Virginia Tech.. ......... 10 3 0 7 - 20 Florida State (24) ...... 0 10 14 6 - 30 Scoring Summary: 1st Quarter 05:51 VT - Dustin Keys 41 yd FG 00:00 VT - Glennon 1 yd rush (Keys) 2nd Quarter 12:30 FS - Smith 39 yd rusn (Gano) 09:33 FS - Gano 50 yd FG 00:09 VT - Keys 20 yd FG 3rd Quarter 06:05 FS - Easterling 4 yd pass from Ponder (Gano) 01:09 FS - Sims 1 yd run (Gano) 4th Quarter 13:26 FS - Gano 29 yd FG 08:26 VT - Smith 4 yd pass from Holt (Keys) 02:14 FS - Gano 46 yd FG
Tallahassee, FL – Virginia Tech lost both Tyrod Taylor and Sean Glennon to injuries and managed
to battle Florida State to a statistical draw, but the Seminoles took advantage
of Hokie mistakes to post a physical 30-20 victory. The Hokies led 13-10 at half
time, but a big roughing the punter call on Tech helped FSU score the go-ahead
touchdown, and the Noles held on for the win.
Tyrod Taylor was hurt on the very first play from scrimmage in the game, when
he rolled right and was tackled by Florida State’s Toddrick Verdell. Verdell
rolled on Taylor’s ankle, and Taylor left for the remainder of the game. He
finished the game watching from the sidelines in street clothes and a walking
boot.
Sean Glennon replaced Taylor and led the Hokies to 205 yards and 13 points in
the first half. Glennon was 9-of-16 for 133 yards passing and scored Tech’s only
first half touchdown on a 1-yard QB sneak on the last play of the first quarter.
Glennon also suffered an injury, hurting his leg midway through the third
quarter and leaving the game for good, as well. The Hokies trailed 17-13 at the
time. Glennon was replaced by Cory Holt, a former QB who had been converted to
wide receiver and hadn’t taken a snap at QB since August. Holt led the Hokies on
a fourth-quarter TD drive, throwing a touchdown pass to tight end Andre Smith
that closed a 27-13 Seminole lead to 27-20. FSU countered with a field goal
drive that took six minutes off the clock and provided the final margin of
30-20.
Holt was 3-of-6 for 28 yards and a touchdown, just the third touchdown pass
all season by Hokie quarterbacks. It is unknown if Taylor or Glennon will be
able to play in Tech’s next game against Maryland on Thursday, November 6th.
Both quarterbacks will be evaluated after returning to Blacksburg.
Glennon’s sneak at the end of the first quarter staked Tech to a 10-0 lead
and capped off a first quarter that saw the Hokie defense hold Florida State to
(-18) yards of total offense. FSU had gone 28 straight possessions without a
three-and-out, but Tech held the Seminoles to three possession without a first
down to open the game.
The Hokies used great pressure from the front four, especially defensive end
Jason Worilds, and supplemented it with timely blitzes to pressure FSU starting
QB Christian Ponder. Worilds had 2 tackles for loss, including a sack, and whip
linebacker Cody Grimm was a terror off the edge, notching two sacks on blitzes.
Worilds, Grimm and Brett Warren (team-high 9 tackles) led a Tech defense that
held Florida State to 248 yards, including just 89 yards rushing. The Hokies had
243 yards of offense (82 rushing, 161 passing).
Tech surrendered a 39-yard run to FSU’s Antone Smith early in the second
quarter, but despite that outburst, the Hokies outgained the Seminoles 205-70 in
the opening half and led 13-10 at the break.
Things unraveled for the Hokies midway through the third quarter. With Tech
still leading 13-10 and FSU facing a 4th and 20 at their own 31, Tech coach
Frank Beamer gambled and went for the punt block. Tech missed it, and true
freshman defensive back Eddie Whitley ran into the punter. Whitley was flagged
for roughing the kicker, an automatic first down. Florida State hit Greg Carr
for a 48-yard gain on the next play, then scored on a four-yard pass to Taiwan
Easterling for their first lead, 17-13.
On the very next play for the Hokies, Glennon was sacked and injured. Glennon
left the game and his left leg and ankle were iced. X-rays were taken and were
negative. Glennon removed the ice and appeared to be contemplating a return to
the game, but the Hokie coaches decided against it.
FSU stretched the lead to 24-13 on a 1-yard run by Marcus Sims, and Tech’s
Dyrell Roberts fumbled the ensuing kickoff. Graham Gano kicked a 29-yard field
goal, and the Seminoles led 27-13. Holt then led the Hokies on an 8-play,
46-yard drive, completing two passes to Greg Boone and a 4-yard TD to Andre
Smith that closed the gap to 27-20.
