Tied 10-10 at halftime, no one could have predicted what would happen in the next 30 minutes of game time.
Collegiate Sports Blog: Clemson postgame
Clemson dropped 28 points, 262 yards and took advantage of 61 penalty yards as they ran away in the second half to defeat the Virginia Tech Hokies in the ACC Championship Game 38-10.
The loss, which drops the Hokies to 11-2 on the season, hurts especially bad for a group that had so much hope entering Saturday.
“I think it hurts worse because the seniors don't deserve a loss like that,” said quarterback Logan Thomas. “I think that's why it hurts the most.”
During a 4:24 minute span in the third quarter, the Tigers showed everybody the team speed and home run ability many people raved over early in the season.
The onslaught of points began on with an 11-play drive, culminating with a Dwayne Allen eight-yard touchdown catch.
The Hokies’ ensuing drive was highlighted by a questionable pass interference penalty on Jarrett Boykin, which negated a 24-yard gain. After a Danny Coale 39-yard punt, Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins took just one play to blow the game wide open.
“Well, any time they score like that, I think you go back and look, you didn't play your defense properly,” said Frank Beamer, Hokies head coach.
A Hokies three-and-out on the following drive set-up another quick score for the Tigers. Andre Ellington’s 29-yard touchdown run, put the score at 31-10, effectively crushing any hope of coming from behind.
“They just kind of got rolling,” Beamer said. “They had the field position. The momentum got over there. They had field position, and they got us.”
Quite possibly the biggest regret the coaching staff will have is not getting David Wilson, the ACC’s leading rusher, more involved in the offense early on.
Wilson, who finished with just 32 yards on 11 carries, thinks it was just a matter of execution that held the Hokies back.
“I know the coaches have a game plan, and we try to execute that game plan,” Wilson said. “As a player, all I can do is execute what they call upon me to do.”
A version of this article appeared in the Dec 5 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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Offensive Line, Offensive Line, Offensive Line. That is the thing that is keeping us from being one of the big boys. You can have Emmit Smith in his prime and he still isn't going to run behind a Curt Newsome coached line when they face a good team. Still support our players!
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Very true, but it's also pretty easy to be aggressive on defense when you know that personal fouls are only called on the guys wearing white. Haven't seen officiating that bad since JoePa tackled a field judge....giving birth to instant replay (which for some reason still does not get the job done for fixing a missed call on a blocked punt)
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Officiating was terrible indeed, but it didn't account for 28 points. This blowout was simply a lack of studs on the O-line and lack of a creative O scheme. In other words, typical Hokie football this decade.
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Tech fails again!
Beamer remains coach because all he has to do is have a 10 win season and all is well, regardless of humiliations in December or January.
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the chockers!, better than the Hokies...it has been proved that we cannot win the real games...tired of watching VT falling to pieces every December
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"Tied 10-10 at halftime, no one could have predicted what would happen".
Actually, Mr. Jones, the 2005 ACCCG w/ FSU was tied 3-3 at halftime before they ripped 24 pts on us. You're in college; it's ok to do research.
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We usually choke in the bowls, I'm surprised we choked in this one. As long as Frank Beamer is coach, nothing will change. He's too loyal and stubborn. We can't make the necessary changes and get rid of Curt Newsome, fix the O-line, and hire a real Offensive Coordinator. He admitted they do the same thing every week no matter what opponent they are preparing for. Same scheme, same game plan. That only works with a cup cake schedule. But hey...we won 10 games so nothing needs to change. Same story last year (Orange Bowl) same story this year, and probably the same story next year.
Until VT can consistently beat top 25 opponents and beat a top 5 opponent (currently 1-27 against top 5), VT will never be seriously considered for a BCS championship. We never deserved that #5 ranking. #5 ranked teams don't loose in the fashion we did last night.
Hope things will change.
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What happened to using David Wilson? Wtf was the game plan? Did we have one? What happened to half time adjustments? We went in tied at 10 and they put up 3 touchdowns in 4 minutes. Wtf....Frank, did the players have a week off?
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