Virginia Tech football: Look Back at the 2016 A.C.C. Championship

On the eve of the big game, I thought we could look back at the 2016 A.C.C. championship game played between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Clemson Tigers. Clemson was sort of expected to appear in the game, and first year coach, Justin Fuente, was a surprise. Fuente would go on to win A.C.C. coach of the year honors, and Clemson went on to win a national championship. Deshaun Watson played superhuman all year, but Virginia Tech had an answer in Jerod Evans.

If you look back at the game, Virginia Tech was close. Virginia Tech was very close. It was 21-14 at the half. Clemson put up the first two scores in the third, making it 35-14. It looked very dire for the Hokies, but Travon McMillian busted loose for a 27 yard score late in the third. Evans took matters into his own hands, punching it in from five yards, and suddenly it was 35-28 in the fourth. Think about that. It was a one score game in the fourth quarter! Watson found Hunter Renfrow on a 15 yard throw and catch, and gave Clemson the cushion it would need to ice the game. Virginia Tech made one last valiant effort. Cam Phillips got loose and caught a beautiful ball from Evans to pull the Hokies within seven with 5:43 left in the game. Tech’s defense held on Clemson’s ensuing position, and the offense was driving. It was a 4th and 6, when Evans threw his second pick of the game, sealing the Hokies’ fate.

If we can battle with THAT Clemson team, we can surely battle with this one.. LET’S GO...