Clemson, Virginia Tech to face off in ACC Championship in Orlando

The Hokies dominated Virginia in every facet of the game, and thanks to an inspiring Senior Day performance from Sam Rogers, Virginia Tech routed Virginia 52-10. Offensively, Virginia Tech has been led by Zach LeDay (15.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.4 apg), Ahmed Hill (15.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.6 apg), Justin Robinson (12.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.4 apg), and Seth Allen (11.4 ppg, 2.8 apg).

Virginia is in a free fall right now, losing six straight to drop to 2-9 on the season and 1-6 in the ACC.

N.C. State’s upset of North Carolina on Friday night handed Virginia Tech its first division title since 2011, an anticlimactic way to clinch a spot in the ACC title game and one that was sure to make Hokies fans worry if the team wouldn’t be as focused against Virginia.

“They spread the floor”, Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said of Temple’s offensive approach in the second half. “Hopefully we can bounce back tomorrow and play better”. Evans also leads Virginia Tech in rushing with 675 yards and totaled three TDs against the Fighting Irish to give him 31 for the season, passing former quarterback Logan Thomas (30) for the school record.

Things only got worse.

Phillips says, “They’re a good team, but just because they have this record, or these players, or have accomplished that in the past, doesn’t mean that we can’t go out and do our jobs and win”. The positive for FSU is the fact that Florida doesn’t really have a quarterback, Austin Appleby the transfer from Purdue has been anything but spectacular and he’ll have to have some sort of rekindling of his game to help the lackluster Florida offense move the ball. Johns, by contrast, made his first start last weekend in a loss at Georgia Tech, and while he threw one touchdown pass, he was intercepted three times. Taquan Mizzell led the Cavaliers with 113 yards rushing. The Cavaliers were outgained 579-247 and finish 2-10, 1-7, in Bronco Mendenhall’s first season as coach.

“It’s been awesome”, Rogers said of his four-year experience at Tech. “We just didn’t want to use him. I’m happy to keep this thing rolling”. Nevertheless, the Hokies set the tone on the glass, out-rebounding the Lobos 22-16 in the first half, including seven offensive rebounds. Isaiah Ford’s catch at the eight gave the Hokies a first-and-goal, and Sam Rogers took it to paydirt on the next play to give VT a 7-0 lead with 2:54 to go in the first. Four plays later – on fourth-and-goal – Evans scored on a 1-yard run.

Virginia Tech picked up a solid 20 wins last season and with the majority of that team returning, could be a dark horse in the ACC this season. The forced fumble was the first of Reynolds’ career.

Virginia quarterback Kurt Benkert (6) gets hit Virginia Tech defensive tackle Ricky Walker (98) as Virginia tight end Brendan Marshall (83) blocks during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Blacksburg, Va., Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016.

“We really challenged the kids to come out of the tunnel ready to play, and ready to go play Virginia Tech football and be disciplined and execute and play with great emotion and I thought we did that from the get-go”, Foster said.