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It was an absolutely gorgeous day in Blacksburg, as the Virginia Tech Hokies entertained the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Hokies started slow, and the defense put Virginia Tech on the board for the first time in the game. DT, Ricky Walker, scooped up a fumble and rumbled 12 yards to give the Hokies a 7-0 lead. Greg Stroman continued his amazing special teams performance. Stroman took a punt 91 yards for a score, and Beamer Ball was alive and well in Blacksburg.
The offense finally got in the act when Josh Jackson found Travon McMillian out of the backfield for a four yard score. The defense was not done scoring, as Reggie Floyd took a pick 69 yards to pay dirt with 1:49 left in the first half. This made the score 28-0, and it really wasn’t that close. Virginia Tech forced yet another three and out, and Eric Kumah caught his first touchdown at Virginia Tech. The Hokies were up huge at the half, 35-0.
The Hokies onslaught continued in the second half. Cam Phillips caught a 8 yard TD from Jackson early in the third quarter. Joey Slye got into the act hitting a 37 yard field goal. Most of the offensive starters were pulled at this point, but that didn’t slow down the Hokies’ momentum. Backup quarterback, AJ Bush, found Samuel Denmark on a 16 yard scoring strike near the end of the third quarter. The Hokies were up 52-0, and they weren’t looking back.
The Tar Heels were plagued by penalties all afternoon. They had multiple false start calls (thanks Lane Stadium), and gave up sack after sack. North Carolina quarterback, Chazz Surratt, was hurt early in the game and Brandon Harris played decent in stretches. Harris, then got hurt and Surratt was forced to reenter the game. Surratt put the ‘Heels on the board for the first time early in the fourth quarter. Surratt hooked up with Anthony Ratliff for a 43 yard bomb that prevented the Hokies’ shutout. It also appeared to give Bud Foster some serious heartburn.
The Tar Heels scoring inspired the Virginia Tech offense, and AJ Bush led a long drive for a touchdown. Jalen Holston punched it in with 7:01 left in the fourth quarter to make it 59-7. That would be the final, as the Hokies move to 6-1. Next up for Virginia Tech will be the Duke Blue Devils.