Sometimes things don't come together... sometimes a team's weaknesses are exposed and its strengths are minimized...sometimes momentum gets snuffed out with turnovers and penalties and sometimes magical months end a few weeks early. Welcome to 2009-- where all expectations take a major downshift... from Virginia Tech dominating the ACC to Maryland and Virginia making postseason plays. Closing Month doesn't seem to have a lot of possibilities opening up.
MARYLAND in a 38-31 loss to North Carolina State saw it's quarterback go down with a knee injury... a defensive lineman go out for the season and a glimmer of postseason hope get snuffed out (although there is still a way they can qualify for the ACC title game-- if they win their last three and Clemson loses its next two while Boston College goes 1-2 and Wake and NC State both lose a league game)...Terrapin Triumphs-- big plays from Alex Wuijiack (70 yard INT return for a TD) and Torrey Smith (82 yard kickoff return for a score)... Terrapin Tragedies-- 482 total yards allowed...31 first downs...10 penalties for 91 yards. And did we mention their next three opponents are a combined 16-11?
VIRGINIA slipped to the precipice of bowl elimination with a 52-17 loss to Miami. A The Cavaliers were overwhelmed after halftime... getting roasted 28-0 after intermission. Cavalier Congrats-- scoring on a blocked punt is always huge, especially with an offense that was spinning all afternoon. Cavalier Catastrophes-- 2 for 12 on third down... while allowing the Hurricanes to convert on 8 of 14 tries... Mikkell Simpson's magic has disappeared (14 yards on 7 carries)... oh, and the defense allowed 515 yards. UVa's final three? a combined 18-9.
VIRGINIA TECH won its Thursday Night clash with East Carolina 16-3... but lost hope for a Coastal Division title when Georgia Tech topped Wake Forest 30-27 in overtime. This puts the Yellowjackets one win away from locking up the division outright; and GT wraps up ACC play against Duke (although these Blue Devils are potentially in title contention). Hokie Highlights-- Ryan Williams crossed the 1000-yard threshold by rushing for 179 yards... just one turnover while forcing three ECU giveaways... only five penalties. Hokie Humblings-- 4 for 14 on third down will cost a team against better competition... while Tyrod Taylor completed 17 of 30 passes, his completions were for just 137 yards (an average of just over eight yards-- when effective teams aim for 11 to 13 ypc). Final three opponents for the Hokies? Maryland (2-7), NC State (4-5) and UVa (3-6) for a grand total of 9-18! Christmas arrives early in Blacksburg.
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