That score came with 8:26 left to go, giving the Hokies hope, but FSU
embarked on a 10-play drive that ate up 6:06 off the clock and ended in a field
goal. The Hokies were unable to pick up a first down on the ensuing possession,
and in a move roundly criticized by Hokie fans, Frank Beamer elected to punt with 1:53
remaining and one time out left. Florida State ran out the clock to seal the
win.
Statistically, the game was a near deadlock in first downs (15 for VT, 13 for
FSU), yards rushing (82 to 89), yards passing (161 to 159), total yards (243 to
248) and penalties (8 for VT, 7 for FSU). But turnovers hurt the Hokies. Tech
had two fumbles that FSU turned into two field goals, the one by Dyrell Roberts
and a second quarter fumble by Josh Oglesby on the Tech 46 yard line. FSU had no
turnovers.
The loss left the Hokies at 5-3 (2-2 ACC) and lifted Florida State to 6-1
(3-1). It was a wild day in the ACC’s Coastal Division that saw Virginia
standing alone at the top of the division standings at day’s end. The Cavaliers
upset #18 Georgia Tech 24-17 in Atlanta to go to 3-1 in the league. They’re
followed by five Coastal teams with two league losses each: GT (3-2), UNC-Miami-VT
(all 2-2) and Duke (1-2).
Recap
Freshman wide receiver Dyrell Roberts got the game off to a good start, returning the opening kickoff 40 yards to the VT 44. However, the first play of Tech’s offensive possession wasn’t so good. Tyrod Taylor rolled to his right, where he was pressured by linebacker Toddrick Verdell. Taylor couldn’t get away from him, and was dropped for a loss. In the process his ankle was rolled up, and he was helped from the field.
Sean Glennon entered the game, and the Hokies were forced to punt after picking up no first downs. However, the Tech defense did their job. After a third down sack from Orion Martin, FSU was forced to punt from their own 16, and the Hokies began their next drive from their own 46.
Tech couldn’t pick up a first down, but Brent Bowden’s 51 yard punt was downed at the FSU 2, which gave the Hokies a clear field position advantage. The ‘Noles went three and out again, and were forced to punt from their own 3. A 16 yard punt return by Macho Harris set Tech up at the FSU 29.
The Tech drive got off the a bad start, with Sergio Render being called for a hold on the first play. It set the Hokies back, and they couldn’t manage to pick up a first down. A key 11 yard pass to Jarrett Boykin from Glennon set the Hokies up with a fourth down at the FSU 23. Dustin Keys entered and drilled a 41 yard field goal that put Tech up 3-0 with 5:51 remaining in the first quarter.
After FSU went three and out again, the Hokies put together one of their best drives of the season, this time with Sean Glennon under center. On second and eight, Glennon his Macho Harris for a nine yard gain to the VT 47. That was the first first down that either offense had gained. Tech continued to get first downs on the drive. Two plays later, Glennon his Jarrett Boykin on a 14 yard gain, and FSU cornerback Korey Mangum was flagged for a facemask penalty. That set VT up with a first down at the ‘Nole 21.
On the next play, tailback Darren Evans broke free around the left end and rambled 16 yards to the FSU 5. He then carried four yards to the one, and from there Sean Glennon took it in on the quarterback sneak. With no time remaining on the first quarter clock, VT held a surprising 10-0 lead. FSU had -18 yards of total offense in the first quarter.
Florida State got good field position on their next drive, taking over at their own 42. They finally picked up a first down on an 11 yard Christian Ponder scramble. Later in the drive, they faced a third and two from the VT 39. Ponder pitched left to tailback Antone Smith, who had open running lanes, and he outran the Tech defense to the endzone. The big play ‘Noles were back in it, trailing 10-7 with 12:40 in the second quarter.
Tech’s next drive got off to a good start with a 13 yard gain by Macho Harris on an end around. The play gave the Hokies a first down at their own 46. However, two plays later tailback Josh Oglesby put the ball on the ground, and FSU recovered at the Tech 46. The momentum was swinging. Though FSU didn’t reach the endzone, Graham Gano’s strong leg was good from 50 yards, and the game was tied at 10 with 9:33 left in the second quarter.
Virginia Tech continued to move the football on their next drive, but again they got no points. Darren Evans’ 23 yard run gave Tech a first down at 40. After a Glennon sack and a six yard run by Evans, Sean Glennon hit Jarrett Boykin for a 15 yard gain and a first down. However, Ed Wang wasn’t lined up on the line of scrimmage, and the Hokies were pushed back. It was now 3rd and 15 from their own 35.
