Ryan Williams put on a clinic for Virginia Tech to help the Hokies win the 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl with a 31-14 win over Tennessee.

Tech got on the board early with a long drive primarily through the air as Tyrod Taylor connected with Jarrett Boykin 3 times for 43 yards. Josh Oglesby ran it in to finish off the drive and the Hokies never trailed in the game.

Field goals were traded until the Hokies got the ball with 1:44 left until the half. Taylor engineered a quick-strike drive including 6 straight completions capped off with a 4 yard pass to tailback David Wilson. Tech led 17-3 at the half.

The Volunteers would again struggle to get on the board after halftime first with a field goal. The Hokies got the ball back and grinded it out on the ground with heavy doses of Ryan Williams. After a break for the fourth quarter, Williams busted free on the first play of the final period for 53 yards to put the game out of reach.

Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton hit Montario Hardesty with a 55 yard screen pass late in the game to get the Vols above the 10-point margin.

The Hokies finish the season with a 10-3 record despite not playing for an ACC Championship. Tennessee finishes the season with a 7-6 record.

VT 7 10 0 14 -31
UT 3 0 3 8 -14

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
VT:TD 2:54 J. Oglesby, 3 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
UT:FG 0:00 D. Lincoln, 48 Yd FG
2nd Quarter
VT:FG 3:06 M. Waldron, 50 Yd FG
VT:TD 0:30 D. Wilson, 4 Yd Pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)
3rd Quarter
UT:FG 1:03 D. Lincoln, 22 Yd FG
4th Quarter
VT:TD 4:34 R. Williams, 53 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
UT:TD 2:32 M. Hardesty, 55 Yd Pass from J. Crompton (2-Pt)
VT:TD 1:01 R. Williams, 4 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)

Significant Stats
First downs VT: 20 UT: 13
Total Offense VT:415 UT: 306
Turnovers VT: 0 UT: 1 INT

Virginia Tech Top Player Stats
Passing: T. Taylor 18-28 for 205 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: R. Williams 23-for-166 yds, 2 TD
Receiving: D. Roberts 5-for-80 yds
Defense: C. Thompson 4 TAK, 3 TFL, 3 SAK

Tennessee Top Player Stats
Passing: J. Crompton 15-30 for 218 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: M. Hardesty 21-for-80 yds
Receiving: M. Hardesty 4-for-78 yds, 1 TD
Defense: L. Thompson 9 TAK, 1 TFL

Virginia Tech played a conservative offensive game in the second half to avoid an upset from Virginia 21-17 in Charlottesville.

The Hokies' Tyrod Taylor found tight end Greg Boone often in the early quarters to propel Tech to an early 14-0 lead. Taylor continued his hot start with a touchdown strike to Jarrett Boykin with just under two minutes left in the half.

Things were looking good for Tech until Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell started to pick apart the Hokies' secondary in under a minute. In just three plays, Virginia was on the board with a 27 yard touchdown pass to Kris Burd.

Tech turned into a running team in the second half with limited success. Taylor threw one interception early in the third quarter leading to a Mikell Simpson 6 yard touchdown run to cap off a seven play drive to help the Hoos to pull within a touchdown. Tech's defense clamped down only allowing a field goal at the end of the third quarter.

The Hokies ran out the clock in the fourth quarter to squander any form of upset in head coach Al Groh's final game on the Virginia sideline.

VT 14 7 0 0 -21
UVA 0 7 10 0 -17

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
VT:TD 3:43 R. Williams, 3 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
VT:TD 0:30 G. Boone, 31 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)
2nd Quarter
VT:TD 1:53 J. Boykin, 7 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)
UVA:TD 0:52 K. Burd, 27 Yd pass from J. Sewell (R. Randolph Kick)
3rd Quarter
UVA:TD 2:22 M. Simpson, 6 Yd run (R. Randolph Kick)
UVA:FG 0:03 R. Randolph, 20 Yd FG

Significant Stats
First downs VT: 11 UVA: 21
Total Offense VT:293 UVA: 444
Turnovers VT: 1 FUM UVA: 1 INT

Virginia Tech Top Player Stats
Passing: T. Taylor 12-20 for 176 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: R. Williams 22-for-83 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: G. Boone 5-for-115 yds, 1 TD
Defense: B. Rivers 8 TAK, 1 TFL, 1 SAK

Virginia Top Player Stats
Passing: J. Sewell 29-52 for 347 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: M. Simpson 15-for-65 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: J. Brown 7-for-119 yds
Defense: D. Childs 6 TAK, 1 TFL

Josh Oglesby scored the go-ahead touchdown with 21 seconds left in the game to help Virginia Tech come back to beat NC State 31-24 in a thriller.

The Hokies rolled out of the gate in the first half, scoring 20 unanswered points in large part to senior tight end Greg Boone. The crowd favorite caught two touchdowns in the first half to lead the Hokies to a 20-point cushion.

Things were looking good for the Hokies until Russell Wilson and the Wolfpack started to heat up midway through the second quarter. Wilson finally hooked up on his first touchdown of the day with Owen Spencer to cap a calculated drive with just over 30 seconds until halftime. Instead of running the clock out before the half, Tech decided to try to score one more time when Tyrod Taylor got picked off by Audie Cole. Wilson took only two plays to hook up again with Spencer for a long 34-yard score and the Wolfpack had all the momentum heading into the locker room down by six.

State didn't stop when the third quarter began. In the opening possession, the Pack scored a field goal before Taylor was picked off again. Four plays later, State had their first lead of the game, 24-20 in front of a stunned Lane Stadium crowd.

The Hokies dug deep in the fourth quarter and cut the lead to just one point thanks to a Matt Waldron field goal. State got the ball back and did some damage but missed a field goal attempt with 2 minutes to play.

