Battle for Virginia

Shane Mettlen / Culpeper Star Exponent
Published: November 26, 2007

CHARLOTTESVILLE - When Virginia and Virginia Tech met at Scott Stadium Saturday afternoon there was much more than just the Commonwealth Cup on the line for both the Cavaliers and Hokies.

Al Groh's Virginia team had an opportunity to make the ACC Championship game and put a program that has been shaky at times in recent years on solid footing.

Frank Beamer's Tech squad was fighting for redemption after an embarrassing loss at LSU and a fantastic comeback by Boston College ruined the Hokies hopes of a BCS title.

Yet perhaps the biggest stakes on the table were the hearts and minds of an entire state, and with a 33-21 victory in U.Va.'s stadium, Tech made it clear the Hokies still own the commonwealth.

"It's just one of those rivalry games," Tech linebacker Vince Hall said. "When you come out of high school, the coaches are right there. One side wants you. You've got to choose your side.

Once you choose your side, you've got to go with it. U.Va. is a good school, but Tech right now is the dominant one."

The Hokies will send off an entire class of seniors that never lost to the rival Cavaliers and the final victory was possibly the most important for the program.

The Cavs came into Saturday's game with an opportunity to close the gap on the Hokies. A win and a possible ACC title would have forced Virginians - especially potential recruits - to rethink the nature of the rivalry.

"We didn't have quite what we needed in every respect today," Groh said after the loss. "In the games that we won, we got contributions from all areas — it's been a collaborative effort (from the) coaching staff, offense, defense, and special teams.

It was the same way today, but we just didn't get quite enough in any of those areas. Virginia Tech had a little bit more at certain times than we did, and that's really what made the difference."

Taking care of all those aspects has been a trademark of Beamer's Tech teams and the Hokies did that Saturday. A long punt return, a blocked punt, deep passes from quarterback Sean Glennon and tough running from Brandon Orr all led to the Virginia Tech victory.

Adding to the victory was the fact that the Hokies have had their success using players from the state. Virginia has also recruited the commonwealth hard, with quarterback Jameel Sewell and defensive end Chris Long among the home-grown talent. But the Cavs' in-state success has been nothing like the Hokies, who have 29 Virginians listed as first or second-string players.

It's hard to say how much a victory Saturday would have helped the Cavaliers. A shot at a BCS bowl game would have brought in money and with more success comes more support from boosters. Of course, recruiting benefits from wins over rivals. Once again it's Tech that reaps those benefits.

"College football is all about momentum," Tech senior Eddie Royal said. "They definitely had it, and we knew we needed to find a way to get it."

He was talking about the last few plays of the first half, but he just as easily could have been referring to the season itself.

Shane Mettlen can be reached at 825-0771, ext. 127 or