Moore touchdown pass caps comeback victory
Virginia Tech turned a 17-point first-quarter deficit into a four-point lead with under two minutes remaining but saw Boise State rally in the end to scrape out a 33-30 victory Monday night at FedEx Field.
The Broncos — attempting to kick off a BCS-busting, national title-seeking season — trailed 30-26 but drove down the field in the final minutes. Kellen Moore (23 for 38, 215 yards, 3 TDs) hit Austin Pettis from 13 yards out with 1 minute, 9 seconds left. The 46-yard drive took just 28 seconds, and was aided by a rescinded illegal block call and a touchy late hit penalty.
The game-winning touchdown ruined a huge night for Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor (15 for 22, 186 yards passing, 2 TDs, 73 yard rushing), who rallied the Hokies (0-1) after a shaky start.
The Broncos (1-0) set the tone with playmaking befitting of their highest-ever preseason ranking, turning a Taylor fumble and a blocked punt into 10 points before six minutes had elapsed. Tommy Gallarda made a spectacular one-handed diving catch in the corner from two yards out to help give the Broncos a 17-0 lead.
But with most of a sold out crowd of 86,587 behind them, the Hokies got up off the mat in the second quarter and started chipping away. Jarrett Boykin’s 34-yard grab set up the first of Ryan Williams’ three touchdowns.
A scrambling Taylor hit a wide-open Williams from 12 yards to cut the deficit to 20-14, and Davon Morgan’s punt block sent a message on a final play of the first half that the Hokies had the momentum.
On cue, the ball slipped from Moore’s hands early in the third quarter when guard Nate Potter got in the way of his quarterback’s throwing motion. Williams then finished off an easy 27-yard drive by bouncing to the outside for his third touchdown to give Virginia Tech its first lead, 21-20.
It was a short-lived advantage when D.J. Harper smoked the Hokies defense on a 71-yard touchdown run on the ensuing Broncos possession. But Tech again responded, first with a crucial block on Boise State’s extra point. Taylor then opened the next drive by scramble for 29 yards. Aided by a roughing the kicker penalty, Taylor closed it by hitting Boykin (6 receptions, 102 yards) on fourth down for a 28-yard score that put the Hokies back on top, 27-26, after a missed two-point conversion.
