Williams Leads Maroon Past White In Spring Game

By Sam Frye
April 25, 2009

An estimated 41,000 Hokie fans filled Lane Stadium on Saturday to see Ryan Williams lead the Maroon team to a 13-7 victory in the annual spring game.

Williams had 153 all purpose yards including a 56-yard touchdown reception from Ju-Ju Clayton with just under five minutes left in the first quarter.

"That play right there is the best feeling I've had so far, in front of all these people.  And my mom hadn't really seen me play since my junior year in high school.  And I always find her before the game and I make sure every time I score I point to her," Williams said.

Williams finished the day with 85 yards rushing on just 10 carries.

Another bright spot on offense for the Hokies as they wrapped up spring practice was the emergence of Dyrell Roberts at wide receiver, who had four catches for 65 yards and posted the White squad's only touchdown in the game.

With 2:20 remaining in the second quarter, Tyrod Taylor threw a fade to the corner of the end zone where Roberts made a leaping catch and wrestled the ball away from cornerback Rashad Carmichael.

Roberts, who also had a 41-yard kickoff return and a 40-yard reception, said the experience of getting on the field last season has made him more comfortable this year.

"Yeah, I'm comfortable with it, but I know I still got a whole lot more to learn.  I gotta do some things different but overall I'm comfortable with the position," Roberts said.

Taylor finished the day 16-33 with 188 yards and one touchdown as the White team went with a heavy aerial attack for most of the game.  After a nagging quarterback controversy the last two seasons, Taylor said he feels his leadership role has been solidified.

"I just have to be more vocal of a leader.  I've been putting pressure on myself since day one, since I stepped on campus, to go out there and compete everyday whether I was first, second, or third on the depth chart, just to go out there and become the best quarterback I can be," Taylor said.

Taylor managed to spread the ball around the field as he also found Chris Dragger four times for 41 yards and Marcus Davis three times for 48 yards.

On his final drive, down 13-7, Taylor led his team to the Maroon 10 yard line, twice picking up first downs with his feet.

A pass to Xavier Boyce in the back of the end zone fell incomplete, leaving one second on the clock.

On the final play, Taylor took off running again and managed to scamper to the two yard line before being stopped by linebacker Barquell Rivers to end the game, securing the win for the Maroon team.

Maroon quarterback Clayton went 4-15 for 103 yards with one interception and one fumble.  He said being named the official backup to Taylor hasn't put any extra pressure on him for the upcoming season.

"No pressure.  I mean, that's what I came here for," Clayton said.  

On defense, tackle Antoine Hopkins used the spring game to showcase his potential as an asset for the Hokies in the future.  The redshirt freshman had a big day for the Maroon team as he sacked Taylor twice and returned a Zac Evans fumble 20 yards for a touchdown.

Evans, who took the majority of the carries for the White team while Darren Evans and Josh Oglesby were sidelined, rushed seven times for 25 yards.

On special teams, coach Beamer acknowledged that it was a shaky day for everyone.

Brent Bowden mishandled the snap on a field goal attempt and watched as another snap soared over his head on a punt in the first half.  Bowden also had a punt partially blocked by Jarrett Boykin.

Dustin Meyer pushed an extra point wide right after Williams' 56 yard touchdown reception and Chris Hazley also missed a 35-yard field goal.

"I think, number one, we need to have a talk with that special teams coach," Beamer quipped after the game. Beamer personally handles coaching the special teams unit.

"I thought it was very sloppy today, and what that tells me is we need to settle on people...in the spring you kinda work everybody but it's not gonna be that way in the fall.  We're gonna make some quick decisions," Beamer said.

Beamer said he sees the potential to have several play makers on the field in the fall with the combination of Roberts, Williams, and Taylor, but the defense still has some holes to fill.

"Defensively I think we gotta keep going.  I think right now we may be a defensive end short and a linebacker short.  I'm gonna be eager to watch this video and see what we think.  But we got time.  The good thing is you've got a whole summer here," Beamer said.

The team ends spring practice with expectations higher than ever, with many experts predicting them to make an appearance in the preseason top 10 and make another run to the ACC title and beyond.

The Hokies are scheduled to report for fall practice on Aug. 5 when they will begin preparations for their season opener against highly touted Alabama in the Chick-fil-a College Kickoff.  The game is scheduled for Sept. 5 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.