• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Virginia Tech wins second straight ACC crown

Dec 7, 2008 - 12:10 AM TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Tyrod Taylor's season has come full circle.

The sophomore quarterback rushed for two first-half touchdowns Saturday as Virginia Tech routed No. 20 Boston College, 30-12, in a rematch of last season's Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

Taylor began the year as redshirt, but coach Frank Beamer ditched that plan after the Hokies were upset by East Carolina, 27-22, in their season opener.

On Saturday, Taylor was named the ACC title game's Most Valuable Player, as his touchdown runs of 5 and 4 yards staked Virginia Tech to a 14-0 lead with 11 minutes remaining in the first half.

"It's a great feeling," Taylor said. "We never gave in. We always fought, trusting each other. To represent the ACC is a great opportunity for us to go there and play well on the big stage."

For the second straight year, the Hokies (9-4) avenged a regular-season loss to beat Boston College in the ACC title game. They became the first team to win two ACC championship games.

"This is where we want to be," Virginia Tech defensive end Orion Martin added. "We are ready for the challenge."

After an up and down year that included three losses in conference play, Virginia Tech secured the ACC's automatic BCS berth and is headed back to the Orange Bowl.

"I'm really proud of our players and coaches," Beamer said. "This particular year especially because we've overcome so much. I'm really proud of that. We're going to enjoy this for sure."

Taylor also completed 11-of-19 passes for 84 yards, outplaying Boston College redshirt freshman Dominique Davis, whose baptism under fire did not go well.

Davis led the Eagles to a 28-21 victory over Maryland after taking over for Chris Crane, who is out for the season with a broken collarbone suffered in a 24-21 victory at Wake Forest on November 22.

However, Davis was unable to solve Virginia Tech's physical defense, completing just 17-of-43 attempts. He passed for 263 yards, but also threw two interceptions and had a fumble returned for a touchdown.

"Their game plan was, 'We are not going to let you run it, and you have to beat us throwing the ball,'" said Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski, whose team once again was denied the first outright conference title in school history.

"When you start throwing the ball a lot, you are going to get some turnovers because you have to throw the ball down field."

In addition to forcing four turnovers, the Hokies sacked Davis four times.

"It was such a team effort," Beamer said. "Offensively, we did a heckuva job out there. Defensively, we did a heckuva job. Our special teams were solid, and we beat a really good Boston College team."

Davis tossed a 16-yard TD pass to Rich Gunnell with 1:28 left in the second quarter, pulling the Eagles within 14-7 at the intermission.

After Virginia Tech forced three-and-outs on the Eagles' first two second-half possessions, the Hokies extended their lead to 17-7 on Dustin Keys' career-long 50-yard field goal.

A 34-yard interception return by cornerback Stephan Virgil set up Darren Evans' 10-yard TD run that made it 24-7 with 1:17 remaining in the third quarter.

"This is really special," Beamer said. "It's the youngest team we've had in some time, with the toughest schedule and some key injuries. We had some people give up on us, but this team hung together when it was tough. The leadership kept us together."

Evans, who rushed for 114 yards on 31 carries, gave Boston College a chance by fumbling on the Eagles' 30-yard line in the first minute of the fourth quarter.

However, Boston College had to settle for Steve Aponavicius' 24-yard field goal before another critical mistake by Davis allowed the Hokies to put away the contest.

Following an exchange of punts, Martin sacked Davis, who lost control of the ball. Martin scooped up the fumble, returning it 17 yards for a touchdown that made it 30-10 with 9:05 remaining.

Beamer conceded a safety on a punt in the Hokies' end zone with three minutes remaining.