Virginia Tech Football: 8 Best Moments of 2011

At No. 5 in the BCS rankings, the Virginia Hokies have exceeded expectations in Frank Beamer's 25th season as head coach.

The most consistent program in college football won 10 games for the eighth consecutive year en route to its fifth ACC Coastal crown.

Big things still lie ahead for the Hokies. A win against Clemson in the ACC Championship game will result in a lucrative invitation to the Discover Orange Bowl versus the Big East Champion.

For now, however, let's take a look in the rear-view mirror at the best moments of the 2011 season for Virginia Tech. 

1. Hokies Clinch ACC Coastal

Many fans and experts alike called the 93rd edition of the Commonwealth Cup the biggest matchup between Virginia and Virginia Tech in series history.

Tech certainly treated it as such, putting together its most complete performance of the 2011 season. The Hokies won 38-0, clinching their fifth berth to the ACC Championship game and eighth consecutive win over the Cavaliers.

Symbolically, the victory confirmed the Hokies as the dominant power in the ACC Coastal and assured a rematch against Clemson on the first Saturday in December.

2. Logan Thomas Converts on Fourth Down

With 56 seconds left in the game and the ACC hopes of the Hokies on the line, quarterback Logan Thomas got the call on 4th-and-1.

And he came through in a big way.

He romped through the Miami defense to the tune of 19 yards and a go-ahead score to put Tech in front 38-35.

The score also led to this eruption by the Lane Stadium crowd during the ensuing Miami possession.

The run gave Thomas his fifth touchdown on the day with three coming through the air and two on the ground.

Thomas also finished the day 23-of-25 passing, the most efficient passing performance in Virginia Tech history. 

With the win came new life for Virginia Tech. The victory has propelled the Hokies to a possible ACC Championship run and Thomas to a fantastic first season under center.

 

3. Virginia Tech Defeats Coastal Nemesis

The winner of the Georgia Tech-Virginia Tech game has gone on to represent the Coastal Division every year since the inception of the ACC Championship game.

The two teams often play like it too, with every contest being decided in the waning moments of the game.

On a Thursday night in November, the Hokies defeated the Yellow Jackets 37-26 to take charge of the ACC Coastal and eliminate Georgia Tech from contention.

Defensive coordinator Bud Foster's defense was able to contain the vaunted triple-option offense enough to earn Tech's ninth victory of 2011.

For only the fourth time in history, Paul Johnson's Yellow Jackets were out-rushed as the Hokies accrued 267 yards on the ground. 

4. Frank Beamer Earns Win No. 250

With the resignation of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno, Frank Beamer became the winningest active coach in FBS football.

On a chilly Thursday night in Lane Stadium, Beamer earned win No. 250 against the North Carolina Tar Heels.

The Hokies did it in typical "Beamerball" fashion, winning a hard-fought contest 24-21 versus the upset-minded Tar Heels.

The victory also gave Virginia Tech 10 wins for the eighth straight year. That stands as the longest such streak on the nation.

Beamer, now with 251 wins, netted his victories while tenured at Murray State and Virginia Tech.  

5. David Wilson on Pace for Record Season

The list of outstanding running backs in Virginia Tech history is quite long under Frank Beamer.

The likes of Kevin Jones, Lee Suggs, Mike Imoh, Ryan Williams, Darren Evans, Brandon Ore and many more occupy the history books in Blacksburg as great runners.

David Wilson is in the midst of breaking the all-time record for rushing yards in a single season set by the aforementioned Williams in 2009.

Wilson currently has 1,595 yards rushing, including running for at least 100 yards in 10 of 12 games during the 2011 campaign.

The record set by Williams is 1,655 yards. Wilson needs just 61 yards to break the record, and he has a conference championship plus a bowl game to do so.

The moment hasn't happened yet, and we all know what assuming can do.

However, barring unforeseen circumstances, Wilson will put his name in the record books as the all-time single season leading rusher in Virginia Tech history. 

6. Jarrett Boykin Breaks Receiving Record

Next season Virginia Tech will realize just how much wide receiver Jarrett Boykin will be missed. 

The athletic pass catcher has quietly put his name all over the Hokie record books in several receiving categories.

Against the Miami Hurricanes, Boykin became the all-time leader in receiving yards by leapfrogging previous record holder Ricky Scales.

Boykin has since added to the record, accruing 2,796 yards over his Hokie career. Fellow senior wide receiver Danny Coale has moved into second on the list with 2,530 yards.

No one will miss these two reliable targets more than quarterback Logan Thomas next season.

It will be up to D.J. Coles and Marcus Davis to fill the giant shoes left empty by the departure of the two top receivers in Virginia Tech history. 

7. David Wilson Run

There wasn't much to cheer for from a Tech fan's perspective when the Hokies lost by 20 points to the Clemson Tigers.

Except for this breathtaking run by star running back David Wilson.

With Virginia Tech trailing by two touchdowns in the third quarter, Wilson did his best to spark the Hokies with a 20-yard scamper. The run actually covered about 60 yards if you count all the ground Wilson covered in the run itself.

The highlight run got the attention of the Lane Stadium faithful and gave Tech fans a run to remember for years to come. 

8. Upset Saturday Leaves Hokies in National Championship Conversation

Going into Saturday, Nov. 19, Virginia Tech was No. 8 in the BCS standings and seemingly out of the BCS National Championship picture.

After the day was over, the Hokies had ascended into the Top 5 with a puncher's shot at making the title game.

Four contenders in front of Tech fell by the wayside on the day including Oklahoma State, Oregon, Clemson and Oklahoma.

While Virginia Tech's wishes of a ticket to the BCS National Championship Game are now dashed, Hokie fans relished the opportunity to discuss the Hokies' chances at a bid for a few days.

Virginia Tech remains at No. 5 in the BCS rankings and the high stature is already igniting talks of a championship run in 2012 for the Hokies.