Two minutes was all Tyrod Taylor needed to lead Tech on a 15-play drive including four quick run plays capped off with the touchdown run by Oglesby.

NCST 0 14 10 0 -24
VT 10 10 0 11 -31

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
VT:FG 3:15 M. Waldron, 25 Yd FG
VT:TD 2:17 G. Boone, 18 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)
2nd Quarter
VT:TD 4:21 G. Boone, 9 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)
VT:FG 2:51 M. Waldron, 42 Yd FG
NCST:TD 0:36 O. Spencer, 2 Yd pass from R. Wilson (J. Czajkowski Kick)
NCST:TD 0:00 O. Spencer, 34 Yd pass from R. Wilson (J. Czajkowski Kick)
3rd Quarter
NCST:FG 3:00 J. Czajkowski, 29 Yd FG
NCST:TD 1:47 T. Baker, 1 Yd run (J. Czajkowski Kick)
4th Quarter
VT:FG 4:22 M. Waldron, 31 Yd FG
VT:TD 0:21 J. Oglesby, 1 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)

Significant Stats
First downs NCST: 18 VT: 14
Total Offense NCST:394 VT: 360
Turnovers NCST: 1 FUM, 1 INT VT: 3 INT

NC State Top Player Stats
Passing: R. Wilson 18-33 for 299 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: T. Baker 25-for-77 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: O. Spencer 8-for-166 yds, 2 TD
Defense: R. Michel 6 TAK, 1 INT

Virginia Tech Top Player Stats
Passing: T. Taylor 15-31 for 222 yds, 2 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: R. Williams 22-for-108 yds
Receiving: G. Boone 3-for-33 yds, 2 TD
Defense: J. Johnson 8 TAK, 1 TFL, 1 DEFL

Tyrod Taylor led a game-winning drive in the final minute and a half to help Virginia Tech fend off Maryland in a high-scoring affair in College Park, 42-35.

Maryland marched down the field on the legs of Davin Meggett starting with just under four minutes to play. Meggett carried the Terps on his back carrying the ball on the five final plays of a 14-play touchdown drive with fewer than two minutes to play.

Maryland tied the game at 35, but left too much time on the clock for Taylor and the Hokies. Taylor went 6-for-7 passing on the game-winning drive including a 25 yard dump-off pass to Ryan Williams. With no timeouts remaining, the Hokies worked their way into the Maryland red zone to kick a field goal. However, Tech went for the score and Taylor hit Jarrett Boykin for an 8-yard strike to put the Hokies up for good.

Taylor and Maryland counterpart Chris Turner passed for big numbers and several touchdowns. Turner shined early in the first quarter with two touchdowns longer than 20 yards. The Hokies looked like they would struggle staying with the Terps until Dyrell Roberts returned a kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown to spark the Hokies.

Ryan Williams did not have a good day due to Taylor throwing the ball consistently. Williams amassed only 82 yards and one touchdown.

VT       13        7          8          14        -42

UMD   14        7          7          7          -35

Scoring Summary

1^st Quarter

VT:TD 3:40 J. Boykin, 1 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)

UMD:TD         2:00 R. Tyler, 22 Yd pass from C. Turner (N. Ferrara Kick)

UMD:TD         0:37 T. Smith, 26 Yd pass from C. Turner (N. Ferrara Kick)

VT:TD 0:09 D. Roberts, returned kickoff 102 Yds (Missed Kick)

2^nd Quarter

VT:TD 2:32 D. Roberts, 5 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)

UMD:TD         2:05 T. Smith, returned kickoff 102 Yds (N. Ferrara Kick)

3^rd Quarter

UMD:TD         2:51 D. Scott, 2 Yd run (N. Ferrara Kick)

VT:TD 2:54 R. Williams, 1 Yd run (2-Pt)

4^th Quarter

VT:TD 3:22 G. Boone, 10 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)

UMD:TD         1:30 D. Meggett, 1 Yd run (N. Ferrara Kick)

VT:TD 3:40 J. Boykin, 7 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)

Significant Stats

First downs VT: 18 UMD: 20

Total Offense VT:385 UMD: 427

Turnovers VT: 0 UMD: 1 FUM,

Virginia Tech Top Player Stats

Passing: T. Taylor 24-36 for 296 yds, 4 TD

Rushing: R. Williams 19-for-82 yds, 1 TD

Receiving: J. Boykin 6-for-75 yds, 2 TD

Defense: C. Grimm 10 TAK

Maryland Top Player Stats

Passing: C. Turner 18-34 for 314 yds, 2 TD

Rushing: D. Scott 26-for-88 yds, 1 TD

Receiving: T. Smith 5-for-106 yds, 1 TD

Defense: T. Skinner 7 TAK, 1 DEFL

Ryan Williams broke a 76 yard touchdown midway through the third quarter to vault Virginia Tech back into the winning column 21-12 over East Carolina on Thursday night.

Williams became the workhorse for the Hokies racking up 186 rushing yards and the touchdown. The Tech offense did enough to take the lead into the locker room at halftime with one touchdown as the defense held the Pirates to only two field goals in the first half.

Both teams played well in the second half, but Tech played a ball control game by only allowing Tyrod Taylor to throw 22 passes, completing 15 of them including a touchdown to Williams in the fourth quarter.

Tech's defense played strong throughout the game including a Rashad Carmichael interception deep in Hokie territory preventing the Pirates from taking the lead in the third quarter. Two plays later, Williams busted free for the long run, breaking ECU's back.

