And today's recap is Virginia Tech, and it was a pretty easy choice. We've only played VT 9 times since 1964, winning just two of them. This one brings us back to 2004. Our first game against Virginia Tech as a conference game in the ACC.
It was a September day in Blacksburg. The Hokies were 2-1, with their only loss to eventually national champion USC. We were 1-1 with our only loss to Ohio State. Tech was a nine point favorite, but this one was going to be much closer than that.
Right from the start, you knew it was going to be about defense. The Pack was coming off a loss to Ohio State where we had only given up 137 yard total. Still, the Pack offense got things started on the right foot. After the opening kickoff, State marched into Virginia Tech territory, and even though the drive stalled, John Deraney came on for a 53 yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.
On the Hokies first possession, the Pack defense showed it's might. Two plays for negative yards, and VT ended up punting after a negative 7 yard possession. But on the next possession, a Jay Davis interception set the Hokies up with great field position. This time they drove to the Wolfpack 9, but a Brandon Pace missed field goal left the score 3-0, and foreshadowed what was to come.
On the next possession, Marcus Stone took a turn, but fumbled on the four play of the drive, and Tech was in business again. This time they completed the drive, going 36 yards for a touchdown, capped off by Bryan Randall 4 yard touchdown pass. 7-3 Virginia Tech early in the 2nd quarter.
Another Wolfpack drive went nowhere, and after a 58 yard punt return by Eddie Royal, Lane Stadium was rocking. But that return only got the Hokies to the 15, and the Pack defense held again. This time Pace got it through the uprights and it was now 10-3 Hokies.
The Pack went nowhere again, and a Deraney punt into the end zone, gave the Hokies first and ten on the 20. It was here that the defense started to take over. A first down sack of 10 yards by Manny Lawson, and a second down sack of 8, left the Hokies with 3rd and 28. A run up the middle lost another yard, and Tech had to punt from the 1.
The 43 yard punt was returned 10 yards, and NC State was set up on the Tech 34. No messing around with passing on this drive. The six play drive consisted of one QB draw and five handoffs to TA McLendon. The last play of the drive was a 6 yard TD run by TA, and the game was back even at 10-10
With only 1:14 left in the half, Virginia Tech ran out the clock and the halftime score was 10-10.
The third quarter was defense, defense, defense. Tech's first two drives went for negative four and negative five yards. The Pack sprinkled in one first down, but it was the Hokie's third drive the turned the game. A Mario Williams sack on 3rd down had Tech punting from their own 16. The punter fumbled the snap, and the Pack smothered him at the five. First and Goal NC State!
This time Marcus Stone did the honors, sneaking in on 3rd and goal at the 1, and putting NC State up 17-10 with 4:31 to play. On the next drive, more of the same. First down, sack by Autry-Lindsay. Second down sack by Autry-Lindsay.
It was at this point in the game with 2:52 left to go in the 3rd quarter that Virginia Tech had a combined six yards in total offense for the game. SIX! On 3rd and 32, Tech did manage a 25 yard screen pass to get off the goal line and quadruple their game's offensive output, but the following punt gave NC State the ball where they would close out the third quarter.
Early in the 4th, Tech had the ball and a big 41 yard run by Mike Imoh seemed to turn the tide. The Hokies penetrated the red zone, but another Manny Lawson sack kept VT out of the end zone, and a Pace field goal make it 17-13. With Lane Stadium rocking again, Tech got the stop that they needed, and with 10:10 to play started another march down the field. Passes to Eddie Royal of 15 and 32 yards got the Hokies in field goal position again and Brandon Pace cut the lead to 17-16 with just 8:10 to play.
The Pack stalled again, but the next Tech possession was stalled by another Wolfpack sack. NC State would get 10 sacks on the day. The most ever against Virginia Tech at that point in history (and probably still). The Hokies punted and NC State had the ball with 3:55 to play and a chance to run out the clock.
Nothing doing on this possession again. But at least State made the Hokies use all three timeouts, and Virginia Tech got the ball on their own five yard line with 2:44 to play. The Pack forced a 4th and 3 on Tech's 36 with about 1:30 to play, but Bryan Randall kept VT alive with a 7 yard pass play. Two plays later, NC State with another big sack by Manny Lawson. Now it was 3rd and 18 with 42 seconds left. But Randall completed a 38 yarder to put the Hokies in field goal range on the 26 with 35 seconds to play. No timeouts for the Hokies, so on first down, they rushed it up the middle for 2 yards, but left it on the left hash. With the clock ticking, Randall spiked it with 3 seconds to play. 17-16, Pace on for the 43 yard attempt. The snap is clean, the kick....
WIDE RIGHT! WIDE RIGHT! GAME OVER PACK WINS 17-16!
Youtube highlights...all Hokie highlights, but the final play is included
Today's honorable mention:
1991 NC State over Virginia Tech 7-0
Up next this week:
Tuesday: Boston College
Wednesday: Clemson
Thursday: UNC
Friday: Florida State
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