NCAA Game Summary - Virginia Tech at Boston College
(Saturday, November 17)
Final Score: Virginia Tech 30, Boston College 23 (OT)
Chestnut Hill, MA (Sports Network) - Logan Thomas kept the Hokies' postseason
hopes alive by completing a game-winning seven-yard touchdown pass to Randall
Dunn in the extra session to lift Virginia Tech to a 30-23 overtime victory
over the Boston College Eagles in an thrilling Atlantic Coast Conference bout
at Alumni Stadium.
Thomas paced Virginia Tech (5-6, 4-3 ACC) by throwing for 247 yards and two
touchdowns on 16-of-33 passing efficiency. He also added a rushing touchdown
despite being held to 0.5 yards per carry on 13 attempts. Tony Gregory gained a
team-best 69 yards on 14 carries while Marcus Davis torched the opposing
secondary for 105 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. Bruce Taylor and
Alonzo Tweedy made an impact on the defensive side of the ball as they recorded
a pair of sacks each. The win snapped a three-game losing slide and gives
Virginia Tech a chance to earn bowl eligibility next week when it hosts
Virginia.
Chase Rettig had a tough day while under center for Boston College (2-9, 1-6),
as he was sacked seven times, intercepted once, and held to 129 passing yards
with a 43.3 percent completion rate. Rolandan Finch tallied a game-high 138
yards on 26 carries while David Dudeck scored the team's lone rushing
touchdown. Nick Clancy, who entered the week leading the ACC in tackles,
recorded 20 total stops and 2.5 tackles for loss in the defeat.
The Eagles struck first as Nate Freese connected on a 36-yard field at the 8:17
mark of the opening period. Later in the first quarter, Virginia Tech drove
down the field and into Boston College's red zone. The Hokies were unable to
take full advantage, but managed to even the score at three with a 26-yard
field goal by Cody Journell.
Boston College took back control in the second frame. Rettig guided the BC
offense 84 yards down the field before completing a two-yard touchdown pass to
Alex Amidon just 90 seconds after the start of the quarter. Neither side
managed to produce points until Freese connected on a 35-yard field goal in the
closing seconds of the first half. Freese's second field goal of the contest
sent the home team into the intermission with a 13-3 advantage.
Thomas sparked the Hokies' rally in the third quarter by plunging one-yard
across the goal line for Virginia Tech's first touchdown of the contest. Thomas
then put the Hokies in front, 17-13, by completing a 37-yard touchdown pass to
Davis with just over a minute left in the third stanza.
The Eagles ended Virginia Tech's run with 11:35 left to play, but they still
trailed by a point after Freese's 42-yard field goal narrowed the deficit.
Virginia Tech countered with a 42-yard field goal by Journell at the 6:14 mark
of the final frame, but Boston College climbed back on top on its ensuing drive
when Dudeck dashed 12 yards across the goal line. Dudeck's scamper into
the end zone punctuated a six-play, 64-yard drive and gave BC a 23-20
advantage with 4:11 remaining in the contest.
With their season on the line, the Hokies refused to quit and came back with a
62-yard drive to put Journell in position to tie the game with just over a
minute on the clock. Journell came up clutch by sending his kick from 41 yards
out through the uprights to force the game into overtime.
On the first possession of the overtime period, Virginia Tech had no trouble
moving the ball down the field to set up the game-winning seven-yard touchdown
pass from Thomas to Dunn. Boston College was unable to answer as it was
stopped short on 4th-and-long on the final play from scrimmage.
Although the game was even at the end of regulation, Virginia Tech outgained
Boston College in total yards of offense by a 401-296 margin.
11/17 17:48:53 ET

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