VT 7 0 7 7 -21
ECU 0 6 0 6 -12

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
VT:TD 2:37 J. Oglesby, 1 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
2nd Quarter
ECU:FG 2:41 B. Hartman, 29 Yd FG
ECU:FG 1:16 B. Hartman, 29 Yd FG
3rd Quarter
VT:TD 2:54 R. Williams, 76 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
4th Quarter
VT:TD 4:52 R. Williams, 10 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)
ECU:TD 0:53 J. Bryant, 6 Yd pass from P. Pinkney (2-Pt failed)

Significant Stats
First downs VT: 25 ECU: 13
Total Offense VT:359 ECU: 273
Turnovers VT: 2 FUM, 1 INT ECU: 1 FUM, 1 INT

Virginia Tech Top Player Stats
Passing: T. Taylor 15-22 for 247 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: R. Williams 28-for-186 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: D. Coale 5-for-81 yds
Defense: J. Worilds 7 TAK, 6 TFL, 3 SACK

East Carolina Top Player Stats
Passing: P. Pinkney 20-40 for 204 yds, 1TD, 1 INT
Rushing: B. Jackson 18-for-53 yds, 1 FUM
Receiving: J. Bryant 5-for-65 yds, 1 TD
Defense: S. Robinson 7 TAK, 4 TFL, 1 SACK

Ryan Williams turned on some late game heroics to help lead Virginia Tech come back in the fourth quarter to beat North Carolina 38-24 on a clear Thursday night in Blacksburg.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Tar Heels laid a 21 spot before the break thanks to a Tyrod Taylor interception deep in Virginia Tech territory. With the Heels up 14-0, Tech moved the ball down the field to pull within a touchdown with just 1:22 left in the half. Carolina's T.J. Yates picked apart the Hokie secondary in only four passes. The touchdown pass to tailback Ryan Houston.

The Hokies came out for the second half with a chip on their shoulders to not allow another North Carolina touchdown the rest of the game. Tech cornerback Rashad Carmichael led the charge early in the third quarter with a forced fumble from T.J. Yates. Four straight runs from Ryan Williams put the Hokies back within a touchdown. After another three and out by North Carolina, Taylor led the Hokies for another scoring drive, capped off with a five yard touchdown pass to Jarrett Boykin.

In another clutch situation, Tech stepped up again with another forced fumble, this time by senior free safety Kam Chancellor. Just like the first forced fumble's result, Ryan Williams again ran the ball four straight times for a touchdown, this time putting the Hokies up for good.

UNC 0 21 3 0 -24
VT 0 7 14 17 -38

Scoring Summary
2nd Quarter
UNC:TD 4:20 R. Houston, 1 Yd run (C. Barth Kick)
UNC:TD 3:26 D. Jones, 13 Yd pass from T. Yates (C. Barth Kick)
VT:TD 1:21 J. Oglesby, 2 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
UNC:TD 0:29 R. Houston, 10 Yd pass from T. Yates (C. Barth Kick)
3rd Quarter
VT:TD 4:06 R. Williams, 1 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
UNC:FG 1:45 C. Barth, 22 Yd FG
VT:TD 0:03 J. Boykin, 5 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)
4th Quarter
VT:TD 3:37 R. Williams, 3 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
VT:TD 1:48 R. Williams, 3 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
VT:FG 0:18 M. Waldron, 27 Yd FG

Significant Stats
First downs UNC: 16 VT: 20
Total Offense UNC:338 VT: 382
Turnovers UNC: 2 FUM, 2 INT VT: 1 FUM, 1 INT

North Carolina Top Player Stats
Passing: T. Taylor 17-28 for 233 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: R. Williams 23-for-78 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: J. Boykin 6-for-125 yds
Defense: J. Worilds 6 TAK, 3 TFL, 1 SACK, 1 FF

Virginia Tech Top Player Stats
Passing: T. Taylor 18-33 for 201 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: R. Williams 36-for-178 yds, 3 TD
Receiving: D. Roberts 5-for-85 yds
Defense: K. Chancellor 5 TAK, 1 FF, 1 TFL, 1 SACK, 1 INT

Virginia Tech used three consecutive drives in the second quarter for touchdowns to take down Georgia Tech 24-17 in a key Coastal Division matchup. The No. 4 Hokies stay in front of both the Yellow Jackets and the Miami Hurricanes for the right to play for the ACC championship at the end of the season.

Georgia Tech stormed out of the gate first on a 15-play drive that included only two passes. The Jackets scored on a Roddy Jones 4-yard scamper. The Hokies could only match on their first drive with a long field goal from Matt Waldron.

After a GT field goal to put them up by a touchdown, the Hokies finally picked up the offensive pace as Tyrod Taylor hit Jared Boykin for a deep pass to set up a 2-yard run from Ryan Williams to tie the game up. On the next possession, Jason Worilds sacked the Jackets' Josh Nesbitt to jar the ball loose leading to a recovery by the Hokies' Kam Chancellor. In the blink of an eye, Taylor found Boykin again deep down the field to set up another quick touchdown, this time a 7-yard strike to Xavier Boyce.

The Hokies were not done there as the defense forced a quick three-and-out of the Ramblin' Wreck offense with all three timeouts. With no way to stop the clock, Taylor again made quick work of the Georgia Tech secondary with passes to Boykin and Williams for significant yardage. With just 2 seconds left on the game clock before the half, Hokies head coach Frank Beamer gambled to forgo the field goal, which paid off with a touchdown catch from tight end Andre Smith to put the Hokies up 24-10 at the break.

The Hokie offense went into clock management mode in the second half, but were not able to get into the endzone or field goal range. Luckily the defense stepped up and did not allow Georgia Tech to get into the endzone but once in the second half.

