Hokies stifle Big Red in 66-53 win

The ACC Championship game is set with Clemson and Virginia Tech squaring off next Saturday at 8 pm ET on ABC.

Of course, Fuente is nobody’s fool.

Like Clemson, Virginia Tech has relied on the strength of its seniors to propel the Hokies back into a conference championship game for the first time since 2011.

There really isn’t anything positive to talk about during those 20 minutes, so just assume the first takeaway is the Aggies have to find a way to overcome slow starts. Enjoy it (Saturday). That’s your reward. “I feel good about our guys” ability to do that. The Hokies were shooting lights out to start the game, and the Aggies couldn’t buy a bucket.

The end of a frustrating season has finally come, and Virginia didn’t leave fans with a lot of hope going forward.

Virginia Tech’s resounding 52-10 win at Lane Stadium – its 13th consecutive win over Virginia – lacked the usual zing of an in-state rivalry.

Virginia Tech and Clemson have not faced each other since 2012. Tech followed it up with another long drive as Rogers scampered 32 yards for another touchdown. Tech ran for a season-high 289 yards. The plan failed miserably.

“I thought it was very fitting when coach Fuente introduced him as ‘The man who’s beaten UVa more than anybody else on the planet, ‘ ” Conte said.

It was the 89th time the Tech defense has scored a touchdown since the Foster era began in 1987.

Trailing 38-3 in the third quarter, U.Va. put in Connor Brewer – yet another quarterback – for a third-and-10 play from Tech’s 28.

The senior was hit and fumbled, and Andrew Motuapuaka returned the fumble 70 yards for a TD to make it 45-3.

“I certainly wanted the outcome to be different for our seniors, and the parents of our seniors”, he said. Rinse and repeat. The 14-0 lead would be all the Hokies would need on the day, although they didn’t stop there.

“It’s going to be a good learning curve for us when we watch the film and see what mistakes we made”, Webster said. “That’s probably the best message”.

This week, the Hokies must handle Clemson’s potent offense and Watson, who has thrown for 1,129 yards and 10 touchdowns the past three weeks as the junior’s college career – Watson is leaving for the National Football League after this season – is ending.

QUARTERBACK BATTLE: The Hokies won’t cede anything to Clemson and Watson, not with a record-setter like Jarod Evans leading their offense. Matt Johns was 4 for 10 for 17 yards and threw two interceptions. “We personnelled every single play, including the quarterback”. “Some of these teams that are so great in September and October, they’re nowhere to be found in November”.

Zach LeDay scored 19 points and added nine rebounds to lead Virginia Tech to a 66-53 victory over Nebraska in the third-place game of the Wooden Legacy on Sunday.

“It’s rare air”, Swinney said of the task ahead.

Wood can be reached by phone at 757-247-4642.