2011 Virginia Tech Hokies Football: Va. Tech vs North Carolina

The Virginia Tech Hokies are once again in position to do what they’ve done so consistently: win a division title and march to the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

After an ugly early loss to Clemson that had people wondering if Virginia Tech’s reign at the top of the ACC had come to an end, the Hokies (10-1, 6-1 ACC) have responded by doing what the Hokies do seemingly every year. They sit at 10 wins and one win (or a Virginia loss to FSU on Saturday) from making yet another ACC Championship game. A win over the Cavaliers in the Commonwealth Cup game is all it takes for Virginia Tech to represent the Coastal Division in Charlotte for the second consecutive year. A win over Virginia will gain the boys from Blacksburg a rematch opportunity against Clemson, who handily defeated the Hokies in an ugly, 23-3 thrashing on Oct. 1.

North Carolina, on the other hand, has had a very disappointing season after coming into the year with high hopes. The Tar Heels’ (6-5, 2-5 ACC) season was probably doomed to begin with, after head coach Butch Davis was fired shortly before the season began, but they have too much talent, especially on defense, to be 2-5 in the conference with one game to go against Duke.

This was a strange game to try to categorize. For much of the game, it seemed like Virginia Tech was clearly in control, yet North Carolina won most of the meaningful statistical battles, except 3rd down conversions, where North Carolina killed itself by converting only 4 of 11. It was a game of runs, with UNC quickly opening the game’s scoring after getting great field position after Sylvester Williams forced a Logan Thomas fumble on the first play of the game, giving the Tar Heels the ball at the 20 yard line of Virginia Tech.

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The Hokies then scored all 24 of their points before the Tar Heels would score again, before North Carolina scored touchdowns on two straight 4th quarter possessions to make it interesting, but its onside kick attempt was recovered by Virginia Tech, and the Heels got the ball back at their own 27 with time for only one play, an incomplete pass.

The game was unfortunately marred by another in a series of poorly officiated games, the most noteworthy being a critical pass interference on what looked to be a clean defensive play on 3rd and 13 that gave the Hokies a first down near midfield, which they took advantage of by scoring a few plays later, a TD that in the end wound up being the difference in the game.

Nobody particularly excelled on offense. David Wilson, who had been a beast of a running back for most of the season, was held in check by the UNC defense, gaining only 82 yards on 21 carries. Logan Thomas passed for only 195 yards, completing 19 of 32 with two TDs and no INTs. Jarrett Boykin was arguably the offensive player of the game, with 10 receptions for 106 yards.

Bryn Renner had a more effective day at QB than his Hokie counterpart, with 8.6 yards per attempt to Thomas’ 6.1. Renner finished with 224 yards on 14 of 26 passing for 1 TD. Stud running back Giovani Bernard was dominated by Bud Foster’s defense, with only 45 yards on 10 carries. Receivers Dwight Jones and Erik Highsmith combined for 11 catches for 195 yards and a TD, 64 of those yards coming on a crucial 64 yard pass in UNC’s last possession that put the Heels in position for a quick score, setting up the failed onside kick that would have given the Heels the chance to win the game.

Virginia Tech Hokies vs North Carolina Tar Heels Football Recap