Box Score
VT 3 21 0 0 -24
GT 7 3 0 7 -17

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
GT:TD 2:26 R. Jones, 3 Yd run (S. Blair Kick)
VT:FG 0:54 M. Waldron, 51 Yd FG
2nd Quarter
GT:FG 4:05 S. Blair, 36 Yd FG
VT:TD 2:20 R. Williams, 2 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
VT:TD 1:18 X. Boyce, 7 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)
VT:TD 0:00 A. Smith, 4 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)
4th Quarter
GT:TD 2:59 J. Dwyer, 3 Yd run (S. Blair Kick)

Significant Stats
First downs VT: 15 GT: 19
Total Offense VT:322 GT: 342
Turnovers VT: 0 GT: 1 FUM, 2 INT

Virginia Tech Top Player Stats
Passing: T. Taylor 17-28 for 233 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: R. Williams 23-for-78 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: J. Boykin 6-for-125 yds
Defense: J. Worilds 6 TAK, 3 TFL, 1 SACK, 1 FF

Georgia Tech Top Player Stats
Passing: J. Nesbitt 9-19 for 148 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: J. Dwyer 14-for-63 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: T. Melton 4-for-78 yds
Defense: B. Jefferson 7 TAK, 2 TFL, 1 SACK

Tyrod Taylor engineered a come-from-behind victory to keep No. 5 Virginia Tech unbeaten in ACC play beating Boston College 21-14 in an overtime thriller. On the first play in the extra period, Taylor found tight end Andre Smith in the center of the field for a touchdown to help the Hokies take their first lead of the game.

Virginia Tech's strong defense prevailed once Boston College had its chance in overtime forcing the Eagles to lose 6 yards on two consecutive run plays. BC quarterback Dave Shinskie threw two incomplete passes to end the game, leading to Worsham Field being rushed for the third consecutive game.

The Hokies struggled in the first half of the game after a Ryan Williams fumble was lost inside the BC 10 yard line on their first offensive drive. Boston College then capitalized on the miscue to score on a 12-play, 91 yard drive finished off with a 14 yard touchdown strike to Justin Jarvis. Tech could only score two field goals in the second quarter, leading to a 7-6 halftime score.

In the second half, the Eagles and Hokies traded several possessions with strong punting. The Hokies' Brent Bowden pinned BC deep in Tech territory only to have the field position battle ended with a 90 yard touchdown pass from BC backup quarterback Justin Tuggle to Rich Gunnell. Boston College was sitting pretty up by eight heading into the fourth quarter.

Things were looking grim for the Hokies until the running game finally started to click thanks to both Ryan Williams and Josh Oglesby. Oglesby finished off the 57-yard drive with a run up the middle for 6 yards to put the Hokies down by 2. Taylor then found Danny Coale on a screen pass for the 2-point conversion, tying the game.

Box Score
BC 7 0 7 0 0 -14
VT 0 6 0 8 7 -21

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
BC:TD 0:24 J. Jarvis, 14 Yd pass from D. Shinskie (S. Aponavicius Kick)
2nd Quarter
VT:FG 4:03 M. Waldron, 46 Yd FG
VT:FG 2:19 M. Waldron, 31 Yd FG
3rd Quarter
BC:TD 1:45 R. Gunnell, 90 Yd pass from J. Tuggle (S. Aponavicius Kick)
4th Quarter
VT:FG 4:04 J. Oglesby, 5 Yd run (2-Pt)
OT
VT:TD A. Smith, 25 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)

Significant Stats
First downs BC: 13 VT: 16
Total Offense BC:339 VT: 440
Turnovers BC: 2 INT VT: 1 FUM

BC Top Player Stats
Passing: D. Shinskie 11-31 for 124 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: M. Harris 27-for-109 yds
Receiving: R. Gunnell 2-for-114 yds, 1 TD
Defense: K. Ramsey 5 TAK, 3 TFL

Virginia Tech Top Player Stats
Passing: T. Taylor 26-35 for 365 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: R. Williams 14-for-40 yds
Receiving: D. Coale 8-for-110 yds
Defense: C. Grimm 5 TAK, 1 INT

Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer is famous for many quotes. One quote in particular really pertains to this season. "It's never as good as it seems, and it's never as bad as it seems."

That "seems" about right after the first five games of the season. Case in point, the Hokies have struggled mightily on offense in two games, played outstanding in two games and were middle of the road in one game (albeit a rainy game). Usually the struggles are on the offensive side of the ball, but this year the mighty defense is starting to struggle.

Last season I made the 13 hour trip from Charlotte to Chestnut Hill, MA with a few friends only to leave frustrated because of all the big plays given up on defense. Deep pass after deep pass took the Hokies down on that cold night where most Boston College fans were more concerned about the MLB playoffs than the game in front of their faces.

Beamer and Bud Foster remember last year and last week only amplified the changes that need to be made on defense. Duke is no slouch this year and they will win a game or two - maybe even against rival North Carolina. The Blue Devils blew up the Tech defense with five big plays that are burned into Foster's mind.

I'm not a football savvy individual, but if there's one guy on Virginia Tech's coaching staff that will step up and make changes, it's Bud Foster. If plays and coverages fail to work, he gets rid of them and doesn't go back to them. The same thing cannot be said of the offense with the continuous end around run plays that go for no gain.

Still, with all of the faults on both sides of the ball, it really isn't as bad as it seems. Tech's won four games and lost a close one to a national title contender. The Hokies already have the upper hand in the Coastal Division and are not even halfway through the season.

Sure, the Hokies are in the same breath as Florida, Texas and Alabama when it comes to a trip to Pasadena for New Year's. It's not as good as it seems quite yet. Conference games matter more than ever at this point.

Virginia Tech vowed never to take the Duke Blue Devils lightly after a late-game scare in Blacksburg last season. The No. 6 Hokies continued their winning ways in Durham 37-17 on the legs of true freshman tailback David Wilson.

