Post Game Analysis: Game Ends Bizarrely In 3rd Quarter With Hokies Trailing 17-10...

The Virginia Tech Hokies came out in style at Clemson Memorial Stadium, playing like their hair was on fire. After two sacks on the first possession forced a 3-and-out, the Hokies took over at their own 42. They proceeded to march the ball down the field on one of their best offensive drives of the season, ending in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Logan Thomas to Corey Fuller, putting Tech up 7-0.

On Clemson's second possession, they had much better success, picking up 44 yards on only 6 plays before Tajh Boyd's pass was tipped and found a sprawled out Michael Cole lying on the ground. Cole had thought the ball was going the opposite way, but the tip directed the ball in the opposite direction, forcing Cole to make a difficult and impressive interception.

The Hokies took over at the 13-yard line and put together another impressive drive, a 15-play 69-yard drive. But you don't need to be a mathematician to realize that doesn't equal 100. Beamer and Co. went for it on 4th on an off tackle run with Michael Holmes. The result? Predictably, it was stopped for no gain. Questioning Beamer's decision to go for it there instead of kicking the field goal? Eh. Questioning the play-call itself to the point where if that was the play they were going to run they should have kicked the field goal? Absolutely, 100% YES! The Hokies left a minimum of 3 points on the board there.

After Clemson took over, they put together perhaps their best drive of the game, a 12-play 73-yard drive that ended in a 27-yard Chandler Catanzaro field goal to make it 7-3 Tech at the end of the first quarter.

After a 3rd-and-1 conversion by Logan Thomas on the next drive, Thomas overthrew Dyrell Roberts deep on the left side and hit Jonathan Meeks in the chest with a ball to give the Tigers possession. After the Hokies defense forced another 3-and-out, redshirt-freshman receiver Christian Reeves was unfortunately hit by a bouncing punt which Clemson recovered at the Virginia Tech 26-yard line. Six plays later, the Tigers led 10-7 after Tajh Boyd took it in from 1-yard out.

After their first 3-and-out of the day, the Hokies punted to Clemson and induced another 3-and-out by the Tigers. Then things got worse, when after a 39-yard completion to Dyrell Roberts, Logan Thomas threw a pick-six to Meeks again, derailing the Hokies scoring chance, creating another potential points-swing and putting Clemson up 17-7.

After a 10-play 51-yard drive on their next possession, the Hokies ran down the clock, kicked a field goal from the 23-yard line to put them down one score at half, 17-10. With Tech getting the ball back first in the second half, this was absolutely the right decision.

The Hokies picked up a 1st down on their first possession of the second half, but moved backwards from there and were forced to punt. AGAIN the Hokies defense got a stop and a 3-and-out. They were just fantastic today.

On the ensuing Virginia Tech possession, Thomas failed to complete a tough pass to J.C. Coleman in the flat under pressure. Thomas then rushed for 12-yards for a 1st down. Then after two J.C. Coleman rushes.......................................

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