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Virginia Tech's Danny Coale (right) set a new mark with six catches for 135 yards. |
BY STEVE DeSHAZO
CHARLOTTESVILLE
--It won't become official until next Sunday, but Virginia Tech's likely bowl destination is the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Dec. 31 in Atlanta.Tech's 42-13 victory over Virginia yesterday, combined with losses earlier in the day by Clemson and North Carolina, make the Hokies an attractive team for the Chick-fil-A, which gets the second choice of Atlantic Coast Conference teams.
Clemson and Georgia Tech will meet in the ACC title game next Saturday. The winner will play in the Jan. 3 Orange Bowl, most likely against the Big East champion. The loser may have less cachet than the Hokies, who have won their last four games and always bring lots of fans.
If Clemson loses, the Tigers will be 8-5, compared with Tech's 9-3 record. Georgia Tech played in last year's Chick-fil-A Bowl and was routed 38-3 by LSU. Bowls often try to avoid inviting the same team back in consecutive years, and seek to bring in teams whose fans will stay in local hotels rather than in their own homes, as Georgia Tech's did last year.
The Gator Bowl in Jacksonville has the third choice of ACC teams, and could take the loser of the title game. Bids will not become official until the BCS pairings are announced one week from today.
RISING IN RECORD BOOKS
Ryan Wlliams' four touchdown runs yesterday gave him 20 total touchdowns for the season, an Atlantic Coast Conference record for a freshman. He also scored four last week against N.C. State, making him the second player in school history to do so in consecutive games. Lee
Entering the Hokies' bowl game, Williams has 1,537 yards for the season, second in school history behind Kevin Jones' 1,647 in 2003.
Virginia senior quarterback Jameel Sewell surpassed his previous career rushing high of 92 yards in the first half and finished with 104. The last Cavaliers quarterback to rush for over 100 yards against the Hokies was Vic Hall (109 last year).
Sewell finished his career ranked third in school history in passing yards (5,366) and fourth in total yards (6,012).
Virginia Tech junior receiver Danny Coale set a career high with 135 yards on six catches.
Virginia senior tackle Will Barker made his 49th career start, second in school history behind Brennan Schmidt's 51.
EXTRA POINTS
Tech's victory extended its chances of winning 10 or more games for a sixth straight season if it captures its bowl game. Only Texas and Southern California can make that claim.
At halftime, Virginia retired the jersey of Jim Bakhtiar, a 1957 All-American who starred at fullback, linebacker and kicker.
Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine congratulated the Hokies after the game.
Taft Coghill Jr.: 540/374-5526
Email: tcoghill@freelancestar.com