That didn’t deter Glennon and Boykin. They simply hooked up on another play, this time a bigger one of 41 yards to the FSU 24. The critical play of the drive was on third and five from the FSU 19. Sean Glennon was sacked, and that pushed the field goal try back to 43 yards instead of 36 yards, and Keys’ kick was wide right.
The Hokies got one more chance for points before halftime, and this time they came though. Sean Glennon completed two huge passes on the drive. The first was an 18 yard pass on a deep out to Danny Coale. Coale made a good diving catch, and the play was reviewed and upheld. That gave the Hokies a first down at the FSU 38. Later Glennon found Jarrett Boykin yet again, this time for a 23 yard gain to the FSU 7. Although the Hokies couldn’t punch it in the endzone, Keys hit a 20 yard field goal go give Tech a 13-10 lead heading into halftime.
FSU crossed into Tech territory on their first drive of the second half, and faced third and eight from the VT 49. Cody Grimm put an end to that threat, coming around the edge untouched on the blitz, sacking Ponder for an 11 yard loss.
Let’s fast forward to Florida State’s next offensive possession. The Tech defense held the ‘Noles again, and Graham Gano lined up to punt on a 4th and 20 from his own 31. Still up 13-10, Frank Beamer elected to go for the jugular with an all-out punt block attempt. Instead, his decision arguably cost Virginia Tech the football game. True freshman cornerback Eddie Whitley roughed the punter, and FSU got a free first down.
The ‘Noles promptly took advantage. Ponder hit Greg Carr on a leaping 48 yard gain down the right sideline. Carr, at 6-6, was covered well by Macho Harris, but his height gave him the advantage. Two plays later, Ponder hit Taiwon Easterling, who made a great catch over two defenders in the back of the endzone for a 4 yard touchdown. Just like that, FSU went from losing and punting to holding a 17-13 lead 6:05 left in the third quarter.
In a short time, they gained even more of an advantage. On the first play of Tech’s next possession, Sean Glennon was sacked and knocked out of the game. In came Cory Holt, the #2 split end on the depth chart who hasn’t even been taking reps as a quarterback in practice. The Hokies went three and out, and FSU took over with great field position at the VT 45.
FSU was able to take advantage of the field position. Ponder hit another big pass play to Carr, this time covering 39 yards. Two plays later, Marcus Sims took it in from one yard out, giving FSU a 24-13 advantage with 1:09 left in the third quarter.
Things continued to go downhill for the Hokies. Dyrell Roberts fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Florida State recovered. They were able to convert that into a 29 yard field goal to take a 27-13 lead with 13:26 left in the game.
Roberts made up for that fumble by returning the next kickoff 54 yards to the FSU 46. Cory Holt, who played well all things considering, completed three passes on the drive, all to tight ends. He hit Greg Boone twice, then hit Andre Smith on a throwback pass (the 1998 Donovan McNabb play) for a four yard touchtown. That made the score 27-20 FSU with 8:56 remaining in the game.
Florida State basically put the game out of reach on their next drive, driving and getting a 46 yard field goal from Graham Gano to make the score 30-20 with 2:14 remaining.
The final Tech drive of the game did not result in a first down, and Frank Beamer elected to punt the football on fourth down and 10 with two minutes left. It was a puzzling decision, and one for which he’s taking a lot of heat on the message boards. As a result, FSU ran out the clock and held on for the 30-20 win.
The Hokies will return to action on Thursday, November 6 at 7:30pm against Maryland. The game will be televised by ESPN.
STATISTICS
VT FSU
---- ----
First downs 15 13
Rushed-yards 34-82 34-89
Passing yards 161 159
Sacked-yards lost 6-35 4-36
Return yards 49 24
Passes 12-22-0 11-19-0
Punts 4-43.4 5-48.4
Fumbles-lost 2-2 0-0
Penalties-yards 7-49 8-73
Time of possession 28:03 31:57
Att: 81,876
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Virginia Tech, Evans 15-77, V. Harris 1-13, Oglesby 4-11
Glennon 9-(-2), Taylor 1-(-6), Holt 4-(-11). Florida State,
Smith 9-57, Sims 8-29, Richardson 4-21, Thomas 2-1, Jones 1-(-1),
Easterling 2-(-5), Ponder 12-(-13).
PASSING-Virginia Tech, Glennon 9-16-133, Holt 2-6-28.
Florida State, Ponder 11-19-159.
RECEIVING-Virginia Tech, Boykin 4-89, Boone 2-24, Coale 2-22,
Victor Harris 2-14, Jefferson 1-8, Smith 1-4.
Florida State, Carr 3-100, Easterling 2-25, Parker 2-15, Smith 2-14,
Sims 2-5.
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