Wilson and fellow tailback Ryan Williams split playing time in the first quarter with Williams scoring the first 
touchdown. Williams left the game through the second quarter with a bruised elbow and never returned. Wilson took full advantage scoring two touchdowns of his own.

The surprise score of the game came in the second quarter when quarterback Tyrod Taylor found tight end Sam Wheeler. The catch marked Wheeler's first touchdown reception since the 2007 season opener against East Carolina.

The Hokies never relinquished the lead and continued to add to the score thanks to three field goals in the second half from senior Matt Waldron including a 53-yarder in the third quarter.

Box Score

VT 7 14 10 6 37
DUKE 0 10 0 7 17

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
VT:TD 0:46 R. Williams, 5 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
2nd Quarter
VT:TD 3:46 S. Wheeler, 3 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)
VT:TD 2:43 D. Wilson, 3 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
DUKE:TD 1:16 A. Kelly, 3 Yd pass from T. Lewis (N. Maggio Kick)
DUKE:FG 0:00 N. Maggio, 34 Yd FG
3rd Quarter
VT:FG 2:44 M. Waldron, 53 Yd FG
VT:TD 1:16 D. Wilson, 4 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
4th Quarter
VT:FG 4:08 M. Waldron, 39 Yd FG
VT:FG 2:12 M. Waldron, 33 Yd FG
DUKE:TD 0:22 D. Varner, 3 Yd pass from T. Lewis (N. Maggio Kick)

Significant Stats
First downs VT: 37 DUKE: 16
Total Offense VT:404 DUKE: 288
Turnovers VT: 1 FUM DUKE: 2 INT, 1 FUM

Virginia Tech Top Player Stats
Passing: T. Taylor 25-35 for 252 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: D. Wilson 22-for-78 yds, 2 TD
Receiving: D. Coale 8-for-98 yds, 1 TD
Defense: B. Rivers 5 TAK, 1 INT

Duke Top Player Stats
Passing: T. Lewis 18-32 for 212 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: R. Boyette 17-for-76 yds, 1 FUM
Receiving: D. Varner 6-for-54 yds, 1 TD
Defense: V. Rey 10 TAK

Virginia Tech's 3-1 record is pretty stout after playing three ranked teams in the first four games of the season. Plenty of questions surrounding this squad still remain unanswered as the Hokies dive into the ACC schedule. One third of the way through the regular season, it's time for some first-month awards.

Top Rookie
David Wilson - HB: Wilson's first performance against Alabama was short-lived, but he quickly burst onto the scene against Marshall in Game 2. Leading the Hokies in rushing in his first game at Lane Stadium with 165 yards is quite a rare site.
Runner up: Jayron Hosley

Top New Starter
Jake Johnson - LB: Jake is starting to make a name for himself with that huge neck restrictor and powerful shots to the opposition. Sure, he missed a few tackles against Nebraska, but he still leads the team in solo tackles with 13 and is tied overall with 32.
Runner up: Beau Warren

Top Offensive player
Tyrod Taylor - QB: Tyrod would not have been selected for this spot mid-way through the month. Taylor has worked hard to make quicker decisions and the rain against Miami amplified it. He knew he could use his legs just as well as his arm, because after all, he is a dual threat quarterback.
Runner up: Josh Oglesby

Top Defensive player
Jason Worilds - DE: If you get a chance to go to the Duke game on Saturday, take a few plays to watch Worilds in action without following the ball. This guy plays through pain and takes care of business when nobody else can penetrate the offensive line. Don't be surprised if he reaches the 10-sack plateau by season's end.
Runner up: Rashad Carmichael

Surprise player
Barquell Rivers - LB: The redshirt sophomore is tied with Johnson for the lead with 32 sacks. Ever since his big plays in the Orange Bowl, Rivers has quietly made big plays in the middle of the field and breaking up passes on the perimeter.
Runner up: Nekos Brown

MVP
Ryan Williams - HB: He could have fit in with the Rookie category, New Starter, Offensive Player or Surprise Player. Williams has been the best player and has picked up the entire Virginia Tech team and carried it on his back. His burst of speed and power is just what the doctor ordered for a struggling passing game.
Runner up: Cody Grimm

Assistant Coach
Bud Foster - Defensive Coordinator: Who else would it be?

Tyrod Taylor found receiver Xavier Boyce in the second overtime period to lift No. 11 Virginia Tech against the upstart No. 9 Miami Hurricanes in Lane Stadium.  

Tied at 21 near the end of the fourth quarter, the Hokies had 2:58 left on the clock to get into field goal range to win the game. Taylor's quick work of the Miami defense and the running ability of Ryan Williams helped Tech get inside the 20 yard line. With just over a minute left, tailback David Wilson fumbled the ball, which ended up in the hands of Miami's Darryl Sharpton. The Hurricanes ran out of time at the end of regulation, leading to the first overtime game in Lane Stadium's storied history.

In the first overtime, the Hokies made quick work in just two plays, a screen pass to Williams for 23 yards and a 2 yard strike to Greg Boone for the touchdown. Miami also engineered a quick drive ending with a 10 yard pass from Jacory Harris to Leonard Hankerson to send the game into a second overtime period.

Tech's defense held strong in the double overtime not allowing a single yard to Miami's offense. That led to a 42 yard field goal attempt knocked wide left by Jake Wieclaw. Taylor made quick work of Miami's defense to find Boyce in the back of the endzone to seal the victory.

