The Sports Xchange
Nov 21, 2015
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- The script called for a Virginia Tech win in coach Frank Beamer's final home game. No. 17 North Carolina had different ideas.
Wide receiver Quinshad Davis caught a five-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Marquise Williams on overtime's last play Saturday and the Tar Heels clinched the Atlantic Coast Conference's Coastal Division title with a 30-27 victory at sold-out Lane Stadium.
The Hokies scored twice in the last 2:54 of regulation to force overtime, each coming after lost fumbles by Williams.
0irginia Tech quarterback Michael Brewer hit tight end Bucky Hodges with an eight-yard touchdown pass to cut the margin down to 24-17, then found wide receiver Isaiah Ford for a four-yard score with 1:07 remaining.
Kicker Joey Slye hit a 41-yard field goal on the Hokies' overtime possession for a brief 27-24 lead, but Davis hauled in the winning pass that pushed North Carolina (10-1, 7-0) into the ACC title game opposite No. 1 Clemson on Dec. 5.
The Hokies (5-6, 3-4) will have to win at Virginia, which they have beaten 11 straight years, next week to extend Beamer's tenure into a 23rd straight bowl game.
Beamer, who has won 278 games in 35 years as a head coach, the last 29 with Virginia Tech, announced his retirement on Nov. 1.
Tar Heels running back Elijah Hood rushed for 115 yards on 17 carries, scoring on runs of 13 and seven yards in the fourth quarter to snap a 10-10 tie.
Williams completed 13-of-26 passes for 205 yards and also rushed for 74 yards on 18 carries, initiating scoring with an 18-yard run less than four minutes into the game.
Brewer hit on 20-of-35 passes for 273 yards, throwing two interceptions. He also added a three-yard touchdown run with 3:44 left in the third quarter.
Ford rolled up 155 yards on eight receptions.
Hokie players gave Beamer a ride on their shoulders to the locker room despite the result.
NOTES: When Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer's 29-year run ends following the season, the FBS coaches with the longest tenure will be Iowa's Kirk Ferentz and Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, who each have been at their schools for 17 years. กญ North Carolina's second quarter fumble was its first turnover since an Oct. 24 win over Virginia. ... During Beamer's tenure with the Hokies, 20 FBS schools have burned through six or more head coaches. Pittsburgh, Stanford and Vanderbilt each have had eight.