Virginia Tech (14) ... 7 7 7 21 - 42 Virginia.............. 10 3 0 0 - 13 Scoring Summary: 1st Quarter 09:27 VA - Sewell 15 yd run (Jarrett kick) 04:58 VT - Williams 12 yd run (Waldron kick) 00:16 VA - Randolph 33 yd FG 2nd Quarter 09:43 VT - Williams 20 yd run (Waldron) 00:39 VA - Randolph 41 yd FG 3rd Quarter 05:51 VT - Williams 4 yd run (Waldron) 4th Quarter 12:50 VT - Williams 2 yd run (Waldron) 10:21 VT - Boykin 0 yd run (Waldron) 02:43 VT - Wilson 10 yd run (Waldron)
Charlottesville, VA – Virginia Tech was locked in a close game with Virginia for much of the way, but outscored the Hoos 21-0 in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 42-13 victory in Charlottesville. The Hokies are now 9-3 on the season, and they finished 6-2 in the ACC. UVA dropped to 3-9 on the season, with a 2-6 mark in ACC play.
With the win, and an Oklahoma State loss to Oklahoma, the Hokies kept alive their hopes for a BCS at-large bid. Chances aren’t great, but Tech is still eligible for an at-large berth to a BCS game.
Ryan Williams ran for 183 yards on just 24 carries. He averaged 7.6 yards per carry, and he scored four touchdowns for the second consecutive week. He now holds the ACC touchdown record for freshmen (19), and with 1,538 yards on the season he needs just 110 yards in the bowl game to break the single-season Virginia Tech rushing record set by by Kevin Jones in 2003.
Williams was part of a 298 yard rushing effort by the Hokies on the day. David Wilson had five carries for 54 yards and a touchdown, all coming in the fourth quarter when the game was already decided. Josh Oglesby added six carries for 26 yards, and Tyrod Taylor had 34 yards on six carries.
As a team, Virginia Tech totaled 483 yards of total offense against the Hoos. For the season, Tech has averaged 388.3 yards per game, a big improvement over the 303.4 yards they averaged in 2008.
Tyrod Taylor was 8-of-15 for 185 yards, with no touchdowns and an interception. His favorite target was r-sophomore receiver Danny Coale, who had six catches for 135 yards. Coale set a career high in reception yards, and made numerous big plays down the field for his team.
Virginia got off to a hot start offensively, running the read option with quarterback Jameel Sewell. Sewell finished with 104 yards and a touchdown on the ground, but Hokie defensive coordinator Bud Foster made adjustments at halftime and the Hokies shutout the Hoos in the second half. UVA finished with 295 yards of total offense.
It was a complete team effort for the Hokies. They played well on offense and special teams for the entire game, and once the defense tightened up in the second half, UVA never stood a chance.
Recap
The first half of this game was very reminiscent of last year’s game in Blacksburg. UVA went right down the field on the opening drive and scored a touchdown, mostly on the legs of their quarterback. Jameel Sewell ran for 44 yards on the drive, including a big 28 yard run into Tech territory.
The Hoos passed just once on the drive, an eight yard completion to wide receiver Dontrelle Inman. Sewell finished off the drive with a 15 yard run on a read option. The Hoos successfully attacked the boundary side of Tech’s defense in the opening drive, and later successfully attacked the field side, but eventually Bud Foster’s adjustments caught up to them.
However, Bud Foster had not adjusted at this point of the game, and the extra point gave UVA a 7-0 lead with 9:27 remaining in the first quarter.
This game continued to play out like last year’s game in Blacksburg, with the Hokies going right down the field and answering on their first drive. Tyrod Taylor hit Danny Coale on a 41 yard completion on the first play from scrimmage. Coale made a great play on the ball, making the catch with his hands just inches before it hit the ground.
Tech later faced 3rd and 17 from the 50. In the past that has spelled trouble for the Hokie offense, but with so many big play threats on the field this year Tech has been more adept at picking up first downs in long yardage situations. Taylor hit Coale for a 36 yard gain down the right sideline. Coale went up and beat UVA cornerback Ras-I Dowling for the catch, and Tech had a first down at the Virginia 14.
Later in the drive it was Ryan Williams taking the handoff up the gut and scoring from 12 yards out to tie the game at 7-7 with 4:58 left in the first quarter. Two possessions had already produced two touchdowns, and there were more fireworks to come.