MIA 7 0 7 7 7 0 - 28
VT 0 7 7 7 7 6 - 34

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
MIA:TD 3:01 G. Cooper, 5 Yd run (J. Wieclaw Kick)
2nd Quarter
VT:TD 1:26 X R. Williams, 2 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
3rd Quarter
VT:TD 3:11 R. Williams, 1 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
MIA:TD 1:43 G. Cooper, 6 Yd run (J. Wieclaw Kick)
4th Quarter
VT:TD 4:33 R. Williams, 2 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
MIA:TD 2:57 G. Cooper, 3 Yd run (J. Wieclaw Kick)
OT1
VT:TD G. Boone, 1 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)
MIA:TD L. Hankerson, 9 Yd pass from J. Harris (J. Wieclaw Kick)
OT2
VT:TD X. Boyce, 7 Yd pass from T.Taylor

Significant Stats
First downs MIA: 28 VT: 34
Total Offense MIA: 423 VT:449
Turnovers MIA: 1 FUM VT: 1 FUM

Miami Top Player Stats
Passing: J. Harris 25-43 for 286 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: G. Cooper 28-for-128 yds, 3 TD
Receiving: L. Hankerson 9-for-150 yds, 1 TD
Defense: V. Telemaque 12 TAK

Virginia Tech Top Player Stats
Passing: T. Taylor 24-37 for 311 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: R. Williams 33-for-125 yds, 3 TD
Receiving: X. Boyce 7-for-112 yds, 1 TD
Defense: J. Johnson 8 TAK

Driving to work this morning I heard a Nebraska fan call in to a national sports radio show. He wasn't too happy with the outcome of Saturday's game, and rightfully so. His Huskers played just well enough to beat Virginia Tech for just over 58 minutes.

Tyrod Taylor had the final two.

Sitting in the stands after that game, I was shocked like the rest of the Hokies around the country - How in the world did they pull that off?

Both teams played hard with defense dominating the game. Nebraska could only make field goals the whole game, but made some big plays when it counted. Tech, on the other hand, didn't make those big plays even for short yardage on third down.

Nevertheless, the Hokies made two big plays down the stretch and pulled off a win for the ages and leaving both fan bases stunned with what occurred in front of their eyes on that cloudy Saturday afternoon in Blacksburg.

I'm still shocked even four days later. I grew up watching the Hokies lose a few close games like that, especially not manufacturing a drive in the final minutes. It's not the drive itself that is shocking as much as the fact the offense had not done anything all day.

Nebraska's defense held strong, but every team blows coverage once in a blue moon. The Hokies easily could have lost that game on a Husker score in the third quarter, but penalties cost Nebraska so much they had to punt.

Enjoy the victory not only because of the wild finish, but because it was against one of the most storied programs in the sport. Nebraska could easily contend this season for the conference title if they can manage to get the ball into the endzone once in a while.

The same goes for Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech busted out the maroon throwback uniforms as they welcomed the Nebraska Cornhuskers to Blacksburg. The No. 19 Huskers marked the first visit to Blacksburg by a ranked non-conference opponent since No. 6 West Virginia visited in 2004. Strong defense prevailed as the No. 13 Hokies took care of business 38-10 in front of a Lane Stadium capacity crowd.

It didn't take Nebraska long to get on the board as it only took four offensive plays to get into the endzone via a 50-yard strike from Zac Lee to tailback Roy Helu Jr. Tech could only answer on the next drive with a 27-yard field goal.

Starting the second quarter, Tyrod Taylor engineered a 15-play, 97-yard drive finishing with an 11-yard pitch-and-catch to Xavier Boyce. From that point, the Hokies held a lead they would not relinquish. On the ensuing drive, Tech's Cody Grimm picked off a Lee pass on the Huskers' 29 yard line. That interception led to a David Wilson touchdown, putting the game out of reach for Nebraska. The Huskers tagged on a field goal at the break with the score of 17-10 in favor of the Hokies.

As the Hokie defense held strong in the second half, Tech's offense chewed up the clock with long drives on the ground, wearing out Nebraska's front four. Ryan Williams added two touchdowns to the mix and even fullback Kenny Jefferson scored on a 3-yard goal line play.

Box Score

NEB 7 3 0 0 10
VT 3 14 7 14 38

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
NEB:TD 3:40 R. Helu, 50 yd pass from Z. Lee (A. Henery Kick)
VT:FG 1:35 M. Waldron, 27 Yd FG
2nd Quarter
VT:TD 2:57 X. Boyce, 11 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)
VT:TD 1:05 D. Wilson, 6 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)
NEB:FG 0:00 A. Henery, 17 Yd FG
3rd Quarter
VT:TD 2:19 R. Williams, 2 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
4th Quarter
VT:TD 4:46 K. Jefferson, 3 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
VT:TD 1:44 R. Williams, 4 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)

Significant Stats
First downs NEB: 12 VT: 20
Total Offense NEB: 335 VT:377
Turnovers NEB: 3(2 FUM, 1 INT) VT: 0

Nebraska Top Player Stats
Passing: Z. Lee 17-29 for 289 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: R. Helu 14-for-24 yds, 0 TD
Receiving: R. Helu 2-for-58 yds, 1 TD
Defense: C. Koehler 10 TAK

Virginia Tech Top Player Stats
Passing: T. Taylor 19-32 for 212 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: R. Williams 29-for-149 yds, 2 TD
Receiving: X. Boyce 5-for-85 yds, 1 TD
Defense: C. Grimm 4 TAK, 1 INT

Nicknames are synonymous with sports. "Thunder and Lightning", "Smash and Dash" and "Mr. Inside & Mr. Outside" quickly come to mind. I saw one yesterday that was kind of creative for Virginia Tech running backs - ".38 Special". The explanation made sense with #34 and #4 added together to make 38.

That's creative and all, but isn't there another tailback in the mix? Josh Oglesby may have not had the stellar performance against Marshall like Ryan Williams or David Wilson, but he did play a major role in a scoring drive in the third quarter.

