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In the last episode, Virginia Tech found itself trailing No. 1 Florida State 28-14 at halftime in the 2000 BCS National Championship game. We pick things up now at the beginning of the third quarter—15 of the most glorious minutes in school history.

Despite Coach Frank Beamer’s halftime optimism, Virginia Tech’s chances of winning its first national championship seemed slim. In the hopes of mounting a second-half comeback against Florida State, many Hokie fans might have turned to prayer:

Our quarterback, who art in Beamerball,

Hallowed be thy game.

Thy victory come, thy thrill be done, in New Orleans as it is in Blacksburg.

Give us this day our daily touchdown

And forgive us our bad passes

As we forgive those who pass against us

And lead us not to defeat, but deliver us the Sears Trophy.

Which we would cherish, forever.

Amen.

But if Virginia Tech was going to answer its fans’ prayers, it would have to do so without two of its best players – starting running back Shyrone Stith and its second-leading receiver, Ricky Hall. Stith injured his right knee early in the second quarter, returned, then left just before halftime when FSU’s Corey Simon hit his left leg with his helmet. He was done for the

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