What we learned in Hokie loss
Marty Gordon
The whole discussion after Virginia Tech’s loss to Miami was the final call that changed the entire game, but there so much more that came out of it.
We learned Miami and its QB1 Cam Ward are for real, and they might have gotten lucky against the Hokies, who staged a great second half.
Let’s look at the numbers.
Redshirt sophomore kicker John Love booted a 57-yard field goal with 20 seconds left to play in the first half. That kick is the third longest field goal in school history.
The longest field goal was a 61-yard kick by Wayne Latimer against Florida State on Oct. 11, 1975. The second longest was 59 yards by Dave Strock against Southern Miss on Nov. 4, 1972. Then in the third quarter, Love kicked a 52 yarder which tied the record for made field goals of 51 yards or more in a game. Dave Strock not only made a 59 yarder in that Southern Miss game in 1972, but he also made a 55-yard field goal.
Jaylin Lane scored his first rushing touchdown in a Tech uniform in the second quarter to give Tech a 21-14 lead over the Hurricanes. He now has a receiving touchdown (at Old Dominion), a punt return (against Marshall) and a rushing touchdown. The last time a Hokie scored three different ways in a season was last season when Bhayshul Tuten scored 10 rushing, two receiving and two kickoff return touchdowns. The most touchdowns accounted for in a season, since 1987, is four by DeAngelo Hall in 2003 (rushing, receiving, punt return and fumble return) and Tony Kennedy in 1992 (passing, rishing receiving and kickoff return).
With 141 yards on the ground against Miami, running back Bhayshul Tuten has now rushed for over 100 yards in four straight games. He now has eight games in a Hokies uniform and 18 games in his career of 100 yards or more on the ground. The most 100-yard rushing games in a row since 1987 was seven by tailback David Wilson in the 2011 season.
The 38-34 final score was the second scorigami of the season. Scorigami is the art of building final scores that have never happened before.
Saturday’s game marked the 375th consecutive game during which Virginia Tech has scored. The Hokies are in fourth place in both the all-time and active streak lists.
Linebacker Kaleb Spencer made the most of his return to South Florida after transferring from Miami this offseason.
The true sophomore made a big impact in his first contest against his former team, recording his first career interception with an impressive 77-yard return. Spencer also registered three tackles, including a tackle for loss in the same drive, during Miami’s first possession of the third quarter.
A native of Gloucester, Virginia, the first-year Hokie has played in all five contests this season, and his production has increased in the past three weeks with more opportunities to get on the field. The 6’2, 216-pound linebacker has nearly matched his total games played as a freshman for the Hurricanes and showcased his potential to Hokie Nation while rocking maroon and orange.
Virginia Tech holds a long lineage of brothers playing for the program and currently boasts three pairs of siblings actively on the roster. On the offensive side of the ball, the Gosnell brothers, Stephen and Benji, have been consistent playmakers for quarterback Kyron Drones.
Wide receiver Stephen Gosnell led the team in receiving yards with 53 and a long reception of 21 yards while tying for the team-high in receptions (4). His younger brother, redshirt sophomore Benji Gosnell, scored the first touchdown of the game on a 25-yard reception wide-open in the endzone. Benji hauled in three catches of his own, finishing with 43 yards and a solid 14.3 yards per catch. The talented duo of offensive playmakers has accounted for 26 receptions, 364 yards, one touchdown and two 2-point conversions through five games.
Another true sophomore for defensive coordinator Chris Marve who generated turnovers in the primetime matchup is safety Mose Phillips III.
After leading the team with double-digit (11) tackles against Rutgers, the Nashville, Tennessee native showcased his ball-hawking ability against the ‘Canes. Phillips also registered his first career interception on Friday night, which helped set up an eventual Bhayshul Tuten 55-yard rushing touchdown.
The first of two red zone interceptions for the Hokies, the turnover helped shift the momentum in Tech’s favor in the first half. Phillips amassed five tackles in the contest, adding to his team-leading total (34) for the year so far.
Now back to the finish of the game.
The odds were against the Hokies even before the throw from Drones. According to ESPN Stats and Information, only around 9.7% of Hail Mary pass attempts are completed.
But the Hokies made it look easy.
We have always liked booth reviews but for most, they typically do not overrule the call on the field when there is not enough to change it. In this case, the latter is true.
The side official made the call and was on top of the players after they fell to the ground. The slow-mo shows a catch by a Hokie and then a Miami player knocking it away as they fall to the ground.
I guess Danny Coale’s play needed a new talking point.
