JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Virginia Tech ‘s two-quarterback system worked to perfection on one drive, just enough to get the Hokies to the Orange Bowl.
Sean Glennon threw three touchdown passes, Tech’s defense finally stopped Matt Ryan and the sixth-ranked Hokies beat No. 12 Boston College 30-16 in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday.
Ryan overshadowed Glennon and Tyrod Taylor most of the game, but the Tech duo put together a game-winning drive that showed exactly why the coaching staff decided to play both of them.
Taylor gained 31 yards on a quarterback draw, then Glennon capped an 84-yard drive with a 24-yard strike to Eddie Royal with 7:12 remaining.
The Hokies’ defense did the rest.
Vince Hall intercepted Ryan’s fourth-down, desperation pass near the goal line with 2:16 to play. The Eagles (10-3) forced a punt, but Ryan threw another pick. Xavier Adibi returned it 40 yards for a score with 11 seconds to play.
Oranges flew on the field as the Hokies (11-2) celebrated their fifth consecutive victory and their first win in two trips to the ACC title game.
Glennon was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after finishing 18-of-27 for 174 yards with the three touchdowns and an interception.
Taylor struggled most of the day. He was 3-of-6 passing for 28 yards and ran nine times for 36 yards. But his run was one of the key plays in the game.
Ryan was 33-of-52 for 305 yards.
The Eagles, who used Ryan’s two late TD passes to beat Tech 14-10 earlier this season, will probably play in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando.
The second half was entirely different from the first. BC racked up 277 yards and 20 first downs in the first 30 minutes, but managed 112 yards and four first downs the rest of the way.
Tech was steady throughout, coming up with two big blocked kicks in the first half and the huge drive and two turnovers in the second.
The wild first half saw each team score more points (16) than Boston College did in the previous meeting. The half also included a defensive touchdown, the two blocked kicks and a two-point conversion by the defense.
Glennon directed an 80-yard touchdown drive in 1:30 to tie the game at 16 with 43 seconds remaining in the opening half.
Aside from the scoreboard, though, the first half was dominated by Ryan and the Eagles. They had 14 plays that gained at least 10 yards and nearly a 13-minute advantage in time of possession.
Ryan was 21-of-31 for 197 yards, negating blitzes by finding open receivers, rolling out of the pocket and even scrambling for first downs. He put the Eagles in field-goal range on their first three drives, but they came away with just three points.
Duane Brown blocked Steve Aponavicius’ 36-yard attempt on the opening drive. Ryan threw incomplete on fourth-and-6 at the Tech 28. Aponavicius’ 37-yarder made it 10-0 in the second quarter.
The first BC touchdown came on a fumble. Mark Herzlich knocked the ball loose, and just as Taylor started to regain control, Jamie Silva grabbed it out of his hands and ran 51 yards for a score.
Tech, rotating Glennon and Taylor for the second consecutive game, took advantage of two penalties and a tipped pass to find the end zone.
BC was flagged for a combined 29 yards for a late hit and a pass interference – both questionable calls – and Tech’s longest play of the drive came when Glennon’s pass slipped through Josh Morgan’s fingers and into Greg Boone’s hands.
Glennon capped the drive with a perfect, 5-yard fade pass to Morgan.
Ryan had countless passes just as good. His best came on fourth-and-9 at the Tech 34 when he rolled left, threw off his back foot and found Rich Gunnell for a 14-yard reception in the middle of three defenders.
Ryan was just as dangerous with feet. He scrambled once for 19 yards, picked up a first down on a quarterback sneak and scored on a 14-yard run that put the Eagles ahead 16-7.
Aponavicius’ extra point was blocked – Brown, a 6-foot-5 offensive lineman, got another one – and Brandon Flowers returned it 75 yards for a 2-point conversion that made it 16-9.
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