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Atlanta, GA — Virginia Tech’s defense showed its youth and its offense couldn’t get anything going until the final minutes as the No. 4 Hokies fell on the road to No. 19 Georgia Tech, 28-23.

The Yellow Jackets’ triple option offense was too much for Bud Foster’s defense, though the Hokies did stuff Georgia Tech (6-1, 4-1) in the first half, holding it to less than 90 yards, 51 of which came on a pass play that set up GT’s only score of the half.

Virginia Tech’s offense, which had exploded in the last three games, seemed to revert back to its predictable and overly conservative ways. It wasn’t until the final eight minutes the offense was able to sustain a drive and move the ball against the Jackets’ 82nd ranked defense.

Tyrod Taylor, the Hokies junior quarterback, was 10 of 14 passing for 159 yards and one touchdown. He threw two interceptions, but one was a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage and the other was a hail Mary pass on the last play of the first half.

Despite the crushing loss, which essentially knocks the Hokies (5-2, 3-1) out of the national championship hunt, there were a pair of bright spots for Frank Beamer’s team.

Redshirt freshman running back Ryan Williams, the ACC’s leading rusher, tied one school record and broke another. Williams rushed 14 times for 100 yards. It was the fifth game this season that Williams has rushed for at least 100 yards, breaking Darren Evans’ freshman record of four set last season.

Williams tied the school record for touchdowns by a freshman (11), with a pair of touchdowns – one rushing and one receiving. The record was set last season, also by Evans, who is out for the entire 2009 season with a torn ACL.

The other bright spot was the Hokies kick return game. Dyrell Roberts had two returns for 86 yards. Coming into the game, he was the ACC leader in kick return average and was second in the nation, averaging 39.8 yards per return. After tonight’s game, his average ticked up to 40.5. Roberts also had three catches for 66 yards.

The Hokies took a 3-0 lead in the second quarter, but Georgia Tech answered late in the first half with a 51-yard pass from Josh Nesbitt to Demaryius Thomas – the Yellow Jackets only pass completion of the game. That set up a Nesbitt 1-yard touchdown run. Georgia Tech led 7-3 at the half.

The Hokies booted the second half kickoff out of bounds giving Georgia Tech the ball at their own 40 yard line. The Jackets needed six plays and three minutes to go 60 yards for a touchdown, another Nesbitt one-yarder to push the lead to 14-3.

Dyrell Roberts returned the ensuing kickoff 56 yards to the Georgia Tech 26. But the Hokies continued to struggle to move the ball and on 4th and three, instead of attempting a 35-yard field goal, Frank Beamer decided to go for it. The Hokies came up short and gave the ball back to Georgia Tech.

The Jackets, however, gave the ball right back to the Hokies when Nesbitt tried to go deep, but got picked off by Virginia Tech’s Dorian Porch at his 34 yard line.

Williams needed just one play to rush 66 yards for the Hokies’ first touchdown of the game and narrowing the score to 14-10.

Georgia Tech responded on its next possession with a 12-play, 86-yard drive that killed nearly eight minutes off the clock. Virginia Tech’s defense could not stop the Jackets as they marched down the field for another touchdown and a 21-10 lead.

The Hokies scored touchdowns on its final two drives. Taylor picked up his first rushing touchdown of the season with 7:19 to play to pull the Hokies with in five, 21-16, after the 2-point conversion failed.

Georgia Tech scored on its next drive, again running time of the clock and wearing down the Hokies’ defense. Nesbitt rushed for his third touchdown of the game with three minutes left to put the Jackets up 28-16.

The Hokies came right back with a five-play, 61-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Taylor to Williams, and the Hokies closed the gap to 28-23.

Virginia Tech attempted an onside kick, but Georgia Tech recovered and ran out the clock to seal its first home win against a top-five team in its last 18 attempts.

The Hokies are off next weekend, but return to Blacksburg to host the North Carolina Tar Heels on a Thursday night ESPN game.

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Virginia Tech Hokies – fans, players and coaches – watched last night as the Nebraska Cornhuskers struggled on the road against Missouri for three quarters.

The Cornhuskers, ranked 21st in the country, were playing solid defense, holding the 24th ranked Tigers’ offense to just 10 points. Nebraska gave up a safety on a botched punt and trailed 12-0 after three quarters.

