Tech Trimmed by Three

Third-ranked Boise State worked hard on Labor Day to pull out a three point win over tenth-ranked Virginia Tech. The BCS-busting Broncos bested the Hokies 33-30 on Austin Pettis’ thrilling 13-yard touchdown grab with 1:09 remaining. Boise State rallied from a 16 point deficit to extend their winning streak to 15 games. Quarterback Kellen Moore guided the Broncos with three touchdown passes and 215 yards. It took a 56 yard, five play drive to top Tech in Landover on this Labor Day.
The Broncos staged a 17-point lead against what could be the only ranked opponent Boise State faces this season. Kyle Brotzman’s 44 yard field goal gave the visitors a 3-0 edge in the first quarter. Moore found Pettis from eight yards out to pad the Broncos’ lead to 7-0 midway through the first, and Tommy Gallarda snatched a screen pass to punch in another Boise touchdown at the one minute mark.
Ryan Williams finally got the Hokies on the board in the second quarter. Williams, the second year running back, scored on a one yard run. It was one of two touchdowns on the day for the Hokies’ rusher. Brotzman’s second field goal made it 20-7 in favor of the Broncos before Tech’s Tyrod Taylor hooked up with Williams for a 12 yard touchdown strike. Virginia Tech took the lead early in the second half after trailing by six headed into the locker room. Williams again rushed for a one yard touchdown on a seven play Hokies’ drive. Boise’s D.J. Harper, reeled off a 71 yard run across FedEx Field less than a minute later. Tech, coming off a 10-3 season, rallied for the second time and took a 27-26 advantage at the end of three quarters. Junior Jarrett Boykin was on the receiving end of Taylor’s 28 yard completion for the touchdown. The Hokies failed on a two-point conversion attempt.
Chris Hazley nailed a 34 yarder through the uprights midway through the fourth to give the Hokies their largest lead of the game. Moore, Pettis and the Broncos weren’t finished scoring. Pettis caught a 14-yard pass on the left sideline and a Bruce Taylor sideline hit tacked on additional yardage for the Broncos. Two plays later, Moore found Pettis for the winning score. Taylor unsuccessfully attempted to drive the Hokies downfield with less than a minute on the clock. The Tech signal caller finished with 186 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the loss. Boykin led all receivers with 102 yards.

Parting Points: I am excited to see how former Oregon quarterback, Dennis Dixon, does in his Steelers’ debut.

The White Sox are on a tear—seven in a row now.

It’s into the quarterfinals for Caroline Wozniacki. She knocked down Maria Sharapova at the U.S. Open…and it wasn’t even that close.