When Darren Evans went down in the beginning of fall practice with the season-ending knee injury, Oglesby was the one to step up and carry the load for the Hokies. He had the game experience and it showed. The sophomore from Garner, NC stayed healthy from that point on showing his durability and dependability as the other two front-runners suffered slight injuries.

Yes, it was Marshall and the Hokies had their way with running the ball. But, Oglesby had the least to gain in terms of experience. He recorded some key first downs in the opening drive of the third quarter. Oglesby better served the Hokies on the sideline while Williams worked on getting back into a starting role and Wilson recorded his first reps at Tech.

Tech will have no problem running the ball this season. The Hokies were thin at tailback last season but the depth this season stands above any other position.

Virginia Tech football is about playing strong defense and running the football. The defense did the best they could against Alabama two weeks ago and now the running game posted over 400 yards last Saturday.

As Nebraska rolls into Blacksburg this weekend, Tech head coach Frank Beamer will really be able to tell how improved the Hokies are, and that will hinge on the legs of all three tailbacks - not just two.

Doran Porch set the tone for Virginia Tech as the Hokies shut out Marshall 27-0 in sunny Lane Stadium. Porch forced a fumble from Darius Marshall on the Tech 15 yard line to stall a long opening drive for the Thundering Herd.

On the very next play, Hokie tailback Ryan Williams busted free for an 85-yard touchdown scamper and Tech never looked back. Williams also added another long score in the second quarter from a Tyrod Taylor screen pass for 70 yards. The Stonewall Jackson High School product from Manassas finished the day with 111 yards rushing and 74 yards in the air.

Taylor added a second touchdown in the third quarter hitting Xavier Boyce on a 21-yard slant route to the corner of the endzone.

Even with the scoring from the offense, the Hokie defense lived up to their potential. Marshall only converted 5 of their 16 third down attempts. Most of all, the Herd had three attempts in the red zone without any points allowed. Cordarrow Thompson and Nekos Brown both recorded two sacks.

Box Score

MAR   0  0  0 0 -0
VPI     7 10 7 3 -27

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
VPI:TD 2:29 R. Williams, 85 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
2nd Quarter
VPI:FG 3:29 M. Waldron, 3 Yd FG
VPI:TD 2:29 R. Williams, 70 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)
3rd Quarter
VPI:TD 0:39 X. Boyce, 21 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)
4th Quarter
VPI:FG 4:01 M. Waldron, 37 Yd FG

Significant Stats
First downs MAR: 17 VPI: 10
Total Offense MAR: 273 VPI:370
Turnovers MAR: 2(2 FUM) VPI: 1 (1 INT)

Marshall Top Player Stats
Passing: B. Anderson 18-44 for 205 yds, 0 TD
Rushing: D. Marshall 21-for-53 yds, 0 TD
Receiving: D. Marshall 7-for-92 yds, 0 TD
Defense: D. Bembry 3 TAK, 1 INT

VPI Top Player Stats
Passing: T. Taylor 13-30 for 200 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: R. Williams 7-for-111 yds, 1 TD
Receiving: R. Williams 3-for-74 yds, 1 TD
Defense: C. Thompson 5 TAK, 3 TFL, 2 SACK

Virginia Tech made $2.8 million to play Alabama last weekend in Atlanta. That's not bad from a financial standpoint. But consider the fact that Tech makes way more than that for a meaningless home game against a 1-AA school. The risk was worth it for Tech to play in this game, but the neutral site is starting to hurt the Hokies way more than help.

Leaving the Georgia Dome after the game was tough after watching such a good game. Alabama fans were rejoicing with their usual "Roll Tide" chants that are extremely annoying. Thing is, ‘Bama didn't roll all over the Hokies - Tech just ran out of gas.

The inept offense proved to be an extreme liability during the game. Head coach Frank Beamer can say all he can about being four or five plays away from a big game, but it didn't happen. Tyrod Taylor seemed uncomfortable and his passing struggled mightily. The Tide blitzed at the right time and assignments were missed. Taylor has to use his legs more, because that's what the identity of the offense is.

Virginia Tech made it to the national stage on the legs of Michael Vick. Vick broke every huddle as a running quarterback - he thought run just as much as pass. Taylor breaks every huddle thinking he is a quarterback that can run - he thinks pass before he gets hit from waiting too long.

It is obvious offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring would rather run the ball every play, which is truly a shame considering the amount of NFL receivers that have recently played in this system. The line has a tough time holding blocks in the passing game and something as simple as moving the pocket can play dividends.

The loss this past weekend is far from devastating. The ACC as a whole had a garbage weekend and Tech shined even with the loss. Tech lost to LSU in 2007 and was one play away from playing for the national championship that season with the late touchdown to Boston College.

I'm not going to be super critical because it is the first game of the season. Atlanta was a great place for a game, but I still would have rather opened the season against a 1-AA opponent like Virginia or Duke ... Oh wait, not LIKE Virginia or Duke.

Strong defense and key turnovers in the third quarter helped Virginia Tech prevail against Alabama in the season opener for 2009.

After a slow start in the first half that included two Tyrod Taylor second quarter interceptions, the Hokies made halftime adjustments both on offense and defense. Taylor found wideout Danny Coale for a quick 16 yard strike capping off a long drive to start the third quarter. Senior Safety Kam Chancellor jarred the ball loose on the ensuing drive from Mark Ingram to have it recovered by Cody Grimm deep in the Tide's territory. Bruising fullback Kenny Jefferson ran it in one play later, helping the Hokies regain the lead 20-17.

Alabama was not done as Greg McElroy found Marquis Maze in the endzone midway through the fourth quarter. Taylor and the Hokies answered back with a 37-yard strike to Cole capping 9-play, 78 yard drive to regain the lead 27-24.

With less than two minutes remaining, the Tide began to march down the field on the arm of McElroy until senior cornerback Stephan Virgil sealed the game for the Hokies with an interception on the Tech 9 yard line. 

