Football center
With a fumble on the first drive and the last drive, Virginia Tech suffered its third loss of the season Thursday night, falling to the University of North Carolina, 20-17.
The No. 14 Hokies (5-3, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) seemed hungover from last week’s loss to Georgia Tech.
“Give North Carolina credit,” head coach Frank Beamer said. “I thought they came in here and played very well. I don’t think we got in rhythm as a football team. The game just didn’t fit. We can still win 10 games and that has to be our goal right now going forward.”
When it mattered most, the Hokies could not convert. On a potential game-winning drive, redshirt freshman running back Ryan Williams fumbled giving the Tar Heels excellent field position.
“Everybody is behind Ryan,” Beamer said. “In the dressing room there he feels awful. You go through that game and all of us didn’t do something right.”
Williams carried the ball 23 times for 101 yards. The play he will forever remember, however, is the fumble that sparked the Heels to victory.
“There probably isn’t anything you can do to lift me up,” Williams said. “Personally, I feel like we took the game away today. The game was on the line, and I fumbled, but I got to move on. After today there is no reason to dwell on it. I can’t go back. Next Thursday I will be the same old guy trying to get down the field.”
The Heels (5-3, 1-3 ACC) were able to run down the clock and kick an easy 21-yard field goal for their first ACC win.
The second play of the game featured a catch and fumble by Tech sophomore receiver Jarrett Boykin. It was that kind of night for Tech.
The Heels defense, which is No. 7 in total defense, dictated the tempo for much of the game, keeping the Hokies offense off the field. Combine that with a Heels rushing attack that was six yards shy of 200 for the game, and it was a recipe for a Tech loss.
Junior quarterback Tyrod Taylor seemed confused throughout the game. He threw into double coverage, constantly ran from UNC defenders and failed to break tackles.
The Heels harassed Taylor and amassed three sacks. The defense also racked up six tackles for a loss.
“I love the challenge of being under pressure,” Taylor said. “That is the type of guy I am. I look forward to being able to take advantage of those situations.”
Taylor finished 11-23 for 161 yards. He added 23 rushing yards and two short rushing touchdowns.
UNC quarterback T.J. Yates took care of business going 18-28 for 131 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
He found receiver Jheranie Boyd in the second quarter to put UNC up 7-0. That ended the first half and it the first time the Hokies were shutout in the first half since 2007 against Louisiana State University.
The Hokies would recover in the second half, briefly taking a 17-14 lead early in the fourth quarter. But when it mattered most, UNC was the team who converted.
The rushing attack for the Heels became the story as the game wore on. Shaun Draughn and Ryan Houston combined for 145 yards on 30 carries.
“I think the teams have been running good plays against us,” said Cody Grimm, a redshirt senior linebacker. “They caught us in some defenses and ran good plays. There were just some unfortunate bounces and they made good plays.”
The Hokies’ defense finished the game allowing 312 yards of total offense, 20 yards more than the Heels average of 289.4.
“It sucks to lose,” Grimm said. “I don’t want to go out there and lose. Ten wins is good, but I hate to lose and I don’t want to feel like this again.”
The Hokies head to Greenville, N.C. next Thursday to take on East Carolina University. Once again, the game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Leave a comment 32 Comments Write a letter to the editor
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Ryan Williams should not feel bad at all. He has done more for this team than anyone could have imagined. One accident doesn't change the amazing season he has had. We have awesome players and this was just a tough loss, but anyone who has ever played sports knows the feeling. Good luck next Thursday guys! GO HOKIES!
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Agreed with the above comment. I felt terrible when they showed him crying on the sideline on ESPN. There is plenty of blame to go around especially for a certain guy with the initials B.S. but certainly we wouldn't have scored what we have without Ryan Williams. He shouldn't feel so guilty, mistakes happen especially when he was just trying to get extra yards.
I really think the coaches need to re-evaluate the offensive scheme overall. Most importantly make some play calling and/or coaching adjustments
Of course my comment will probably get deleted again for even mentioning this, Gasp!
We are not even bowl elgible yet!
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Halloween costume idea....take a football to work, keep dropping it, and cry...just tell people you're Ryan Williams
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The most disturbing thing about the fumble is that a running play was even called in the first place. 3rd and 6 with the game on the line should never see a run like that. Even if he held on to the ball, he only gets 2-3 yards. Just another all-time-terrible play call.
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Awful pass interference call on their 2nd to last drive cost us the game.
