Hokies’ defense stops Cavs’ rushing attack CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Virginia Tech is still the pre-eminent college football power in the state. That was made abundantly clear Saturday at Virginia, where the sixth-ranked Hokies dominated the Cavaliers 38-0 before 61,124 at Scott Stadium.
With Logan Thomas (13 of 21, 187 yards) accounting for three touchdowns, David Wilson (24 carries, 153 yards) running for two, and the Hokies’ defense stuffing Virginia’s vaunted ground attack and swarming quarterback Michael Rocco, Virginia Tech reiterated its dominance of its longtime rival.
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It was the Hokies’ 12th win in the last 13 meetings and 11th by double-digit margins as they captured the ACC Coastal Division title and retained the Commonwealth Cup.
Virginia Tech (11-1, 7-1) advances to the ACC championship game for the fifth time in seven years. The Hokies face Clemson with a chance to avenge their lone defeat, 23-3 on Oct. 1 when Thomas was undone by the Tigers’ rush and Virginia Tech failed to score a touchdown at home for only the second time in coach Frank Beamer’s 25 seasons.
This will be a different Virginia Tech team and a different quarterback than what Clemson faced two months ago.
Against Virginia (8-4), Virginia Tech made its intentions known on its first snap as Thomas faded back and heaved a rainbow in the direction of Hokies wideout Marcus Davis (five receptions, 119 yards), who caught the ball over Virginia’s best defender, cornerback Chase Minnifield, for a 36-yard reception.
Three plays later, Minnifield was called for roughing the passer on a corner blitz, setting up a 15-yard option run by Thomas for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Early in the second quarter, Thomas reared back again, throwing a 42-yard bomb to Davis. Three plays later, Thomas fired a strike over the middle to Jarrett Boykin (four receptions, 45 yards) for a 14-0 lead.
Virginia Tech also owed its success to its signature defense. The Hokies stuffed the potent rushing attack of Virginia, which was averaging 178 yards a game, third best in the ACC, but produced just 30 yards on 26 attempts.
Perry Jones entered with 870 yards rushing and a 5.1 average per attempt on the season, but gained just 13 yards on six carries Saturday. Kevin Parks, averaging 4.8 yards a carry, had 17 yards on seven attempts. Free safety Antone Exum (10 tackles) and cornerback Jayron Hosley (eight tackles) led the Hokies’ defense.
Virginia (8-4, 5-3) reached the red zone once in each of the first three quarters, but failed to score. In the first quarter, on fourth-and-two, Hokies linebacker Jack Tyler tripped up Parks a yard short.
In the second quarter, sophomore Kyle Fuller came on a cornerback blitz, knocking the ball from the grasp of Rocco and Tyler recovered. In the third quarter, defensive end James Gayle (two sacks), with help from tackle Derrick Hopkins, dropped Rocco for an 11-yard loss and Robert Randolph missed a 38-yard field goal attempt.
In the second half, with Virginia Tech in control, the offense turned to Wilson who delivered touchdown runs of 27 and 38 yards.
