With both Beamer’s Virginia Tech team and N.C. State dropping their ACC openers, neither could afford another missed step.
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“Some wins are bigger than others”, Beamer said, “and this one was big, and critical”.
What followed left coach Dave Doeren disappointing, and grateful for a week off ahead.
“Obviously, disappointment is an understatement”, Doeren said.
Unlike last week’s 20-13 home loss to Louisville, N.C. State started quickly.
There were more defensive breakdowns and more penalties, two of the woes from the Louisville loss last week, and there was a shortage of production by the offense. This after averaging 46.2 points per game against the likes of Troy, South Alabama and Old Dominion to start the season.
The turning sequence came with Tech trailing 10-0 early in the second quarter and facing third-and-6 at State’s 38.
The win moved Tech to 3-3 overall, 1-1 in ACC play. Tech cut the N.C. State lead to 10-7 on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Motley to Ford with 11:41 remaining in the second quarter. In fact, the Wolfpack amassed just 125 yards in the final three quarters and finished with just 270 yards for the game. Doeren clearly wasn’t satisfied with the way the game was officiated. “But at the same time, hey stepped up when we needed them to, and I’m really proud of them”. I mean nine penalties is going to kill you. But on fourth down, quarterback Jacoby Brissett’s pass in the end zone was broke up by the Hokies’ Brandon Facyson, and Tech took over on downs, essentially sealing the game. The Hokies also rebounded on the rushing game as they ran for 158 yards, led by Travon McMillian who rushed for 96 and a touchdown.
Junior running back Matt Dayes (66 yards) and Brissett (39) found a few room on the edges on option plays. Sophomore linebacker Airius Moore said the Wolfpack was too undisciplined on defense and not aggressive enough. “To get back in the conference race… and I think we’re in it, but we had to get a conference win to stay in it. We’ll see what happens”. All quarterbacks get hit, especially, these days, Tech’s. N.C. State didn’t force any turnovers and only sacked Motley once. “In the second quarter, we just started to convert on them”.
Motley hit McMillian for 19 yards and Cam Phillips for 14 yards on consecutive plays early in the second quarter. But on 3rd and 2 from the 14, the Pack inexplicably called a pass play, and Brissett had to throw it out of bounds under pressure.
“As I told them today, I wish we had more experience”, coach Frank Beamer said of his offensive line.
“We’ve just got to understand what we’re trying to do and just (go) out there with nothing to hold back, and everything else will take care of itself”. On that touchdown run, left guard Wyatt Teller pulled to get out in front of the play and pancake an N.C. State defender to spring McMillian.
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Wade Hansen and his fellow offensive linemen essentially blamed themselves for Virginia Tech’s loss to Pittsburgh last week.
