Virginia Tech (22).. 0 3 0 0 - 3 Boston College ...... 0 7 6 9 - 22 Scoring Summary: 2nd Quarter 05:11 BC - Challenger 15 yd pass from Ryan (Aponavicius kick) 00:41 VT - Pace 36 yd FG 3rd Quarter 09:11 BC - Aponavicius 36 yd FG 04:50 BC - Aponavicius 20 yd FG 4th Quarter 06:49 BC - Challenger 18 yd pass from Ryan (Aponavicius) 01:37 BC - TEAM Safety
Chestnut Hill, MA — #17 Virginia Tech traveled to Boston College in hopes of rebounding from the 38-27 loss to Georgia Tech. Instead of rebounding, they now find themselves in a deeper hole after getting drubbed 22-3 by the Eagles. It was Virginia Tech’s first road loss in ACC play and their first Thursday night loss since 1995. The Hokies drop to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in ACC play, while BC improves to 5-1, with a 2-1 mark in conference play.
The Virginia Tech offense suffered through their worst performance of the season, netting just 181 yards of total offense, including just 21 yards in the second half. The Hokies averaged just 2.9 yards per play against the Golden Eagles.
Branden Ore gained over half of Virginia Tech’s total yards. The redshirt sophomore had 71 yards on the ground on 19 carries and also hauled in five receptions for 26 yards. Unfortunately for the Hokies, Ore was the only bright spot of the night on the offensive side of the ball.
Despite Ore’s performance, Virginia Tech totaled just 33 yards rushing during the game. Sean Glennon was sacked three times for 33 yards in losses. The Hokies averaged just 1.2 yards per carry.
Virginia Tech turned the ball over four times during the game, which all but destroyed any notions of leaving Chestnut Hill with a victory. Sean Glennon was 23-of-34 for 148 yards and two interceptions. He also had a fumble during the game. David Clowney was responsible for the other turnover when he fumbled after a completed pass from Glennon that would have gone for a first down.
Glennon completed a high percentage of his throws, but most were short passes. The Hokies didn’t attempt to go down field very much during the game. Josh Morgan caught six passes for 35 yards, leading the team in receptions. Eddie Royal, David Clowney and Branden Ore each caught five passes, but only netted 44, 30 and 26 yards respectively.
The Virginia Tech defense came to play for the most part, holding Boston College to just 264 total yards during the game. The Golden Eagles rushed for just 90 yards during the game and averaged 2.6 yards per carry.
Vince Hall led the Hokies in tackles with nine total stops, including a tackle for loss. Cary Wade and Aaron Rouse had six tackles apiece. The Hokies managed to get four tackles for loss on the night, but did not force any turnovers.
Both teams struggled with penalties all night. BC was flagged nine times for 60 yards. The Hokies were also flagged nine times, but racked up 88 yards in penalties, including a critical holding penalty near the end of the second quarter that brought back a touchdown pass.
The Recap
Virginia Tech received the opening kickoff, and it looked like they had something going on their first drive. On the first play from scrimmage, Glennon hooked up with Eddie Royal on a flanker screen, and Royal followed his blocks and turned it into a 16 yard gain to the Hokie 42 yard line. But Tech’s drive ran out of steam after they advanced the ball to their own 49 yard line. A 51 yard punt by Nic Schmitt rolled into the end zone for a touchback.
BC got a big gain on their first play from scrimmage as well, as quarterback Matt Ryan found tight end Ryan Thompson for a 23 yard gain to the BC 43 yard line. The Golden Eagles didn’t score on the drive, but they did establish themselves in the field position game. BC eventually had to punt, and the Hokies had to start on their own 15 yard line. Later in the quarter, Boston College downed a punt on Tech’s two yard line.
The Hokies were able to move the ball out of the shadow of their own goal line, but wide receiver David Clowney fumbled the ball away at the Tech 24 yard line as he was attempting to pick up a first down. Bud Foster’s defense needed to come up with a stop, and they did.
The Hokies got a break near the end of the first quarter but failed to take advantage of it. Rather than attempt a 49 yard field goal, BC coach Tom O’Brien elected to go for it on fourth and 18 from the Tech 32 yard line. Matt Ryan’s pass was incomplete, and Virginia Tech finally got to start a drive not pinned deep in their own territory.
During this drive, the Hokies were able to move the ball with success. Sean Glennon completed two passes early in the drive, and later managed to scramble for an 11 yard gain and a first down. Tech drove to the BC 18 yard line early in the second quarter, where they faced third and one.
