Hokie ClubTAMPA, Fla. – Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor scored two rushing touchdowns and Tech’s defense forced four turnovers, as the Hokies claimed their second straight ACC title and their third in five years with a 30-12 victory over Boston College in the ACC championship game held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
With the win, Tech moved to 9-4 overall on the season and earned the ACC’s automatic slot into the Bowl Championship Series. In the locker room following the game, Orange Bowl officials invited the Hokies to play in the Orange Bowl in south Florida on Jan. 1st for the second consecutive year.
“It was such a team effort,” said Tech head coach Frank Beamer, who had been doused with Gatorade as the final seconds of the game ticked off the clock. “Offensively, we did a heckuva job out there. Defensively, we did a heckuva job. Our special teams were solid, and we beat a really good Boston College team.
“I’m really proud of our players and coaches. This particular year especially because we’ve overcome so much. I’m really proud of that. We’re going to enjoy this for sure.”
Tech got big plays in every phase of the game. The Hokies’ offense piled up 150 rushing yards against a BC defense that went into the game ranked seventh nationally against the run (87.3 ypg). Dustin Keys nailed a career-long 50-yard field goal. And Tech’s defense held BC’s rushing attack to just 45 yards rushing, and forced the four turnovers, including a fumble that defensive end Orion Martin returned for a touchdown.
“This is really special,” Beamer said. “It’s the youngest team we’ve had in some time, with the toughest schedule and some key injuries. We had some people give up on us, but this team hung together when it was tough. The leadership kept us together. It says a heckuva lot about the kids in this program and the coaching staff we have.”
The Hokies opened the scoring in this one, going 61 yards in 10 plays on their second possession of the game. Taylor completed all three of his pass attempts on the drive (for 36 yards), and got in the end zone with a 5-yard run on third-and-4. Keys’ extra point gave the Hokies a 7-0 lead with 6:27 left in the first quarter.
Taylor and the Hokies added to that lead early in the second quarter. A 15-yard punt return by Macho Harris set the Hokies up with great field position at the Tech 49, and a 30-yard run by Darren Evans got them inside the BC 10. On third-and-goal, Taylor avoided the BC rush and managed to scramble four yards into the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the day. Keys’ extra point gave Tech a 14-0 lead with 11:08 remaining in the first half.
“It was a called pass,” Taylor said of his second touchdown. “I knew if the defensive end came up the field, then I was going to take off and that’s what I ended up doing. I’ve got to credit the blocking by the backfield and by our linemen.”
BC managed to cut into the lead right before halftime. The Eagles marched 66 yards in three plays toward the end of the half. A 51-yard screen pass from BC quarterback Dominique Davis to Montel Harris got the Eagles to the Tech 15, and two plays later, Davis completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Rich Gunnell. Steve Aponavicius’ extra point cut the Tech lead to 14-7 with 1:29 left in the half and that turned out to be the halftime score.
But the second half was all Tech. Keys, a redshirt senior from Stafford, Va., padded the Hokies’ lead when he drilled a 50-yard field goal with 6:11 left in the third quarter. His career long capped an 11-play, 50-yard drive that ate five minutes off the clock and gave the Hokies a 17-7 lead.
Then, two possessions later, Tech cornerback Stephan Virgil intercepted a Davis pass and returned it to the BC 10. On the next play, Evans barreled in from 10 yards out and Keys’ extra point gave the Hokies a 24-7 lead.
Martin, the redshirt senior from Martinsville, Va., capped it in the fourth quarter for Tech. Jason Worilds forced Davis to fumble, and Martin picked up the ball, rumbling 17 yards for the touchdown. Keys missed the extra point, but the Hokies held an insurmountable 30-10 lead at that point.
“It was a great play by Jason,” Martin said. “I had the easy part. It was just a scoop-and-score. But give Jason all the credit for that play.”
Evans paced Tech’s offensive attack, rushing for 114 yards and the touchdown. He became just the second tailback this season (Georgia Tech’s Jonathan Dwyer) to rush for more than 100 against BC’s defense.
“I thought Darren ran hard and tough,” Beamer said. “I think he’s going to get better and better. He’s like a lot of guys on this football team.”
Taylor – named the MVP of the championship game – rushed for 30 yards and the two touchdowns. He also completed 11-of-19 for 84 yards, with one interception. Dyrell Roberts caught a career-high four passes for 44 yards to lead the Hokies’ receiving group.
Davis completed 17-of-43 for 263 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions to lead BC. Rich Gunnell caught seven passes for 114 yards to lead the Eagles in receiving.
Tech now awaits its opponent for the Orange Bowl. The game will be played on Jan. 1st and kickoff is slated for 8 p.m.