Hokies Roll 'Hoos 42-13, Keep Commonwealth Cup for Sixth Year

by Justin Velasquez
November 29, 2009

It was Rivalry Weekend in college football as Virginia Tech took the field against the University of Virginia for the Commonwealth Cup, the 91st meeting in this storied series.  Virginia Tech shook off a tepid first half and came roaring back, overwhelming the Cavaliers for 28 consecutive points in the final 30 minutes to come away with a lopsided 42-13 victory.

Virginia looked like a team that had given up and as a result ends its 2009 campaign with its first nine-loss season since 1982.  The Cavaliers' hopes of bringing the Commonwealth Cup back to Charlottesville were dashed and any chances that Virginia head coach Al Groh had of staying employed most likely were dashed, too.

Virginia Tech finishes the regular season with a 9-3 record, including a 6-2 record in the ACC.  This ninth victory may very well have locked up a spot in Atlanta for the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. "I don't know where it is, where it's going to be or who it's going to be against," said Tech head coach Frank Beamer. "But I've never been to a bad bowl game.

When asked about his team's steady improvement after the back-to-back losses, QB Tyrod Taylor liked Tech's chances against anyone:  "Yes, I think the way we've been winning lately is still proving to people we can still play with the top teams in the country.  I'll take my team up against any team in the nation."

Virginia started the game off strong with a 10-play, 73-yd scoring drive that lasted 5:33. Jameel Sewell's 15-yard touchdown run finished the possession. 

That set the tone early and it looked as if the Hokies would have their hands full but they responded on their first possession.  Tech aired it out early with a 41-yd pass from Taylor to Danny Coale.  Three penalties on that first possession threatened to halt their first scoring drive but Ryan Williams found the end zone on a 5-yd run, tying the game at 7. 

Tech had it in the gameplan to exploit Virginia's secondary - Coale came up big with six catches, good for 135 yards.  Thanks to Williams' impressive running Coale frequently found himself downfield in single coverage and beat Virginia's Ras-I Dowling to every spot for the ball.

Virginia retook the lead when Robert Randolph converted a 33-yard field goal.

But Virginia's Tech's offense, which has been playing with renewed confidence the past month, responded again by going 46 yards in just 1:58 - capped by Williams' 20-yd touchdown from an option pitch by Taylor.  

With 39 seconds left in the second quarter Virginia tightened the score to 14-13 on Randolph's 41-yd FG.  The Cavaliers looked confident going into the half but that would be the last time they'd score.

In the second half Tech looked like it might run into some trouble when Taylor overthrew Dyrell Roberts in the end zone and was intercepted by Chris Cook.  But two plays later Tech finally took the momentum and control of the game when Kam Chancellor recovered a Sewell fumble and took it back to the Virginia 10.  Another two plays later Williams scored his third touchdown, this time on a 4-yd run with 5:51 remaining in the third quarter.  That put Tech up 21-13 and doubt began to creep in the minds of the Virginia players.

Three more touchdowns from Virginia Tech in the fourth quarter sealed the deal and as a result the Hokies took home the Commonwealth Cup for the sixth consecutive year. 

Williams continued his stellar play, running for 183 yards and contributing four touchdowns.  Tech sat Williams for most of the fourth quarter as Josh Oglesby and David Wilson continued to pound on the obviously tired Virginia defense.  He easily could've had five but 51 yards into a sure touchdown scamper he fumbled around the Virginia 10.  The ball bounced into the end zone and a quick-acting Jarrett Boykin recovered it for Tech's fifth touchdown.

Williams, despite his incredible play today (and all season) deflected attention away from himself. "You can be the best person on the field but if your team isn't winning it does not mean anything."

The Virginia Tech defense really stepped up and outside of Sewell's steady play (12-22 for 121 yards, 17 carries, 104 yds, 1 rushing TD), it kept everyone else under wraps.

Wilson scored the final touchdown of the night with his 10-yd run making it 42-13, the game's final.

UPDATE: The University of Virginia announced on Sunday that Al Groh was fired from his position as head coach of its football program.