In a win over Boston College on Saturday, Virginia Tech not only had to compete against the Eagles — the Hokies had to fight against Mother Nature.
A nor’easter storm hitting the northeastern United States this weekend put Saturday’s game in Chestnut Hill, Mass. in the middle of the windy, rainy environment. Heavy rains and wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour gave the game a bit of a challenge, but the Hokies were able to pull to a 21-14 win after a fourth-quarter surge.
Prior to the game, Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin said on ACC Network that the team was preparing for what he called the “Tsunami Bowl.”
“When we left Blacksburg, it was like one of the most beautiful fall weekends you’ve ever seen in your life,” Franklin said. “The reality is, both teams have to play under the same conditions, so we’re just excited for the opportunity to play the game we love.”
“When we left Blacksburg, it was like one of the most beautiful fall weekends you’ve ever seen in your life,” Franklin said. “The reality is, both teams have to play under the same conditions, so we’re just excited for the opportunity to play the game we love.”
Those harsh conditions made for a pretty boring football game at first: Virginia Tech scored the only points of the first half with a field goal as time expired. On a 45-yard attempt, Hokies kicker John Love managed to get the ball between the uprights despite whipping wind and rain that coated the camera lens.
Love added another field goal in the third quarter; by that point, the camera view was even blurrier with rain.
On the next play, though, Boston College made the game more exciting with a go-ahead touchdown, with quarterback Mason McKenzie keeping the ball on a run into the end zone. In the fourth quarter, another McKenzie rushing TD brought the Eagles’ lead to 14-6, but Ethan Grunkemeyer‘s 14-yard touchdown pass to Marlion Jackson, and the Hokies’ successful two-point conversion, brought the score even.
Virginia Tech then pulled ahead on their next drive, with Jeffrey Overton Jr. breaking loose for a 76-yard touchdown run. That ended up being enough to get the win.
The weather not only had an effect on the play-calling: The wind and rain left a very small number of people in the stands, with just a few fans braving the elements for the matchup.
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