Hokies' QB's smothered by 'Canes in loss (The Sports Addict Network)

Entering Thursday night’s game with Miami, Virginia Tech was in the ACC Coastal Division driver’s seat. However, the keys were ripped away in front of a national audience when the Hurricanes edged the Hokies 16-14.

Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor returned from a high ankle sprain to split snaps with Sean Glennon, but it didn’t matter. Miami’s defense looked to be in old form smothering Taylor and Glennon regardless of who was in the game. Miami combined to sack the duo six times.

After posting 400 yards of total offense against Maryland last week, the Hokies were limited to only 250 against the Hurricanes. Meanwhile, tailback Darren Evans was also bottled up. Coming off his 253 yard rushing effort against the Terps, the redshirt freshman was held to 43 against the ‘Canes.

Regardless of all that, Tech still had chances to win the game. Tied 7-7 at halftime, Miami returned to kick two field goals in the third quarter, and another in the fourth, while holding Tech to just six plays from scrimmage in the third.

However, in the fourth quarter Taylor sailed a pass downfield intended for wide receiver Dyrell Roberts. Roberts had Chavez Grant beaten inside the Miami 20, but dropped the ball, which would’ve likely led to a touchdown.

The Hokies eventually cashed in a touchdown on the same drive when Taylor scampered into the endzone on a six-yard run with 3:28 remaining. However, that was more than four minutes after the dropped pass by Roberts, which would’ve given the Hokies a lot of much needed extra time.

Taylor rushed for Tech’s only two touchdowns on the night. The first score came in the first quarter from 14 yards out. On the night, Taylor finished with 43 yards on the ground and another 75 passing.

After the touchdown, Tech’s defense held Miami to a three-and-out and forced a punt. The Hokies got the ball back inside of two minutes remaining with no timeouts. However, facing a third-and-short situation at midfield, the Hokies elected to handoff to tailback Dustin Pickle, who was stopped for a one-yard loss.

On the ensuing play, Taylor was sacked by Allen Bailey to turn the ball over on downs.

Third and fourth down failures told much of the story for Virginia Tech (6-4, 3-3). The Hokies were a mere 2-of-11 on third down and 0-for-2 on fourth.

Even though the Hokies coughed up the keys to the driver’s seat in Miami, it’s actually the Tar Heels who pick them up. North Carolina can punch its ticket to Tampa if it wins the final three games of the season.

Miami (7-3, 4-2) needs to win its remaining two games and get one loss from the Heels, who hold the tiebreaker over the ‘Canes via a 28-24 win over Miami in September. Perhaps the best shot of that for the Hurricanes is this weekend when Carolina travels to Maryland. The Terrapins are 5-0 at home this season. After that, the Heels face lowly NC State and Duke.

Virginia Tech needs nothing short of a miracle to repeat as Coastal Division Champs at this point. The Hokies will have to win their remaining games at home against Duke next week and Virginia in two weeks. However, it also needs Miami to lose both of its remaining two games to Georgia Tech and NC State to move one game ahead of the Hurricanes, who now hold the tiebreaker over Tech with tonight’s win, in the standings.

By Nick Pierce

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