Virginia
Tech star running back Branden Ore is listed as doubtful for the Hokies’
season finale against the Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday. Ore suffered a high
ankle sprain in the first quarter of Tech’s victory over Wake Forest.
Ore left the field and did not return, finishing the game with just one carry
for five yards. For the season he has 221 carries for 1,095 yards and 14
touchdowns. Earlier in the year, he had consecutive 200 yard rushing games
against Southern Miss and Clemson. It was the first time in school history that
a Tech player accomplished that feat.
Without Ore, the Hokies used Kenny Lewis, Jr. and George Bell against Wake
Forest. Lewis finished with 17 carries for 74 yards, and Bell had 10 carries for
28 yards. If Virginia Tech can knock off UVA on Saturday, the Hokies will finish
with 10 or more wins for the third season in a row.
Hokies Move up in Polls
As a result of their 27-6 thrashing of Wake Forest, the Hokies moved up to
#17 in the A.P. Poll and #17 in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll. Virginia Tech is
now the second highest ranked ACC team, behind only Georgia Tech. The Hokies are
also #17 in the Harris Poll.
The Yellow Jackets beat Duke 49-21 on Saturday, finishing ACC play at 7-1 in
the conference. They are 9-2 overall. They rank #15 in the USA Today, #16 in the
A.P., and #16 in the Harris. The Jackets conclude their regular season this
coming weekend with their annual rivalry game against Georgia.
Boston College is right behind the Hokies in all the polls following their
38-16 victory over Maryland. The Eagles are #18 in all three polls, and they
face Miami on Thursday night in Coral Gables to close out their season.
Wake Forest dropped to #20 in all three polls following their 27-6 home loss
to Virginia Tech. The Demon Deacons can still win 10 games for the first time in
school history and clinch a spot in the ACC Championship Game with a victory at
Maryland this weekend.
Clemson did not play over the weekend, but still managed to earn the #24
ranking by all three polls. They will clash with South Carolina this coming
weekend.
The Maryland Terrapins dropped out of all three top 25 polls, but they
received the highest number of points of all the unranked teams in each poll. If
they knock off Wake Forest this weekend, they will likely find themselves back
in the top 25.
MDA Lockup Event a Big Success
Note from Will Stewart: Thank you to everyone who contributed to the
MDA Lockup event this past week. The event included 57 participants and raised
$26,000 in cash and pledges. Of the participants, TechSideline.com was the
largest contributor, with $4,156 raised. The event will allow MDA to pay for 13
wheelchairs or communication devices (at $2,000 each); to send 43 children to
MDA summer camp for a week ($600 per child); or pay for 400 minutes of MDA
research ($65 a minute).
The event was billed as the Radford/Dublin/Pulaski Lockup, but the funds
raised are not restricted to this area and will benefit over 1,000 families
affected by MDA throughout southwest and central Virginia.
Again, many thanks for your generous contributions. There were approximately
100 donors through TSL, and we lack the time and resources to thank each one of
you personally. But please be assured that your generosity is greatly
appreciated.
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