No. 17 Virginia Tech likely out of Top 25 after home loss to ECU
Josh Hawkins intercepted Michael Brewer twice in ECU's 28-21 win. (USATSI)Virginia Tech jumped into the Top 25 and the national conversation after its win at Ohio State last Saturday night. The Hokies dominant defensive performance against J.T. Barrett resulted in national defensive player of the week honors for three different Hokies, and Bud Foster was praised, rightly, for sketching up a unique scheme to expose the Buckeyes' weaknesses.
Recap East Carolina 28, Virginia Tech 21
But with the nation watching in Saturday's early slate, Virginia Tech got caught sleeping.
ECU quarterback Shane Carden led three touchdown drives, all clocking in under 2:45, with ease to give the Pirates a 21-0 first quarter lead. With Cam Worthy, Jimmy Williams Justin Hardy and Isaiah Jones and others spread wide, Carden tested the young-but-talented Virginia Tech secondary and let the wide receivers make plays in one-on-one situations.
Virginia Tech's defense played well on third down once it woke up, which allowed Michael Brewer to slowly bring the Hokies back into the game. It was an inconsistent performance from Brewer; there were three pretty touchdown throws but two interceptions and the new starter averaged just 5.3 yards per attempt (30-for-56 passing).
Brewer's most impressive sequences of the game came in the most desperate of times, and he deserves recognition for leading a game-tying touchdown drive with no timeouts in the final minutes. Unfortunately, leaving 80 seconds on the clock is too much time when Shane Carden is on the opposite side line. Two deep passes from Carden to Cam Worthy and two Virginia Tech substitution penalties later, the Pirates quarterback trotted into the end zone to seal the upset.
So what do we make of the Hokies moving forward? The loss will likely knock Virginia Tech from the Top 25 and hurt its reputation nationally, but it does not impact the pursuit of an ACC Coastal Division title. That quest starts next week against Georgia Tech, an opponent on the opposite end of the spectrum from ECU in terms of style. Virginia Tech cannot afford another early deficit, particularly with the way the Yellow Jackets control the clock with its ground game. Saturday's slow start hurt Virginia Tech's reputation, but not much more. If it happens again it could cost them a shot at an ACC title.
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