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Another VT Whiner: "The pass interference cost us the game". "GT cheated, they blocked our defenders, that's unfair." waaa , waa, waa, waaa. The only reason VT ever loses is because of...someone else getting an unfair break, cheating , ref's etc. Bunch of sore losers.
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Forget the fumble. It seems that maybe we were overrated. North Carolina's not very good. Nebraska turned out to be not very good. Let's just get enough wins to avoid the dreaded blue carpet bowl.
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At least we had a few paper airplanes reach the field that was a lot of fun.
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Did to OC ever consider calling short, quick pass plays to the backs or tight end to slow down the pass rush? Has Boone been taken completly out of the offense? How does Boykin fumble any ball given the size of his hands? Play calling suspect again, and Tyrod needs to get rid of the ball quicker, throw it away, or run and not hesitate.
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Tech is the Anna Kournikova of college football.
Lots of color, glamour and hype..........but never seems to reach the top.
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EXACTLY !!!! I was screaming at the screen .. there were so many open shots in teh short range to get a 1st down, and TT kept looking deep and hollding on ... WHY ? WHY?
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The refs almost cost NC the game! Are you crazy? Taylor was short on that last touchdown! The blown pass interference call was the make up for that bad touchdown.
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Do VA TECH fans go deer hunting in those blaze orange jerseys?
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First Georgia Tech used illegal blocks against us, and now UNC was blocking illegally. Why does every team do this to us???
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Yeah, I noticed from the North end zone that The east was going crazy about something. At least there was some excitement in the game.
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I agree. That loss was not Ryan Williams fault. Our defense failed to stop UNC on several crucial third downs, that eventually led to touchdowns. Poor play calling by the offensive coordinator didn't help either. Better luck next week boys! GO HOKIES!
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Amen! Why was the running play called on 3rd and 6-7 at that time in the game?? The defense can take some heat this year, but the real culprit is the offense as usual. Time for a new OC, but that will never happen because Beamer is TOO FAITHFUL to his assistants. If they let him down, he keeps on letting them let him down.
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I just bought my shirt, anyone who also things there needs to be some changes should also buy a shirt. The more people who spread the message the more likely something WILL be done about it hopefully this off season.
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If you "fans" who threw paper airplanes on the field cannot get hyped up enough to stay interested in a closely contested game where your team needs your support on a Thursday night you should be ashamed! And the fact that there's a Facebook group planning to do a mass throw in the future, every one of those students in that group should be barred from ever receiving a Virginia Tech football ticket in the future. Be a fan and show some respect for your team and the game.
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Hey we shelled out good money for that game and if we want to throw paper airplanes we will. The Hokies bored us to tears with their inept ball handling. If they want us to pay attention to the game give us something to watch.
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Why the tepid muted call of Fire Stinespring?
Why not go for the big whopper - Fire Beamer? 20 odd years without being able to claim the BCS championship is long enough.
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Because most fans especially the older and richer ones who donate a lot of money lived in the days when this program was nothing and saw Beamer create something out of it. Most fans buy into the 10 win season excuse and are complacent at staying there even though we have the talent and potential to go much further and join the Elite and contend for a BCS NC every handful of years.
Calling for Stiney's head is easier since he is the fundamental flaw on offense and everything offensive wise falls under him as an OC since that is his responsibility. He has the hand to change it. Beamer is just as liable as a head coach if not more liable overall but has an outstanding resume to fall back on and usually does a great job with his special teams. Stinespring doesn't have a resume and actually had no real qualifications to become the OC when he did.
I'd be fine with Stinespring as the "Recruiting Coordinator" (if there is such position) just not the Offensive Coordinator.
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I must say that was one of the worst crowds I've seen at Lane. There was no sustained noise level when UNC was on offense. Pitiful performance for a Thursday night game. Fans should be just as ashamed.
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The team has a responsibility to play well enough to keep us energized. If the offensive line played hard you might have a point but they were phoning it in. Why should we support like crazy if they aren't putting the effort in.
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The team must play well for a crowd to be loud? You've got to be kidding me. Fans here have gotten the good reputation they do because they're loud no matter what. This was a close game and the noise was equivalent to a game against Northeastern State Community College.
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Yeah its a two way street if they don't put the effort into it neither will we. We get loud when the team moves the ball and makes plays. If the offense can't score a first down and the defense can't hold them, we have nothing to be loud about. This game was awful to watch and the blame rests on the team.
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Hokies had better be ready for their third straight loss tomorrow night! GO PIRATES!!!
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Hey, ECU Pirate. How did that work out for you last night?
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