3 Key Plays - VT vs. BC ACC Championship

1) BC had just recaptured the momentum after trailing 14-0 in the 2nd quarter, by picking off a tipped Tyrod Taylor pass and the Eagles began to march down the field. On 1st and 10 from the Hokie 39 yard line, BC quarterback Dominque Davis hit WR Rich Gunnell for a deep pass down the middle which was wide open due to a busted coverage. Gunnell was headed in for 6 points, when Macho Harris leapt and knocked the ball out into the end zone where Cam Martin (who blew the coverage in the first place) fell on it. VT had lost the momentum by now and wasn't able to do anything with it on offense, but preventing that touchdown resulted in the Hokies being up 14-7 instead of tied at 14 at the half which was a big deal. The Hokies attempted The BC playcalling had to focus on more passing in the 2nd half which proved to be their undoing.

2) Ahead 17-7 in the 3rd quarter, and standing at his own 19 yard line, Brent Bowden blasted a 56 yard punt and then BC blocked Hokie gunner Dustin Pickle in the back to force the Eagles to start at their own 7 yard line. This was an ENORMOUS play. If Bowden just hits a normal punt there, the Eagles would have taken over in good position to turn the game back their way. Instead they were pinned deep in their end and took a shot downfield that resulted in a Stephan Virgil interception which he took back all the way back to the BC 10 yard line and put the game solidly in the Hokies' hands.

3) The Eagles had closed the game to within 24-10 and forced a punt where they took over on their own 29 yard line with 10 minutes left in the game. A quick scoring drive and the ACC title game was going to be another close finish. But defensive ends Jason Worilds and Orion Martin had other ideas. Worilds crashed in off the end and knocked the ball out of Davis' hands. The ball bounced right up into Martin's hands and he lumbered into the end zone to make the score 30-10 and essentially end the BC threat. This was the game clinching play.

A full review will follow, but needless to say there is a lot of joy in Hokie Nation today. I still have enormous concerns about the offensive direction, but for now I just want to soak in the greatness of the feeling that the Hokies are back-to-back ACC Champions!!!!