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SEAN GLENNON Doing his share |
Call it a wakeup call. Or, if you are a fan of Virginia Tech, a starting-over point, one that began a run that they hope brings them their first Atlantic Coast Conference championship Saturday afternoon when the sixth-ranked Hokies face off with No. 12 Boston College in Jacksonville, Fla.
Whatever the label, the comeback, which has produced four straight wins, a 10-2 record, and the ACC Coastal Division championship, began after a 14-10 loss to BC Oct. 25.
It was not so much the loss, but the nature of the loss. With four minutes remaining in the game, on a cold, rainy, windy night in Blacksburg, Va., the Hokies had a 10-0 lead that looked as solid as any 10-point lead could be. The BC offense barely had a pulse until quarterback Matt Ryan breathed life into the Eagles, coming up with a pair of touchdown passes for the victory.
Thrill of victory, agony of defeat? Absolutely.
"After the game, everybody was down and disappointed," said Virginia Tech defensive end Orion Martin. "But our seniors and coaches wouldn't let us stay down. We didn't stay down long."
No, they didn't. The Hokies also got healthier and sassier as they rolled over Georgia Tech by 24 points, over Florida State by 19, over Miami by 30, and over Virginia by 12.
The healthy part included freshman quarterback Tyrod Taylor coming back from an ankle injury that caused him to miss the BC game. Tech coach Frank Beamer, dipping into a playbook used by Florida coach Urban Meyer last season when he had freshman Tim Tebow and senior Chris Leak, unveiled a two-quarterback system that has worked.
"We're certainly in a better position offensively," said Beamer. "Tyrone is a weapon. He can really throw the football. He is just a guy that can make plays."
So can Sean Glennon, who has improved each week, giving Tech an offensive bite it did not have earlier in the season. The Hokies stumbled in a 48-7 loss to Louisiana State in the second game of the season and again against BC.
Glennon and Taylor have been forces, at different times. In the victory Saturday over Virginia, Taylor had two rushing touchdowns, while Glennon completed 13 of 19 passes for 260 yards and another TD.
Generally, two-quarterback systems don't work; the uncertainty factor can have a negative impact. But during a short span of a few games, the system can be distracting if not devastating to defenses.
"You have to make adjustments on the fly," said BC defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani. "We keep moving, shuffling players into the game. We just have to make plays."
Tech always has done that defensively and on special teams, a trademark of Beamer. Now it has the offensive punch that was missing earlier.
"The Virginia Tech offense is scoring points now," said BC coach Jeff Jagodzinski. "Before, they weren't scoring a lot of points. And Taylor can make plays when there wasn't a play there.
"We are just going to have to do a good job. We have to avoid turnovers and not give up the big plays."
Tech has done that increasingly well for a month, ever since its world went quiet against BC. Now, just like the Eagles, they are on the verge of their first ACC title.
The Hokies had a chance two years ago, losing to Florida State in the 2005 ACC championship game. For the seniors, who were more spectators than participants in that game, it is last-chance time.
As it is for BC and its 22 seniors. BC won the opening act, but Saturday is the performance everyone will remember.
BC vs. Virginia Tech
What: ACC title game
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Where: Jacksonville, Fla.
TV & radio: Channel 5, WEEI (850)
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
