3 Key Plays - VT vs. Miami

With the beginning of ACC conference play, it's time for the return of 3 KEY PLAYS!

1) After a Hokie three and out on their opening series, the 'Canes took over and converted a third down (their only one on the day) and looked like they were going somewhere. Then on 2nd and 11, Coach Foster dialed up an 8 man blitz and Dorian Porch hit Jacory Harris jarring the ball loose, and then amazingly Porch ended up with the loose ball. The Hokie offense converted it into the opening score to make the game 7-0 and set the tone for the entire day. Bigtime play by Porch.

2) Still ahead 7-0 midway through the first quarter, the Hokies had momentum and the crowd was into it after the defense had stopped Miami on a three and out. The punt came to Jayron Hosley and he flat-out mishandled the ball. It kicked free and out of nowhere came Kam Chancellor to slide in and land on the ball, preventing a turnover on the Hokies' own 11 yard line. Had Miami recovered this ball, they might have punched in a score and altered the complexion of the entire game. What made this play even bigger was that following this fumble recovery by Chancellor the Hokie offense went on an 89-yard scoring to make the score 14-0. This was just an enormous play in the game, reminiscent of the dropped fake FG attempt by Miami in 2003 that also would potentially have turned that game around.

3) Ahead 21-7, early in the 3rd quarter, the Hokie defense was being riddled in the middle of the field. Before Coach Foster could implement the necessary adjustments, the 'Canes had driven to the Tech 30 yard line. Jacory Harris found TE Jimmy Graham open on 3rd and 13 and hit him in the hands. It would have been a first down and continued the 'Canes momentum, but as Graham went to bring the ball in, he dropped it and then Tech's defense stopped Miami short on 4th down. After this, Foster dropped the LB's deeper in coverage and had Kam Chancellor play a little closer to the line of scrimmage to clamp down on the middle of the field and VT finished the game off holding Miami to 43 yards passing the rest of the game.

Bigtime win for the Hokies and a full game review will post tomorrow.