Because of space limitations that will one day lead to the demise of the newspaper industry—and result in me selling fruit at a road-side stand—I’m not sure if this entire follow-up story will make it into tomorrow’s paper. So here it is ...

BY DARRYL SLATER

TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

LINCOLN, Neb. – He has stood on enough sidelines to gauge the ebb and flow of a season, and when a pivotal moment arrived Saturday night in Virginia Tech’s game at Nebraska, cornerback Victor “Macho” Harris watched his teammates, wondering how they’d react.

Nebraska’s Nate Swift had just returned a punt 88 yards for a touchdown, cutting Tech’s lead to five points with 7:52 remaining in the game. As the Hokies prepared to answer, Harris scanned his sideline.

“When I looked into guys’ eyes, all I saw was readiness,“ said Harris, a Highland Springs High graduate and one of Tech’s six senior starters.

The Hokies’ previous two games had filled them with confidence in such a tense situation. If they hadn’t wilted against Georgia Tech and North Carolina, why, they figured, would they fold now?

They won both of those games 20-17, beating the Yellow Jackets by marching 76 yards for the game-winning field goal with 4:51 to go and stunning the Tar Heels after trailing by 14 points with 6:44 remaining in the third quarter.

And they did it again Saturday, responding to Nebraska’s punt return with an 80-yard touchdown drive that helped them hold on for a historic 35-30 win. It marked the first time since Tech began playing football in 1892 – 1,120 games and 652 wins ago – that the Hokies have won three consecutive games by fewer than seven points. They were 1-3 in such games over the past three seasons.

“What would rattle this team?“ Harris said. “Nothing. I don’t care if we come out 34-zip or something in the first quarter. This team won’t get rattled.“

Self-assuredness alone isn’t driving the Hokies, now ranked 20th in the country.

They got their best offensive performance of the season Saturday: 377 yards, 109 better than their previous top output against a Division I-A opponent. Sophomore quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed passes of 24, 34 and 40 yards, all in the first half. Before Saturday, he had just two completions longer than 20 yards this season. Accurate passing was imperative against the Cornhuskers, who blitz frequently and often leave their cornerbacks in man-to-man coverage.

Taylor’s two sharpest throws Saturday came on the Hokies’ final drive of the first half, which ended with a field goal and an 18-10 Tech lead. On the possession’s first play, strong safety Larry Asante blitzed Taylor, who found true freshman receiver Jarrett Boykin for a 34-yard completion. Four plays later, with defensive end Zach Potter pressuring, Taylor hit Boykin for 24 yards.

The Hokies’ passing hadn’t looked that impressive all season. Taylor entered Saturday averaging 8.3 yards per completion. He completed nine passes at Nebraska, five of which gained at least 16 yards. He also had runs of 18, 20 and 30 yards, again legitimizing head coach Frank Beamer’s decision to play him instead of senior Sean Glennon.

“I think [Taylor’s] actions speak for themselves,“ tailback Darren Evans said. “Words can’t describe some of the things he does.“

His defense played just as well. At the 6:54 mark of the third quarter, Tech had out-gained Nebraska 292-118. Ends Jason Worilds and Orion Martin were disruptive again. Worilds had three tackles for a loss and combined with Martin for a sack. Martin had another sack and broke up a pass.

It’s difficult to foresee how Saturday’s performance will appear at season’s end. Will the victory look like Tech’s 2005 win at West Virginia, which finished 11-1? Or like the 2003 win over Texas A&M, which finished 4-8?

That mattered little afterward in the locker room. Beamer stood on a chair and shimmied for the second straight postgame. Wes Worsham, an elderly booster for whom Tech’s home field is named, donned a cornrow wig and hammed it up with Harris, who manicures his own cornrows like a fine set of hedges.

It was a strange celebration, but altogether appropriate for a team that keeps everyone guessing what it will do next.

Posted by Darryl Slater in • College Sports • Virginia Tech
(0) Comments | Permalink