2012 Virginia Tech Football: Virginia Game Guide

Virginia Tech Hokies (5-5, 3-3) vs. Virginia Cavaliers (4-7, 2-5)

Time: 12 p.m. EDT
Date: Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012
Place: Blacksburg, Va.
Stadium: Lane Stadium/Worsham Field
(Cap: 65,632, Open: 1965, Field: Bermuda)
TV: ESPNU
Radio: VT IMG, XM 85, Sirius 85
Spread: Virginia Tech -10.5
Weather: High of 46, 30% Chance of Rain

Virginia: The Cavaliers suffered a meltdown a week ago against North Carolina, losing 37-13. The game was actually pretty competitive until a comedy of errors ruined Virginia's chances and put this game out of reach. The Tar Heels opened up the scoring midway through the first on a 9-yard pass from Bryn Renner to Erik Highsmith to put the visitors up 7-0. The Cavaliers responded near the end of the first frame, but could only muster a Drew Jarrett field goal. But less than two minutes later, North Carolina expanded their lead on a 3-yard A.J. Blue run, putting the Heels up 14-3. Virginia responded midway through the second with a 9-yard touchdown pass of their own, from Phillip Sims to Darius Jennings, to make it 14-10. But North Carolina got on the board again before half, courtesy of a 36-yard interception return by Tre Boston, though the 2-point conversion attempt failed, making it 20-10 in favor of the Heels. Virginia added another Jarrett field goal early in the third, sending it to the fourth a one-touchdown game, 20-13. But the wheels came off for the 'Hoos in the last quarter and a half, stalling out twice inside the Tar Heel's 5-yard line. Their last four possessions included a punt, and three turnovers on downs. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels took advantage of Virginia's plight, throwing for touchdowns to Giovani Bernard and again to Highsmith, and tacking on a Thomas Moore field goal from 30 yards to provide the final margin, a 37-13 Tar Heel win.

Trends: The Hokies beat the Cavaliers in their last meeting, a 38-0 win in Charlottesville in 2011. In that game, the Hokies got of the schneid first with a 14-yard Logan Thomas touchdown run midway through the first quarter to put the visitors up 7-0. The Hokies then doubled the margin when Thomas found Jarrett Boykin for a 16-yard touchdown pass early in the second to give the Hokies a 14-0 lead that would hold through halftime. On their first possession of the third quarter, Tech drove the ball 79 yards and scored again, courtesy of a 27-yard David Wilson run. Wilson then tacked on a 38-yard touchdown run early in the fourth to give the visitors a four touchdown lead. Two minutes later, Thomas connected with Marcus Davis for a 7-yard touchdown pass to put the Hokies up 35-0. Midway through the fourth, Tech had a touchdown called back on a phantom holding call, resulting in a Cody Journell field goal, ending the scoring at 38-0. In the game, the Hokies netted 410 yards to the Cavaliers 241. They also forced four turnovers and committed none. The Hokies sacked Cavaliers quarterback Michael Rocco 4 times. Individually, Tech was led by David Wilson's 153-yard, 2 TD day, while Logan Thomas 187 yards and 2 TD's. Marcus Davis led the Hokies in receiving with 119 yards on five catches and a TD. Tech has won the last eight games in the series and 12 of the last 13.

History Lesson: The following information is all provided via Hokiesports.com. Virginia Tech has played Virginia a total of 93 times, 25 of them under Frank Beamer. Beamer holds a 16-9 record against the Cavaliers and a 2-0 record against third-year head coach Mike London. The Hokies hold the advantage in the series 51-37-5. The series began in 1895, a 38-0 shutout by the Cavaliers. Virginia shut the Hokies out three consecutive years and seven of the first eight meetings in the series. Tech has played hosted Virginia 30 times, going 20-9-1 in those games, and 14-6-1 in games played in Lane Stadium. Tech is 21-14-1 against Virginia when neither team is ranked (dating back to 1950, the earliest year of Hokiesports' poll of choice, the Coaches' Poll).