Motuapuaka Leads Heroic Goal-Line Stand as Virginia Tech Defeats Pittsburgh 20-14

Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech pulled out an emotional win on Saturday, beating Pittsburgh 20-14. (Photo by Ivan Morozov)

BLACKSBURG, Va. — For many of Virginia Tech’s seniors, their careers have been an emotional roller coaster. So it’s only fitting that their final game in Lane Stadium ended the same way.

The Hokies gave up a 75-yard completion that nearly gave Pittsburgh the lead late in the fourth quarter, and then rebounded to make a last-second goal-line stand to defeat the Panthers 20-14 on Senior Day.

“I just think the way it finished is indicative of who they are and what they’re about,” said head coach Justin Fuente. “I think there is a group of men in that locker room that refuse to let them down, and they found a way to get it done. Just awfully proud and happy for them.”

The sequence will go down in Virginia Tech folklore. After seizing a 20-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Virginia Tech forced a fourth down and four on Pittsburgh’s 25 yard line with a little over a minute to go. Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett connected with Jester Weah, who broke a tackle and scampered free down the sideline. Reggie Floyd tracked him down from behind with 1:02 remaining, giving the Hokies one last chance.

The Virginia Tech defense then proceeded to stop Pittsburgh on four straight plays from inside the 2-yard-line, culminating in a gang tackle for a 3-yard loss as time expired that spurred a team-wide celebration on the field.

“The play of the game was Reggie Floyd not giving up on that play,” said defensive coordinator Bud Foster. “We talk to our kids every day about finishing, and today was a big part of it. Every blade of grass is critical, and it was in that play right there. You talk about a big-time effort. I know when I look at the film, Tim Settle and Ricky Walker and Tremaine Edmunds and Andrew Motuapuaka, I know those guys are going to be playing on the other side of the line of scrimmage, but the play of the game was that play.”

After the stop, the entire Virginia Tech sideline ran onto the field, with several players sprinting in jubilation. Some shouted in happiness, while some showed uncontrollable emotion.

“I’m not sure everybody understands the emotion that those players are going through when they’re on top of the mountain, it was fourth down and the crowd is into it, and all of a sudden, the guy is running the length of the field and we’ve got to find a way to get him on the ground, which we did, and lived to play another day. Then you’ve got to regroup yourself to go play defense again,” Fuente said.

The fourth quarter overshadowed what was otherwise an uneventful game. Virginia Tech carried a 10-7 lead into the fourth quarter, and gave up the lead on a fake field goal. Pittsburgh’s Ryan Winslow took the fake and threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Bossory, giving the Panthers a 14-10 lead with 14:13 to go.

Virginia Tech answered with a field goal on their next drive, but still needed a spark. They found it in a Greg Stroman interception, which gave the Hokies two things they desperately needed — field position and momentum.

Virginia Tech
Greg Stroman’s (3) fourth quarter interception changed the complexion of the game, giving the Hokies momentum. (Photo by Ivan Morozov)

“Yeah, we were struggling a little bit offensively, and yeah it jumpstarted, gave us a chance to put the ball in position to go score,” Foster said. “Anytime you can change the momentum — I thought Pitt had a little. They scored, I thought they had a little momentum going, and that was a big play in the game.”

“I think that helped the momentum for the game, especially with it being a big return and everything like that,” Josh Jackson said. “We just took some shots, and got in the end zone.”

Indeed they did. Starting from the Panthers’ 40-yard-line. Virginia Tech slowly marched deeper into Pittsburgh territory, and Jackson threw his first touchdown pass of the month to Cam Phillips, giving the Hokies a lead.

“It was really gratifying,” Phillips said of his touchdown. “I really thought I let the team down [at the end of the Georgia Tech game]. Josh said he blamed himself for the loss, but it was my fault for the Georgia Tech loss. But I just felt I owed it to the team, to myself, to make those plays when put in those situations.”

Virginia Tech
Cam Phillips (5) finished the day with eight receptions, 117 yards and the game-winning touchdown. (Photo by Ivan Morozov)

Virginia Tech, leading 19-14 after the touchdown, then attempted a two-point conversion to give themselves a seven-point lead, and converted. However, the play was called back due to an ineligible receiver downfield, and the Hokies kicked the extra point. Tech led Pittsburgh 20-14 with 6:17 left to go.