Virginia picked up where they left off on their last drive. The only difference is they couldn’t punch the ball into the end zone. Jameel Sewell broke off a 26 yard run on another read option, and that led to a 33 yard field goal to put the Hoos up 10-7 with 16 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
From that point on, it was all Virginia Tech. The Hokies outscored UVA 35-3 the rest of the game, though most of the onslaught did not come until the second half.
Special teams set up the Hokies’ second touchdown of the first half. A 24 yard punt return by Jayron Hosley set the Tech offense up with a first down at the UVA 46. Ryan Williams had two runs totaling 10 yards, and Taylor hit Danny Coale for a 16 yard completion. That put the ball at the UVA 20.
The Hokies found paydirt from there. Tech ran an option to the right out of the shotgun formation, and Taylor pitched it to Ryan Williams, who jetted past several UVA defenders for a 20 yard touchdown run. The Hokies led 14-10 with 9:43 left in the second quarter. The Hoos added a field goal before halftime, and Tech went into the break leading 14-13.
The Hokies didn’t start the second half off very well offensively, as they were forced to punt on their first drive and Tyrod Taylor was intercepted in the end zone by Chris Cook on their second drive. However, a big UVA miscue led to the first Tech points of the half.
Before we cover the turnover, let’s cover the play preceding the turnover. UVA tailback Mikell Simpson took a handoff up the middle and gained six yards, but he was absolutely belted by free safety Kam Chancellor on the play. On Virginia’s next play from scrimmage, they tried an option to the left. Sewell pitched it out to to Simpson, with only Chancellor between the two UVA players. It could have broken for a big play had Simpson handled the pitched, but the shaken UVA tailback fumbled it, and Chancellor picked it up and returned the fumble to the UVA 4.
Ryan Williams took it in on the first play of the drive for the Hokies, making the score 21-13 with 5:51 left in the third quarter. From that point on, it was all Virginia Tech.
The Hokies took over in the fourth quarter, scoring a touchdown on all three possessions. First it was Ryan Williams scoring on a two yard run to make the score 28-13 with 12:50 remaining. After a three and out by the UVA offense, the Hokies knocked the Hoos out of the game for good.
On first down from the Tech 39, Ryan Williams broke free down the right sideline for a big gain. He was hit from behind after a 51 yard gain and the ball squirted free into the end zone. Tech wide receiver Jarrett Boykin was hustling downfield on the play and fell on the ball in the end zone, giving the Hokies a touchdown and a 35-13 lead with 10:21 left in the game.
After another UVA punt, the Hokies put the nail in the coffin. Ryan Williams gave way to Josh Oglesby and David Wilson, and the two Tech reserve running backs led the Hokies on a 73 yard touchdown drive. Wilson had three rushes of 10 yards or more, including a 25 yarder to take the ball to the UVA 33. The Hokies never faced a third down on the drive, and Wilson eventually took it in from 10 yards out to make the final score 42-13.
It was a hard fought game despite the final score, but Bud Foster’s halftime adjustments and Virginia Tech’s superior talent level won out in the fourth quarter, as expected.
The Hokies finish the season at 9-3, and have a 6-2 record in the ACC. They will have to wait until after next Saturday’s ACC Championship Game between Georgia Tech and Clemson to know their bowl destination. The chances are still there for an at-large bid to a BCS bowl, but as of now it’s out of Virginia Tech’s hands.
STATISTICS
VT VA
---- ----
First downs 20 15
Rushed-yards 45-298 37-175
Passing yards 185 120
Sacked-yards lost 2-2 2-19
Return yards 93 141
Passes 8-15-1 12-22-0
Punts 2-46.5 6-36.5
Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-2
Penalties-yards 5-40 5-66
Time of possession 29:23 30:27
Att: 58,555
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Virginia Tech, Williams 24-183, Wilson 5-54, Taylor 6-34,
Oglesby 6-26, Davis 1-7, Boykin 0-0, TEAM 3-(-6).
VA, Sewell 17-104, Hall 7-39, Simpson 5-16, Jackson 8-16.
PASSING-Virginia Tech, Taylor 8-15-185-1.
VA, Sewell 12-22-120-0.
RECEIVING-Virginia Tech, Coale 6-135, Roberts 1-38, Boone 1-12.
VA, Burd 3-30, Smith 3-28, Jackson 1-29, Simpson 1-9, Torchia 1-8,
Inman 1-8, Hall 1-7, Phillips 1-1.
Tech Sideline is Presented By: