It was a heartbreaking night for the Hokies in Miami. Virginia Tech played its best game of the season and appeared to have enough to defeat the No. 7 team in the nation, but a controversial late-game call cost Virginia Tech the victory and they lost the game. Now 2-3 and 0-1 in the ACC. Brent Pry would have had some things to like about this game, but the Hokies also made some mistakes, even without that last call.
Let’s break it all down.
This morning, the ACC gave the following reason for the call being rescinded:
Our own RJ Schaefer had this to say about the decision to overturn the call at the end of the game.
“Virginia Tech’s final drive started with less than two minutes left and the Hokies were down by four points and needed a touchdown. The drive was methodical, with a 7-yard touchdown run to Daquan Felton. It started with a 6-yard pass to Stephen Gosnell, then a 4-yard pass to Daquan Felton.
However, quite some time had passed by this point. The Hokies were left at their own 42-yard line with less than 40 seconds left.
All hope seemed to be gone, but Chiron Draughn helped get the team back on the field. Over the next 33 seconds, he gained 29 yards, leaving Virginia Tech with one hit in the end zone and a veritable hurray situation.
The Kyron Drones moved back and had a clean pocket, with Da’Quan Felton, Jaylin Lane, and Bhayshul Tuten all in the same area on the left side of the end zone.
The drone would send it out and hope one of them would catch it.
One of them appears to have done so.
At first it appeared as if Virginia Tech had lost the game as Miami stole the ball and stormed the field. The game was not over yet, and officials were still debating the decision, ruling the play on the field a touchdown.
Since the on-field call was a touchdown, a video review would have to show undeniable evidence that Felton did not catch the ball to overturn or reverse the call.
That never happened, is it possible he didn’t catch the ball? yes. Was there undisputed, undeniable video evidence? No, I don’t blame the referee for the match. Especially since the team will definitely have a chance to gain an advantage. But in a game like this, that was Virginia Tech’s chance.
There’s not enough evidence to say he didn’t catch the ball, which is why the rematch process took so long. Probably because there was a debate between how they felt about the verdict and whether there was actually evidence to overturn it.
Virginia Tech should have won this game. ”
