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Boise State defensive tackle Billy Winn recovers a Virginia Tech fumble in the first quarter at FedEx Field. The Hokies rallied from a halftime deficit and led in the fourth quarter, but Boise State scored in the final minutes to win, 33-30.
Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor celebrates with Ryan Williams following Williams' second-quarter touchdown. |
LANDOVER, Md.--
Say this about the Virginia Tech Hokies: they don't quit. And the perserverance may serve them well in the weeks ahead.But the 10th-ranked Hokies missed a golden opportunity in last night's long-awaited showdown with No. 3 Boise State at FedEx Field. They made more special-teams errors than Frank Beamer wants in an entire season. They got manhandled at the line of scrimmage. They missed tackles.
And despite their guts, it cost them dearly in a 33-30 loss.
Yes they hung around. With their pride and reputation on the line, they nearly produced a victory that would have not only kept them in the national title picture, but done wonders for their national profile. But like the 2007 Boston College debacle, this one stung.
Boise State had plenty to prove last night--but so did the Hokies. Yes, they have proven they can rebound from early losses to good teams (Southern Cal in 2004, LSU in '07, Alabama last year) to have successful seasons. And last night did nothing to jeopardize their hopes of winning a fourth Atlantic Coast Conference title in their seven years in the league.
But while Virginia Tech is in the conversation when strong programs are mentioned, the Hokies still aren't considered among the truly elite. They're not regarded in the same class as Florida, Ohio State and Texas. Beamer desperately wants to join that A-list.
It goes beyond Tech's dubious record of 1-26 against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 (0-22 outside Blacksburg). And in Beamer's 24 seasons, the Hokies have never overcome a 17-point deficit to beat anyone--let alone a ranked opponent.
Elite teams don't commit four special-teams gaffes in one half. In the first 30 minutes, Tech saw one of its punt blocked, ran into Boise State's punter, kicked off out of bounds and took a needless personal foul penalty. And Chris Hazley badly missed two field goal attempts wide right, but was bailed out on one of them by a running-into-the kicker penalty.
Beamer, who coaches the Hokies' special teams, felt neither pride nor joy in the locker room at halftime.
Beyond that, though, the Hokies lost the battle up front. Boise State junior defensive end Billy Winn spent more time in Tech's offensive backfield than Darrem Evans did in the first quarter.
But a fumble by Boise State's Doug Martin late in the first half breathed some life into the Hokies, who went into the locker room trailing only 20-14. And when Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore lost a third-quarter fumble (with some inadvertant help from his left guard, Kellen Potter), Brooke Point High School graduate J.R. Collins outwrestled two Boise State linemen for the ball. Seven plays later, Ryan Williams scooted around right end for his third touchdown of the night and a 21-20 lead.
Boise State responded with a quick touchdown, but Tyrod Taylor and Jarrett Botkin connected on a 28-yard touchdown to regain the lead.
Tech's coordinators have vastly different reputations. Bud Foster is considered a defensive savant, but his young squad got torched early. After allowing 17 first-quarter points, though, the Hokies stymied an experienced, explosive offense-- until the final minutes.
Oft-maligjned offensive coordinator Brian Stinespring deserves credit for his halftime adjustment. Unable to run effectively between the tackles, the Hokies used lots of screens in the second half to exploit the size and speed of Boykin and the relative inexperience of the Broncos' cornerbacks. It also helped that Taylor--whom Stinespring calls "my elixir" started making plays with his talented feet. He just didn't make quite enough.
With James Madison next on the schedule, the Hokies can survive a hangover and start chasing the consolation prize of the ACC title. But they'll remember another one that got away for a long time.
Steve DeShazo: 540/374-5443
Email: sdeshazo@freelancestar.com
