Greg’s Game Report 2011: VT

You know it’s a bad afternoon when a football game brings back memories of Frankie Vallie’s “My Eyes Adored You.” All day the Hoos were “so close and yet so far” from making it a game. In the end Coastal Division Champion Virginia Tech delivered in the key moments of the game and Virginia only got close.

Virginia’s defense was frustrating to watch, frequently putting the Hokies in 2nd- and 3rd-and-long only to let the visitors off the hook with a big gainer. The defense combined for 21 runs stuffs, including 8 against First Team All-ACC tailback David Wilson . Wilson gained 123 yards on 5 carries; he netted just 30 yards (1.57 YPC) on his other 19 rushes. But the Tech passing game was a model of efficiency as QB Logan Thomas completed 64% of his passes for 9.1 YPA and a QB rating of 166.7. The big plays of Hokie wideout Marcus Davis were far too reminiscent of Miami receiver Tommy Streeter.

Tech carved-up Virginia’s Cover 4 with digs and up routes and when the Hoos showed pressure Logan Thomas checked to the read-option for a big gainer on the ground. Cavalier defensive backs were clearly caught off guard by Tech’s use of double-move in the passing game – a break in tendencies that Virginia responded to way too late in the contest. The Hokies’ 46.2% conversion rate on third down was the second highest allowed by UVa this season and Tech’s 9.1 YPA was also the second most against the Virginia defense in 2011.

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