On Saturday the fourteenth-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies calmed the twenty-fourth ranked Miami Hurricanes by a final score of 31 to 17 in Miami.
It was truly a game of Jekyll and Hyde, with both teams taking the role of Hyde...at least when it came to uniforms.
When I first saw the two teams, I didn't recognize either one of them. Each team came out disguised in uniforms that were different than their usual uniforms.
The Hokies broke out the tainted all-white uni's from this year's devastating "White Out" game. Tech added a band-aid to the uniform to patch up the scars from that unthinkable loss, as they plastered a stripe on the center of the helmet. The stripe featured an orange stripe surrounded by two maroon stripes, which perfectly matched the stripes on Tech's white jerseys. The stripe was cut off a few inches short of the back of the helmet, and the two maroon stripes were tailored with diagonal cuts that faced each other like so \__/ giving it a "techy" look. I liked it a lot. It was a good look for the Hokies. Also added to the helmet was an orange crown with a white number 9 placed in the center of it. (My only guess for the reasons behind the crowns is that this win would mark Tech's ninth straight win, and give the Hokies the ACC Coastal crown. That's the best guess I can give you.)
The Hurricanes donned a uniform that they've never unleashed before. They came out in orange jerseys with matching orange pants. Both featured dark green accents, and dark green socks. The Canes also broke out some new helmets...helmets that they should have left in the equipment room. They were all green with no stripes, with a matching green facemask, and the iconic "U" logo on the sides. It was yUck. Now green is my favorite color, but this wasn't just any color green...it was much uglier. It was pond scum green, or maybe old slimy alligator green. It didn't match their jerseys, and it sure didn't look good. You know it must have been pretty gross for a green lover like myself to dislike it so much.
Miami is definitely not the the team that they used to be. They're not the same caliber team that put "The U" on the map, so I can understand them cloaking themselves in unidentifiable clothing. They didn't look like the "U," and they certainly didn't play like the "U."
The Hokies, on the other hand, were their same old selves. The same old Hokies who had won 10 of the last 15 versus Miami. The same old Hokies who destroyed the tenth-ranked Hurricanes in a monsoon in Blacksburg last year. The same old Hokies who just won their ninth-straight ballgame.
Tech started out this game with their usual tactic, which entails letting the other team score first and then acting offensively challenged on the first possession. The Hokies and Canes went tic for tac with each other for three quarters. The box score read 7-3-7 for both teams after the third quarter (meaning each team had 17 points). This is when Tech became their same old selves.
Ryan Williams busted the game wide open on his first carry of the fourth quarter, which was also Tech's first offensive play of the fourth quarter. He took the hand-off and exploded up the middle of the field for an 84-yard touchdown run, obliterating everything in his path. The traditionally speedy Miami defense got left in the dust by the Predator.
Not to be outdone by Mr. Williams, the Tech defense held as strong as iron. They forced three interceptions from Miami's second-stringer Stephen Morris, who was filling in for the injured Jacory Harris. Jayron Hoseley lapped up the first pick of the quarter at the Tech 43, and returned it 23 yards to the Miami 25 yardline. It was Hoseley's eighth pick of the season, and he leads the nation in interceptions. Davon Morgan halted the Cane's best chance to score in the quarter, as he intercepted Morris at the Tech 19 yardline. Tariq Edwards recorded his first career interception, as he scooped the final pick of the game from Morris to seal the deal.
Ryan Williams is back. Just ask the Miami defense, who got a good look at his back during this game. He looked 100% healthy to me. The strength, speed, and power are all back to Predator status. He led the Hokies in rushing, as he racked up 142 yards and 2 touchdowns on 14 carries. That includes the 84-yard bottle rocket that he set off in the Canes' faces in the fourth quarter.
Tyrod Taylor once again had a solid game as the Hokies' field general. He finished the game 7 of 14 for 94 yards and a touchdown, and added another score on the ground. Tyrod was uncharacteristically sacked 5 times though, but I don't blame him for that. That's on the O-line. At least he didn't turn the ball over.
Danny Coale went from being the sneaky receiver who catches a pass every now and then to being the sneaky receiver who led the team in receiving. To put it briefly, you could just say that our passing attack was Coale powered on Saturday. He finished with 83 yards and a touchdown off of 4 catches. His touchdown was a thrilling 43-yarder. He was running his traditional route across the middle of the field, and being the sneaky guy that he is he got wide open...as usual. He made the catch, turned upfield, and took it all the way to the house. He left the Canes' defense scratching their heads, and wondering "who was that?"
Once again the Hokies defeat the Hurricanes, and once again they score 31 points en route. This marked the third time in the series that Tech had scored 31 points in wins against the Canes. The Hokies defeated Miami by final scores of 31-7 both in 2009 (last year) and in 2003.
With the win, Tech clinches the Coastal Division title of the ACC and can pack their bags for Charlotte for the conference championship. The Hokies have rattled off 9 straight wins after starting with a dismal 0 and 2 record. Tech will have a chance to win their 10th game for the seventh consecutive season, as they take on arch-rival Virginia in the Battle for the Commonwealth Cup on Saturday. The Hokies have won 10 of the last 11 match-ups against the Wahoos, including the last 6 in a row. As Tech Sideline points out, today marks day 2,187 of Tech's continuous possession of the Commonwealth cup. It'll be 2,191 by Saturday. Take that Frenchmen.
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