A handoff to Branden Ore failed to convert the third down, and Frank Beamer elected to go for it on fourth down. The Hokies tried another handoff to Ore inside, but BC linebacker Brian Toal was unblocked and made the tackle for no gain. With 13:13 left in the second quarter, there was still no score.
Later in the quarter, the Hokies had the ball at their own 14 yard line. There was a miscommunication between Sean Glennon and a receiver, with Glennon throwing outside and the receiver running inside. The result was an easy interception for BC’s Ryan Glasper. A 15 yard penalty pushed BC back to their own 31 yard line, but that didn’t phase the Eagles on the ensuing drive.
The big play of the drive came on first and 10 from the Tech 49 yard line. BC tried a reverse, but Chris Ellis broke into the backfield and stopped the play for an 11 yard loss, but Ellis was flagged for a 15 yard face mask penalty in the process. The Eagles had a first down at Tech’s 34, and Matt Ryan found Kevin Challenger for a 15 yard touchdown two plays later. The extra point was good, and BC led 7-0 with 5:11 left in the second quarter. As it turned out, that was all the Eagles needed.
The Hokies were able to answer with a scoring drive before halftime, but a critical penalty cost them an even better result. Facing second and 10 from the Boston College 19 yard line, Sean Glennon found David Clowney wide open in the end zone for a 19 yard touchdown. But left guard Ryan Shuman was flagged for holding on the play, and the Hokies were unable to punch it in. They eventually settled for a 36 yard field goal from Brandon Pace to make the score 7-3 at halftime.
Virginia Tech began the second half with turnovers on their first two possessions, and BC was able to convert them into two field goals. The first turnover came when Jolonn Dunbar intercepted a Sean Glennon pass at the BC 42 yard line and then returned it all the way to Tech’s 27 yard line. BC failed to pick up a first down, but a 36 yard field goal by Steve Aponavicius was good, making the score 10-3 with 9:11 left in the third quarter.
On the Hokies’ next drive, Glennon turned the ball over again. BC’s Austin Giles broke around the right side of the offensive line, but originally he charged past Glennon. He was able to get his pass rush under control and sack Tech’s quarterback from behind. Glennon never saw Giles coming and fumbled the ball away at the Tech 30 yard line. The Hokie defense stood strong again, holding BC to a 20 yard field goal from Aponavicius that made the score 13-3 with 4:50 left in the third quarter.
The Hokies needed their offense to come up with some plays, but they were unable to do so in the final quarter of play. Boston College put the final nail in Tech’s coffin in the fourth quarter. Facing third and five from the Hokies’ 18 yard line, Matt Ryan found Kevin Challenger all alone behind Tech’s zone coverage for an easy touchdown. The extra point took BC’s lead to 20-3 with 6:49 left in the game.
The Hokies were unable to muster any offense the rest of the game. Virginia Tech’s special teams got into the scoring act for Boston College late in the game. As Nic Schmitt lined up to punt from his own end zone, the snapped sailed over his head and out of the end zone for a safety, making the score 22-3. The Golden Eagles then ran out the clock, and the celebration was on in Boston.
Virginia Tech will return to action on Saturday, October 21 when they host Southern Mississippi in Lane Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm, and the game will be televised by ESPNU.
STATISTICS
VT BC
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First downs 14 16
Rushed-yards 28-33 34-90
Passing yards 148 174
Sacked-yards lost 3-33 0-0
Return yards 83 16
Passes 23-34-2 16-29-0
Punts 5-47.8 6-36.0
Fumbles-lost 3-2 1-0
Penalties-yards 9-88 9-60
Time of possession 27:51 32:09
Att: 44,500
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Virginia Tech, Ore 19-71, Team 1-(-11) Glennon 8-(-27).
BC, Whitworth 17-60 Callender 14-30, Toal 1-2, Team 2-(-2).
PASSING-Virginia Tech, Glennon 23-34-148-2. BC, Ryan 16-29-174.
RECEIVING-Virginia Tech, Morgan 6-35, Royal 5-44, Clowney 5-30,
Ore 5-26, Wheeler 1-7, Harper 1-6. BC, Challenger 3-45, Thompson 3-38
Gonzalez 3-26, Megwa 2-34, Whitworth 2-5, Purvis 1-14, Sele 1-7
Robinson 1-5.
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