With 4:41 to go and Virginia Tech leading 29-17, TyJuan Garbutt burst through the middle of the Wake Forest offensive line and hit quarterback Jamie Newman just as he was throwing a pass. The ball fluttered up in the air, and Dax Hollifield, with the laser focus of a hungry dog and all the footwork of an inebriated rhino, stumbled backwards and hauled it in for his second interception in two weeks.

On the next play, Hendon Hooker broke easily through the line for a 7-yard rushing touchdown that put the Hokies up 36-17 and made Wake Forest cry uncle. The Deacs put in the backups and conceded, running into the line and getting the heck out of Blacksburg.

All I could think was, “That’s old school. Old school.”

No drama. No drop-eight, rush-three, give up the long drive shenanigans. No sweating out the finish, or worse, losing it on Munchie Legaux-style or Matt Ryan-style late game heroics. Just a big, cold slam of the door that left no doubt.

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