This isn’t your typical FCS squad however as the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga come in ranked No. 10 in the country and they were No. 3 before a loss two weeks ago at Mercer. The Heels, after two straight dominant games, struggled against a Virginia Tech team playing in Frank Beamer’s final home game.
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Frank Beamer will take the field in Blacksburg for the final time as the Hokies play North Carolina.
Up until the final play, it couldn’t have been scripted any better for the Hokies. Virginia Tech, meanwhile, is going for its 23rd-consecutive bowl appearance. Just as there was an obvious pick as the No. 1 team, there was a clear-cut delineation between the top seven teams in the country and everyone else: Wisconsin, Duke, Virginia, Gonzaga, Villanova and Arizona.
After falling behind 10-3, missing a field goal and squandering a good scoring opportunity after forcing the Tar Heels’ first turnover in four games, the Hokies put together their best drive of the day. The Heels still have to play at N.C. State next weekend. Bowl eligibility, however, will have to wait another week. Today’s result, however, will go a long way toward determining where coach Dave Doeren’s team will be spending the postseason. Then, after UNC quarterback Marquise Williams fumbled – one of his three in the game – and the Hokies recovered, Virginia Tech tied the game with 67 seconds left. He could have spared us and himself college football’s underbelly. Why not try? Why do you do bold innovative things between the 20 yard lines; but when inside the 20 run play after play AT the line of scrimmage, seemingly without any thought to getting downfield to score touchdowns?
Zach LeDay had 15 points and nine rebounds, and made several big shots down the stretch to help Virginia Tech beat Jacksonville State 71-62 on Wednesday. “You knew he was talented, but none of us knew how talented until that next season”. Still, it’s hard to figure out the reasoning behind this point spread. “I think about the 29 years being so blessed”. Carolina had a season-high in punts and had 9 penalties, six of which were pre-snap infractions. The defense even managed a critical goal-line stand in the second half that held UNC to a field goal rather than a touchdown we were all sure was coming. “We’ve done a few really special things here”. The Orange last won on the road by taking down Wake Forest 30-7 last season. The Deacons actually acquitted themselves well last Saturday in South Bend. Thus wasting two plays in a critical area of the field when a field goal is likely to lose you the football game and you really must score a touchdown?
Senior linebacker Jeff Schoettmer-who has been critical to that turnaround-has also not been afraid to tell the truth about what’s been on the minds of the Tar Heel players all week.
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Boston College (3-7, 0-7) @ #4 Notre Dame (9-1) played at Fenway Park in Boston, MA.
