As a TKP reader, and therefore Virginia Tech Hokies fanatic, EVERY play of every game has you captivated and your emotional state hangs on every pass, every tackle, every penalty, every little detail of every game. But of course not all plays are as big as others and as your memory of the mundane fades you're left with last memories of the truly game-changing plays of every season. Here we use analytics to count down the biggest, most game-changing plays in the past 10 years of Virginia Tech football...
In each installment of this series I'll bring you two plays: one play devastating to the Hokies' chance to win, and one dominating play in Virginia Tech's favor. They will count down in order of how much each play affected the odds of Tech's victory.
For details on the method, see Virginia Tech's Top 10 Plays of the Last Ten Years: No. 10.
The Countdown
Most Devastating:
10. Boise State 9/6/2010 - Kellen Moore pass complete to Austin Pettis for 13 yards for a TOUCHDOWN
9. Miami 11/4/2006 - Tyrone Moss rush for 50 yards for a TOUCHDOWN
8. Boston College 11/2/2013 - Logan Thomas pass intercepted by Kevin Pierre-Louis at the VTech 33, returned for 33 yards for a TOUCHDOWN
7. Lamar Miller rush over right guard for 30 yards for a TOUCHDOWN
6. Boston College 10/25/2007 - Matt Ryan pass complete to Andre Callender for 24 yards for a TOUCHDOWN
5. Georgia Tech 9/20/2014 - Paul Davis 41 Yd Interception Return for a TOUCHDOWN
Most Dominating:
10. Boston College 12/1/2007 - Sean Glennon pass complete to Eddie Royal for 24 yards for a TOUCHDOWN
9. North Carolina 10/29/2009 - T.J. Yates pass intercepted by Rashad Carmichael at the North Carolina 10, returned for 5 yards to the North Carolina 5
8. Georgia Tech 9/3/2012 - Logan Thomas pass complete to Demitri Knowles for 42 yards for a TOUCHDOWN
7. Rutgers 12/29/2012 - Logan Thomas pass complete to Corey Fuller for 21 yards for a TOUCHDOWN
6. Marshall 9/21/2013 - Logan Thomas pass complete to Willie Byrn for 2 yards for a TOUCHDOWN
5. East Carolina 8/30/2008 - Patrick Pinkney rush, fumbled, recovered by VTech Stephan Virgil at the ECaro 28, Stephan Virgil for 28 yards, to the ECaro 0 for a TOUCHDOWN
The 4th-most Devastating Play: Florida State 11/8/2012 - EJ Manuel pass complete to Rashad Greene for 39 yards for a TOUCHDOWN
In the first of the recent streak of disappointing seasons, Virginia Tech—who had been to a BCS Bowl after the 2011 season—had already accumulated 5 losses prior to the matchup against Florida State. Suddenly eligibility for any bowl was in question, and although the season couldn't be saved, beating the hated Seminoles would certainly lift the spirits of Hokie Nation.
With just over two minutes left on the clock, Tech took the lead 22-20 on a field goal, but E.J. Manuel and the Florida State offense would get the ball back for one last attempt to get into field goal range. The Seminoles were able to move the ball, but seemingly not fast enough as eight plays into the drive they still had not entered field goal range and faced 2nd-and-10 from the Hokie 39-yard-line with :50 left to play.
Manuel quickly completed a pass to wide receiver Rashad Greene on an intermediate in route inside the 25-yard-line; FSU was already within their kicker's range. But Rashad hit full stride, and despite Hokie defenders all over the field no one is able to stop him. He streaked across the field and crossed into the end zone to give the Seminoles the lead and force Virginia Tech into needing a touchdown with just 41 seconds on the clock.
Florida State converted for two points, and the Hokies couldn't respond, losing the game 28-22.
The 4th-most Dominating Play: Miami 10/8/2011 - Logan Thomas rush quarterback draw for 19 yards for a TOUCHDOWN
When Miami visited Lane Stadium in 2011, Hokie fans still had plenty of questions about their team and quarterback. After opening the season with a slate of four inconspicuous non-conference opponents, and only being challenged by East Carolina, Virginia Tech was dominated by Clemson at home 3-23. There were already calls for Logan Thomas to be benched and Hokie Nation was in a panic.
Logan walked on to the field and silenced the critics by going ham (23 for 25, 310 yards passing, 3 TDs, 0 INT's, 28 yards rushing and 2 TDs on the ground) but it turned out to be the defense who struggled. With the clock winding down, the Hokies found themselves down by 4 and needing a touchdown on what was likely their last drive of the game. With about one minute left on the clock, they faced 4th-and-1 and lined up in the shotgun; every Hokie fan held their breath that they would get that one yard on a David Wilson run or Logandozer keeper.
The deceptive formation fooled the Hurricane defense as well, who swarmed to David Wilson while Logan Thomas charged forward and broke through the line virtually untouched and ran across open field vacated by the Miami secondary to an improbable touchdown and the lead. The lead would hold for the remaining 56 seconds of the game thanks to a little help from the crowd and a rare mid-game Enter Sandman...
Virginia Tech won the game when Miami couldn't respond, and in my opinion it was one of the greatest Hokie games of all time.
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