 
Box Score

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
VT:FG 3:51 M. Waldron 53 Yd FG
ALA:TD 1:22 C. Peek, 7 Yd pass from G. McElroy (L. Tiffin Kick)
VT:FG 0:08 M. Waldron, 22 Yd FG
2nd Quarter
ALA:TD 2:43 T. Grant, 2 Yd run (L. Tiffin Kick)
ALA:FG 0:17 L. Tiffin, 21 Yd FG
3rd Quarter
VT:TD 2:34 D. Coale, 16 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)
VT:TD 1:03 K. Jefferson, 3 Yd run (M. Waldron Kick)
4th Quarter
ALA:TD 3:09 M. Maze, 28 Yd pass from G. McElroy (L. Tiffin Kick)
VT:TD 1:33 D. Coale, 37 Yd pass from T. Taylor (M. Waldron Kick)

Significant Stats
First downs ALA: 14 VT: 9
Total Offense ALA: 306 VT: 271
Turnovers ALA: 2(1 INT, 1 FUM) VT: 2 (2 INT)

Alabama Top Player Stats
Passing: G. McElroy 19-29 for 278 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: M. Ingram 16-for-40 yds, 0 TD
Receiving: M. McCoy 6-for-114 yds, 0 TD
Defense: J. Arenas 2 TAK, 1 INT

Virginia Tech Top Player Stats
Passing: T. Taylor 10-22 for 215 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: R. Williams 17-for-63 yds, 0 TD
Receiving: D. Coale 4-for-88 yds, 2 TD
Defense: K. Chancellor 11 TAK, 1 FF

Virginia Tech has many gaps to fill every offseason. However, these five players will step into key roles in 2009 after promising spring and summer practices. Each one of them is primed to have a big game or two. There is no particular order.

Xavier Boyce #29 - WR

No, that's not Dustin Keys playing wideout this fall, it's high and handsome Xavier Boyce. The 6'4" split end suffered a knee injury in the Georgia Tech game last year and qualified for a medical redshirt. Now he's determined to show what he can do on the field and has impressed wide receivers coach Kevin Sherman enough to grab the starting job from incumbent Jarrett Boykin.
Breakout game: North Carolina

David Wilson #4 - TB

Did you ever wear a shirt and tie when you were in high school? Me neither, but David Wilson did every day. He's a class act off the field and is as genuine on the gridiron. The true freshman has lightning speed and extreme acceleration, which is why he's drawing comparisons to Barry Sanders. The injury to Darren Evans hurts the Hokies, but Wilson will make the healing period a bit easier.
Breakout game: Marshall

Antoine Hopkins #98 - DT

Just say his name: "Antoine Hopkins". I'd never heard of this guy until the Spring Game when he had two sacks. After his first sack, I heard his name over the PA system and thought, "That guy has a great Virginia Tech football name." Names like Cornell Brown, Wooster Pack, Anthony Lambo and Chad Beasley come to mind. I look forward to hearing Antoine Hopkins' name this season when he grabs a few sacks.
Breakout game: Boston College

Matt Waldron #49 - K

Winning the ACC and the Orange Bowl is great, meaning Tech head coach Frank Beamer had very few regrets last season. The few regrets he did have were going for it on fourth down and failing to make the first down conversion (ECU and Miami quickly come to mind). Tech is starting a fourth different kicker in as many seasons, but Beamer can not hesitate to leave points on the board in close games. Waldron has to be clutch when it counts.
Breakout game: East Carolina

Jake Johnson #36 - LB

Call him Jakemania. Call him the Fredricksburg Fury. Call him whatever you want, just call his number on Saturdays. Ol' number 36 spent a whole season learning Bud Foster's thick playbook and now he's ready to show his skills this season. I'll be honest, I tailgate with his parents on Saturdays and know how hard he's working on and off the field. Not being a starter last season killed Jake last season - watch him make up for that lost playing time.
Breakout game: Alabama

Virginia Tech opens the 2009 football season less than 10 days from now. I’ve been going to Tech games for over 15 years and I honestly don’t remember such an anticipated game like this season’s against Alabama in Atlanta.

That anticipation is huge in large part to the fact the Hokies are not playing a mid-major or FCS team. During the Frank Beamer era, Tech has opened their seasons with the likes of Akron (3), East Carolina (3), James Madison (3), Arkansas State (2), Bowling Green, Central Florida and Northeastern. Anticipation of the upcoming season beyond Week 1 was the only tidbit keeping Tech fans upbeat for a season opener of that caliber.

Atlanta's Georgia Dome was not kind to the Hokies in the 2006 Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Thanks to Lane Stadium’s hostile environment, schools don’t want to risk a season opening loss. Neutral site games are the only way to play big teams early. The problem isn’t playing major conference teams, but the neutral site itself.  Under Beamer, Tech’s lost both of the neutral site opening season match-ups (USC in 2004 and ECU in 2008).

It doesn’t stop there. In the same amount of time, Tech has played 23 neutral site events, only winning 10 games. Florida State has won all four of its neutral meetings with Tech. When it comes to the neighboring SEC,  this marks the fifth time Tech will play a team from the "power conference", but the first non-bowl game.

The Hokies have only won one of the four previous SEC neutral site contests – Alabama in the 1998 Music City Bowl.

Neutral sites are something Tech really should steer away from when it comes to season openers. There is nothing quite like opening a season when Enter Sandman is blared over the HokieVision screen and the Hokies rush onto the field in the sea of the Marching Virginians. Anybody would be crazy if that entrance doesn’t bring chills.

Meanwhile, Tech fans will have to wait an extra week for the trip to Blacksburg this season – but they wouldn’t have it any other way.