Nebraska’s offense, however, was another story. It struggled mightily for the first three quarters. Head coach Bo Pelini was at a loss. But in the fourth quarter, it was as if someone flipped a switch. Nebraska woke up and exploded for 27 fourth quarter points to win 27-12.

The Huskers scored three touchdowns in a little more than three minutes early in the final quarter and then added another for good measure in the closing minutes.

The win propelled Nebraska to a 4-1 record – its only loss to No. 5 Virginia Tech in the final minutes of the game.

Following the home-at-home series between Nebraska and Virginia Tech, the fans from both sides have developed a mutual respect and even kinship.

When Hokie football fans traveled to Lincoln in 2008, Husker fans treated them like family. And when Nebraska fans came to Blacksburg earlier this year, Hokie fans returned the hospitality.

So when Nebraska staged a dramatic, come-from-behind road win last night on national television, Hokie fans were generally happy to see their new friends win. Though the reason for jubilation was not without added benefit. Nebraska’s win also helps Virginia Tech’s strength of schedule and its RPI ranking.

According to RealTimeRPI.com, the Hokies have the second highest strength of schedule rating. This is in large part to having played three top 25 teams and beating two of them. The Hokies lost their season-opener to now No. 3 Alabama and then went on to beat No. 21 Nebraska – which will certainly move up after last night’s win – and No. 11 Miami.

Virginia Tech’s five opponents have a combined record of 17-7 and only Duke has a losing record. Tech’s three toughest opponents through its first five games have a combined record of 12-2. The two loses obviously have come at the hands of Frank Beamer’s team.

While many thought that No. 22 Georgia Tech would be the toughest remaining game on the Hokies schedule, Boston College is 4-1 and has been playing surpisingly well for a team that is supposedly rebuilding. The Eagles have beaten Virginia Tech three straight years in the regular season and four of the last five, though the Hokies have beaten Boston College in two straight ACC Championship games.

Tech hosts the Eagles Saturday, Oct. 10, at noon in Blacksburg, Va. If the Hokies wins, they will have a shot to move up to No. 4 in the rankings.

No. 1 Florida and No. 4 LSU play at LSU on Saturday night. If the Gators win, LSU will drop a few spots making way for the Hokies to move up. If LSU wins a close game, don’t expect Florida to drop more than a couple of spots. If the Tigers blow Florida out, then the Gators could drop below the Hokies, who would then move up.

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Starts at 5:30 p.m. at Montano’s (Kickoff is at 6 p.m.)

Dinner is $25/person (pay at the door). Children 12 and under may order from the kids’ menu at regular menu prices. Proceeds will benefit the scholarship fund. Need more information? Call Chapter President Matt Spencer at (540) 815-9397, or Ginger Meier at (540) 809-7539. You can also send an e-mail to info@roanokehokies.com.

Menu:

• Tossed Salad
• Sliced Roast Beef with Cabernet Sauce
• Chicken Corleone
• Scalloped Potatoes
• Fresh Snapped Green Beans
• Dinner Rolls
• French Silk Pie, Cheesecake, Lemon Bars, Raspberry Rumble, Apple Bars
• Coffee & Tea

Cash Bar, with drink specials.

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The Atlantic Coast Conference announced game times for games on Saturday, Oct. 17. The No. 5 ranked Virginia Tech Hokies (2-0, 4-1) are on the road against Coastal Division rival Georgia Tech. Kick-off is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be televised on ESPN2. The Yellow Jackets (2-1, 4-1) are ranked No. 22 in the AP poll, and No. 23 in the USA Today poll.

The Hokies have already beaten the Miami Hurricanes and the Canes have already beaten Georgia Tech. If the Hokies can win at home this Saturday against a surprising Boston College Eagles team and can then pull off a road win at Georgia Tech, the Hokies will be in the driver’s seat for a shot at a third straight ACC title and their fourth overall since joining the leauge in 2004.

The rest of Saturday’s ACC games and TV schedules are as follows:

Saturday, Oct. 17
Wake Forest at Clemson, RAYCOM, noon
NC State at Boston College, ABC, 3:30 pm
Virginia at Maryland, ESPNU, 4 pm
Miami at UCF, CBSCS, 7:30 pm

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