The Virginia Tech Hokies and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets square off for control of the ACC
If the past is any indication of what the future may hold, the gridiron matchup between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-3, 3-2 ACC) and the Virginia Tech Hokies (6-2, 4-0 ACC) this Thursday could determine the eventual victor of the Atlantic Coast Conference
(ACC). The winner of the last three meetings has gone on to win the ACC championship game, and this week’s contest will once again prove pivotal for the top two teams in the ACC’s Coastal division.
In order for the Yellow Jackets to even fathom participating in this year’s conference championship game, they’ll have to get past a stout Virginia Tech team that might be playing its best football this season. The Hokies, who come into the game ranked No.
22 in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) standings, have bounced back from a horrible start that included consecutive losses to Boise State and the lowly James Madison Dukes.
Since then, however, Virginia Tech has been on a roll, playing extremely well on both sides of the ball. Their offense has been especially productive, as the Hokies have tallied five 40-point games during their current six-game winning streak.
Frank Beamer, the Hokies head coach, lauds the fact that his team has hit its stride and is now playing as well as many predicted them to in the pre-season. “I do think we’ve got things to work on, but when you play well and you have success, it builds confidence,”
the coach said. “You can’t talk your way into it. You’ve got to build it. The last couple of games, we’ve taken steps where we want to go.”
Much of the Hokies’ success can be attributed to their senior quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who leads the conference with a passer rating of 171.1, and has thrown 15 touchdowns with just three interceptions. Although Virginia Tech also has a stable of capable
running backs, Taylor leads the team with 527 rushing yards, and needs just 95 more yards to become the school’s all-time leader for total offence.
Over the course of the last six games, Taylor has been able to right the ship, essentially turning the Hokies' seemingly lost season around, and many have taken notice. “It all starts with Tyrod Taylor,” Duke coach David Cutcliffe said. “You give him opportunities
and he’s going to make the most of them. I don’t see a college quarterback playing any better in the country. Period. He might be the best dual-threat quarterback in the country.”
Meanwhile, the Virginia Tech defence has played well enough to keep the streak alive, surrendering most of their points late in the game when things are essentially out of reach. But the Yellow Jackets, who operate under coach Paul Johnson’s triple option,
look to run the ball early and often on the Hokies. Georgia Tech has been averaging 317.4 yards per game on the ground, tops in the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision).
It is, therefore, baffling that their ability to dominate their opponents with a stellar running game hasn’t translated into more victories. “Everything (opponents) are throwing at us this season we’ve seen in practice,” said Georgia Tech running back Anthony
Allen. “We’ve practiced it. We went over it in meetings. It’s just a matter of us recognizing and executing when we get out there.”
Although the match-up could go either way, one thing is clear. The victor will cement itself as the frontrunner for the ACC’s Coastal crown.
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