Although you couldn't tell it from the score, this one wasn't the defense's fault. Virginia Tech only had one sustained scoring drive, a third quarter, 55 yard affair on the back of Brandon Ore. The defense forced 6 punts and recovered two fumbles, and allowed only 224 yards of offense.
They also started two series on their own one yard line. It's rather hard to avoid giving up touchdowns in that situation.
Other good news to come out of the game:
- Connor Barth had his second 45+ yard field goal in his only attempt of the day.
- At least they didn't lose to Akron.
- Or lose to Wake Forest.
- Or almost lose to Duke.
The end result is a second straight year of UNC hanging with the Hokies for the first half, and putting forth an embarassing performance in the second. But now there's a quarterback controversy, if you can call the duelling mediocre performances that. I still prefer what Dailey's displayed so far, but that's more a matter of taste - I prefer steady, composed interceptions to the panicked, wild ones of Sexton - and dissappointment in Sexton's timid slides when running with the ball.
If I was a Virginia Tech fan, I would be less than pleased with the team the took the field for them today. But they got a sufficiently large-margined win out of the day, and we'll just have to wait until their next real game on the 30th to see what they can do. For now, it's time to polish off a bottle of wine, watch some better football, and try not to think of Furman.