The Hokies’ defense held on their next possession, and then took the field one more time with 1:34 left to play. They forced a fourth and four, before giving up the completion to Weah.

“When things like that happen, you just try and live to play another play,” Fuente said. “Try and live to make another play. Nobody likes it that the guy broke out like that, but you can’t stop playing. (Floyd) just continued to chase the ball, continued to bust his tail down there and found a way to get the guy down, and the rest is what it is.”

With the ball inside Virginia Tech’s 2-yard-line, Pittsburgh had four plays to ruin the Hokies’ Senior Day. The Panthers ran right with star running back Darrin Hall, and gained nothing. Head coach Pat Narduzzi then used his final timeout, before calling another run to the right for no gain. Motuapuaka, one of the senior leaders for the Hokies, was in on both tackles.

“I just kept saying to the guys, ‘It’s now or never. Either we make this play, or they win the game,’” said Andrew Motuapuaka. “It was real emotional when we made that stop. The tears just started flowing. It was a hard-fought game, and it was a big goal-line stand.”

On third and one, Pittsburgh’s Pickett threw a fade at Stroman, another senior leader. Stroman broke the pass up, leading to a monumental fourth and one with just three seconds left. Pittsburgh ran wide to the left with Hall, and four or five Hokies swarmed, including seniors Motuapuaka and Deon Newsome, to make a 3-yard loss, ending the up-and-down ride. That cued the celebration.

Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech senior linebacker Andrew Motuapuaka (center) was emotionally spent after the Hokies’ goal-line stand vs. Pittsburgh. (Photo by Ivan Morozov)

“I think I ran to like the 10-yard-line, and I couldn’t run no more,” Motuapuaka said. “I fell on my knees. It was real emotional.”

The win ends a two-game losing streak for the Hokies, and puts them at 8-3 ahead of their in-state showdown vs. Virginia (6-5) next Friday. Now, after an inspiring win on Senior Day, the Hokies can turn their full focus towards the Cavaliers with more confidence than they’ve had the entire month of November.

“Of course that’s a rival game, so we’re going to be pumped for it regardless, whether it was a win or lose, but having a win and ending that two-game losing streak at home, it was really good for us,” Floyd said.

— hokiesports.com box score —

27 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. Ladler had his nose in on that stop too. It actually looks like he made the back hesitate and allow others to pile on. Huge gutsy play from a Fr. Big trust from coaches too.

  2. I’m still grinning! What a goal-line stand. A defining character moment, especially after 2 straight disappointing losses. Salvaged the season fer sure. I wouldn’t want to imagine going into the Virginia game on a 3-game losing streak. Now let’s beat the Hoos and finish strong!

  3. If the Pitt QB had faked that 4th down play, he would of walked into End Zone. Very lucky for the win

  4. We better wake up quickly, or the Whose will be celebrating next week. This team is sadly going in the wrong direction. Wake up coaches! I dread the thought of possibly losing, and having to listen to them for a whole year! Yikes……

  5. watched from my hospital bed on my computer. NCvtv had Clemson vs Citadel. glad the young men pulled it out. Sadly the team has looked and performed like Frank’s last squads these last two weeks Thank you. seniors!

  6. If you watch Pitt’s last minute 75 yard pass play, you will notice that their tight end slowed down a little as he approached the goal line. That slow down combined with Reggie Floyd’s sensational defensive effort, cost Pitt the game.

  7. Very happy for the W and the great D at the line, but had Pitt scored, the earth would be on fire. The O was very ineffective and the coaches were making some very strange decisions again. UVa may not be a walk in the park.

  8. One of the most unlikely endings to any Tech game. You described the ending perfectly … HEROIC. From the Reggie Bush chasedown to the inspiring goal line stand. So happy for these guys.

  9. For a finish like that…just keep celebrating as that goal line stance will be talked about for years to come! Very happy for the seniors to get such an emotional win for last home game. Hopefully that mojo will carry into next week’s game in Charlottesville! Great team win and still have a shot at 10 win season! Let’s Go Hokies!

  10. TOTALLY WILD AND CRAZY. THE TECH “D” WAS AWESOME TODAY AND I AM SO HAPPY FOR THE TEAM AND ESPECIALLY THE SENIORS. GO HOKIES!!!!!!

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