The Virginia Cavaliers stepped into a cold and blustery Lane Stadium on Saturday afternoon with a few new wrinkles in their offense, trying to spoil Senior Day for the Hokies.
Click here for a photo gallery from the game.
However, it was a tried and true formula - the Tech defense - that proved to be the difference in a 17-14 win that propelled the Hokies (8-4, 5-3) into the ACC Championship game by topping the Coastal Division.
Driving deep into Tech territory late in the fourth quarter, Virginia (5-7, 3-5) seemed poised to - at worst - tie the score with a field goal. However, Cavalier quarterback Marc Verica dropped back on a third-and-11 from the Hokies 25 and tossed an interception to free safety Dorian Porch, who returned it from the end zone to the Tech 40 yard line.
"We knew they were running a vertical game," Porch said. "Basically I just read the quarterback. He threw the ball up for grabs and I went there and grabbed it. Against UVa it feels even better, because they came out and did some things that we haven't seen them do all year."
The UVa defense forced a three-and-out on Tech's next offensive possession, exhausting all of their time outs but giving the Cavalier offense another opportunity.
However, three unproductive plays led to a fourth-and-nine situation where UVa faced a blitz crafted by Bud Foster's defensive unit, forcing Verica out of the pocket. Linebacker Purnell Sturdivant sacked the quarterback and sealed the Tech triumph, eliminating the Cavs from bowl eligibility.
Before the game, Tech's fourteen seniors were honored. This group was part of a class that compiled a four-year record of 39-12, winning an ACC title last year and two Coastal Division titles (2005 and 2007).
The task for the seniors and the rest of Tech: solve the Cavalier gimmick of lining up UVa cornerback Vic Hall at the quarterback position.
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Bryan Stinespring should be fired TODAY for calling an outside run from the shotgun on 4th and goal on the 1. You have a 280 lb quarterback in Greg Boone. All you have to do is run it up the middle. He NEVER learns from his countless mistakes and it almost cost us this game.
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Al did what he does best, deviating from what gave him the lead eventually giving the Hokies' a win today. VT could've won the game by a huge margin but they decided not to. Al and Mike Groh played their top turnover motor, Marc Verica, the infamous over-productive regressive qb instead of Vic Hall. Would things have been different if Vic had more playing time? The offense moved while he was behind center, why not stick to that, I can't think of anything simpler than that.
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I thought it was hilarious how you heard boos when Tim Kaine went on the field at half time!!
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