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in conference play. Virginia Tech has next week off before traveling to Charlottesville to take on UVA on November 19.
Recap
Both offenses started slowly, each punting on their first possession of the game. With 10:44 remaining in the first quarter, Virginia Tech took over on their own 42 yard line. On third and ten, Vick dropped back to pass and was sacked by Miami defensive end Thomas Carroll. Vick never saw the hit coming, fumbled the ball, and it was recovered by Miami linebacker Roger McIntosh at the Tech 29 yard line.
Two Tyrone Moss runs netted 19 yards for the Hurricanes, but quarterback Kyle Wright threw two incompletions that stalled the drive at the Virginia Tech ten yard line. Miami called on kicker Jon Peattie for a 27 yard field goal attempt, which was good. With 8:40 remaining in the first quarter, Miami led 3-0.
The Hokies managed to get some offense going in their next drive. Tech started at their own 20 yard line, and the drive began with an incomplete pass to David Clowney. On second down, Vick scrambled for ten yards and the first down. Tech went on to pick up two more first downs on the ground, one on a 12 yard run by Mike Imoh and the other on an 11 yard run by Vick. Vick later hit John Kinzer on a six yard pass play for a first down. The pass to Kinzer was Vick’s only completion of the first half.
Unfortunately for the Hokies, their drive would stall. They advanced the ball to the Miami 33 yard line before things started to fall apart. On second and eight, right guard Jason Murphy was whistled for a false start, and then Marcus Vick was sacked on two consecutive plays which pushed the Hokies back the 50 yard line. Nic Schmitt came on the punt, and his 32 yard boot rolled out of bounds at the Miami 18 yard line.
Miami would then embark on an 18 play, 82 yard drive that would take 8:18 off the game clock and result in a touchdown. The drive was aided by two questionable personal foul penalties on the Hokies. The first was called on rover Aaron Rouse, who was called for a late hit on a Miami receiver after the ball was overthrown. Miami was called for holding on the play as well, which would have put the Hurricanes in a second and 16 from their own 12 yard line. Instead they were given a first down on the 27 yard line.
Later in the drive, Kyle Wright threw an incomplete pass to fullback Quadtrine Hill on second and ten at the Tech 15 yard line. Wright was hit on the play by Tech defensive end Darryl Tapp, who was flagged for a late hit. Miami now had a first down at the Tech eight yard line. Wright was injured on the play and would not return in the second half. After his injury Miami ran four consecutive running plays and eventually scored on a one yard touchdown run on fourth down by tailback Charlie Jones. With 9:49 remaining in the first half, Miami led 10-0, a score that would hold up until halftime.
Neither team enjoyed any offensive success for the remainder of the half. Marcus Vick continued his turnover prone performance by throwing an interception to Kelly Jennings with 4:04 left before halftime.
The Hurricanes got the ball first to start the second half, and their offense immediately went to work. Charlie Jones began the half with a 29 yard run to the Miami 49 yard line. Kyle Wright would later complete three passes on the drive for first downs, including a critical third and nine from the Tech 21 yard line. However Miami was unable to convert the drive into a touchdown, and they settled for a 24 yard field goal from Peattie. With 10:56 left in the third quarter, Miami led 13-0.
Tech got the ball back on their own 20 yard line and quickly began to move up field. Vick found Josh Morgan on an 18 yard pass play on the first play of the drive, and later found Justin Harper for a nine yard gain to convert a third down. On third and seven from the Miami 42 yard line, Vick fumbled the snap from center Danny McGrath, and Miami defensive tackle Orien Harris fell on the football.
The Hurricanes would use the turnover to put the game away. With good field position, Miami promptly moved the ball inside the Virginia Tech ten yard line. On third and goal from the nine yard line, Wright scrambled to his left side and found wide receiver Darnell Jenkins in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown pass. The play was reviewed, but the call on the field was ruled to be correct, and Miami now led 20-0 with 3:22 left in the third quarter.
But Miami wasn’t done. After Mike Imoh returned the ensuing kickoff to the Tech 11 yard line, the Hurricane defense began pushing the Hokies back. Vick was sacked for a four yard loss by Roger McIntosh, and then Imoh lost two yards on a running play. On third down, Vick was pressured in the end zone, fumbled, and Miami’s Kareem Brown fell on the ball for the touchdown. The Hokies were falling apart, now trailing 27-0 with 1:43 remaining in the third quarter.
On Tech’s next possession, Vick fumbled again, and it was once again recovered by Miami. However Jimmy Williams intercepted a Kyle Wright pass to give the ball back to the Hokies. Tech took over at their own 44 yard line, but Vick threw his second interception of the night, to Kelly Jennings once again. With 14:20 remaining, the game was basically over.
The Hokies would later get on the scoreboard on a two yard touchdown run by Vick with 8:06 left in the game. Tech tried an onside kick, but Miami recovered, and any chance of a comeback was ended.
STATISTICS
VT UM
---- ----
First downs 13 17
Rushed-yards 34-77 43-152
Passing yards 90 152
Sacked-yards lost 4-28 1-2
Return yard 94 21
Passes 8-22-2 15-25-1
Punts 4-36.5 4-45.2
Fumbles-lost 5-4 0-0
Penalties-yards 8-56 10-84
Time of possession 25:57 34:03
Att: 65,115
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Virginia Tech, Ore 4-35, Humes 7-20,
Imoh 6-15, Vick 17-7. UM, Jones 24-97, Hill 6-32,
Moss 6-26, Thomas 5-0, Team 1-(-1), Wright 1-(-2)
PASSING-Virginia Tech, Vick 8-22-90-2.
UM, Wright 13-22-146-1, Freeman 2-3-6
RECEIVING-Virginia Tech, Harper 2-31, Ore 2-7,
Clowney 1-22, Morgan 1-18, King 1-6, Kinzer 1-6.
UM, Hill 4-35, Moss 4-27, Jenkins 3-33, Olsen 2-23,
Moore 1-20, Leggett 1-14.
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