Collegiate Times

Tech tailback Ryan Williams runs by redshirt freshman linebacker Sean Fisher Williams finished the game with 107 yards and a touchdown.

With an 11-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Dyrell Roberts, junior quarterback Tyrod Taylor and the No. 13 Hokies defeated No. 19 Nebraska 16-15 at Lane Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The score was set up through an 81-yard Hail Mary pass from Taylor to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Danny Coale, who missed reaching the end zone by three yards.

"I was just trying to find a hole and stay open for him because (Taylor is) going to keep the play alive as long as he can," Coale said. "His throw was on the money - it was perfect."

On the following play, a sack put the Hokies eight yards back, but on the next play Taylor connected with Roberts with 21 seconds left for the go-ahead score.

With little time remaining to answer, the Cornhuskers, starting their drive at their own 15-yard line, were penalized five yards for an illegal formation on their first play, which took nine seconds off the clock.

On the following play, Nebraska quarterback junior Zac Lee threw an interception to Tech redshirt junior cornerback Rashad Carmichael that signaled the end of the game and the victory for the Hokies.

"It was a great team win," redshirt junior defensive end Jason Worilds said. "Defensively we made some mistakes, and I can't speak for the offense, but they came through when we needed them to."

"This win shows a lot about our character and how well we play as a team," redshirt freshman running back Ryan Williams said. "I hope we don't get games like this for the rest of the season, but if we do, we know now that we'll never quit."

The Hokies drew first blood in the game with Williams rushing for a one-yard touchdown with 11 minutes, 15 seconds in the first quarter.

Nebraska answered with three consecutive field goals by junior kicker Alex Henery who earned the Cornhuskers a 9-7 lead with five minutes, 23 seconds to play in the first half.

The Hokies responded on the following drive, regaining the lead on their own field goal by redshirt senior Matt Waldron, who knocked it through from 39 yards out.

Not to be outdone, Henery and the Huskers hit their fourth field goal with 18 seconds left in the half and carried a 12-10 lead into halftime.

Both teams were then kept scoreless in the third with Nebraska reaching the Hokies' 6-yard line on a drive late in the quarter. Lee then threw to junior tight end Mike McNeill in the endzone and appeared to give the Cornhuskers an 18-10 lead. The six points were retracted from the scoreboard seconds later when the offensive line was called for holding on the play.

After a false start penalty on the very next play that pushed his offense to its opponent's 16-yard line, Lee threw into the endzone again - this time to senior wideout Menelik Holt who, by diving, was able get his hands on the ball, only to lose any chance of possession when his body hit the ground.

Two more penalties - another holding and false start - on the following two plays made it third and goal on the Hokies' 36-yard line. After Lee rushed for a loss of a yard, Nebraska was forced to punt.

"Obviously, that hurt us," Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini said. "That was a key point in the football game. I thought if we scored there, we'd be in pretty good shape, but it didn't happen."

With four and a half minutes left to play in the game, Nebraska increased its lead to five points when Henery hit from 38 yards out.

The Hokies could get little going on the following drive. With two and half minutes left on the clock, and facing the possibility of not getting another drive, Taylor and the offense were forced to go for the conversion on fourth and nine with the ball on their 46-yard line.

Tech's attempt was unsuccessful as Taylor threw his third consecutive incomplete pass - a 15-yard liner that went through the hands of Roberts.

"It was very frustrating," Williams said. "Tyrod was very frustrated with himself, and Dyrell was sitting down having mixed emotions. We knew we had to pick ourselves back up."

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