Collegiate Times

As the clock approached one minute, Davis would capitalize on a touchdown toss to wide out Rich Gunnell on the right corner of the end zone.

While Tech was forced to punt on the following possession, they pinned BC inside its 20-yard line and headed into the locker room at halftime with a 14-7 lead.  Under head coach Frank Beamer, the Hokies hold an all-time record of 144-25 when ahead at the break.

Tech's first possession of the second half resulted in a 50 yard field goal from Dustin Keys - who set two records on the boot.  It was the longest kick in ACC Championship Game history and in Keys' collegiate career. 

His previous best was a pair of 45 yards - both against Boston College this season.

A ten-point lead in this series is anything but safe.  The Hokies had 10-0 advantage in each of their previous two regular season meetings, while the Eagles led by that same score in last year's title game.

However, that trend wouldn't continue on Saturday.

Virgil grabbed a pivotal interception just as momentum as moment fell back into Boston College's hands. Tech linebacker Brett Warren had just dropped a bouncing fumble inside the Eagles' 20, and Boston College quarterback Dominique Davis would convert on third-and-long on the ensuing play.

However, Boston College quarterback Dominique Davis would misfire deep moments later into the capitalizing arms of Virgil, who would return the errant pass 35 yards to Boston College's 10-yard line.

In their first match up of 2008, the Hokies recorded five takeaways but turned them into zero offensive points in a 28-23 loss in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

They took full advantage on the very next play.  Evans ran for his 10th rushing touchdown of the season, tying the most by a Hokie freshman. He ran 31 times to set the ACC Championship game rushing mark with 114 yards.  

"I love the role that I have and the confidence that they have in me," Evans said.

Evans, though, would cough the ball up later.  A fumble forced by Eagles right end Jim Ramella at the Tech 38 yard line was recovered by linebacker Mark Harzlich.

But Boston College could only manage a field goal - from 24 yards - that brought them within 14 points.

The Tech defense, however, would inflict additional harm on the Eagles offense.  Defensive end Jason Worilds broke through for a sack and a forced fumble, which Martin snatched out of the air and took 17 yards for the score - narrowly dodging an orange tossed from the stands.

"It was a great play by Jason (Worilds)," Martin said. "He came around the corner and made a great play. I was there to scoop his score. I had the easy part."

Keys missed the extra point kick.

BC's next possession went for naught, as the Hokies forced the Eagles to turn the ball over on downs with just over 6:30 left in the game.

The Hokie defense limited the Eagle rushing attack, holding Harris to just 34 yards and nine carries. That put more pressure on Davis, who completed a woeful 17 of 43 pass attempts.

Linebacker Brett Warren sealed the deal for the Hokies -- and redeemed a second fumble by Evans -- by snatching a pass tipped by Harris at the Tech five-yard line with four minutes to play.

And when Tech linebackers Warren and Cody Grimm buried Davis' on Boston College's last drive, Tech had conquered the ACC once again.

"It's the youngest football team we've had in some time with the toughest schedule, with some key injuries, and some people that kind of gave up on us," Beamer said. "But this football team hung together."

"It says a heck of a lot about the kids in this program and the coaching staff that I have back there."

The Hokies will try to avenge last year's loss to Kansas in the FedEx Orange Bowl when they play again in Miami's Dolphin Stadium on Jan. 1 at 8 p.m.  Their opponent will be officially named on Sunday.

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