Beamerball was in full effect at Clemson on Saturday night as Virginia Tech busted out with big touchdowns from the defense and special teams in the first half and ran away with a 34-22 victory over the Tigers in an important ACC battle on Saturday night.</p> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">document.write(insertImage('/IMAGES/Player/photo/PARKERDJ25150.JPG', '', 0, 220, 150, 1, 'Parker got the Hokies on the board early.', 'Va. Tech photo', 1191722708000, '', 1014, 'Align=Left'));</script> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="158" align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="152"></td> <td width="6" rowspan="4"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right"><font face="verdana" size="1">Va. Tech photo</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><font size="1">Parker got the Hokies on the board early.</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> It didn't take Virginia Tech long to get on the board. On the third play from scrimmage, Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper threw a pass across the middle that was tipped and intercepted by D.J. Parker. Parker returned the kick 32-yards for a touchdown and the Hokies took an early 7-0 lead just a minute and ten seconds into the first quarter. The ball went back and forth a couple times on four and outs until Virginia Tech got the ball with 8:55 remaining in the opening quarter following a 33-yard punt return by Eddie Royal to give the Hokies possession at the Clemson 42. From there, Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor hooked up with Josh Hyman on a 22-yard play to get the Hokies down to the 15 which set up a Jud Dunlevy field goal from 32-yards out. That opened up the scoring explosion for the Hokies, three plays later after a Clemson three and a out, Jimmy Maners punt was returned 82-yards by Eddie Royal for a touchdown giving the Hokies a 17-0 lead with 4:48 remaining in the first.</p> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">document.write(insertImage('http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/1020/447042.jpg', '447042.jpg', 1, 220, 150, 1, 'Royal's 82-yard punt was just the first of two special teams touchdowns on Saturday.', '', 1191722756000, 'Royal, Eddie 200', 1020, 'Align=Right'));</script> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="158" align="right" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="4"></td> <td width="152"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right"><font face="verdana" size="1">Associated Press</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><font size="1">Royal's 82-yard punt was just the first of two special teams touchdowns on Saturday.</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> The ball went back and forth the remainder of the quarter. The only notable play was an acrobatic tip by Xavier Adibi that resulted in an interception by Hokie cornerback Victor Harris. Clemson finally got on the board when they put together a drive with 10:18 remaining in the half. The Tigers were aided on the drive by Aaron Kelly who pulled in two key receptions for a total of 30-yards that set up a Mark Buchholz 33-yard field goal cutting Tech's lead to 17-3. Just when Clemson got the on the board, Virginia Tech hit them again with a score on the kickoff. Victor Harris cut threw the special teams and returned the kickoff 100-yards for a touchdown giving the Hokies a 24-3 lead. Clemson was held to a three and out on the next possession, but did get a key Maners punt that was downed at the Virginia Tech two. Two plays later, Tyrod Taylor took a sack by the Tigers Phillip Merling which resulted in a safety. Clemson got the ball at midfield with 3:30 left and on the second play from scrimmage; Chris Ellis forced a fumble from Harper which he also recovered. With the ball at the Clemson 49, Virginia Tech moved the ball into Tiger territory and five plays later Taylor hooked up with Justin Harper on a 21-yard touchdown pass giving the Hokies a 31-5 lead. Clemson finished the half out on a positive note driving from their own 30 on nine consecutive Cullen Harper passes to get down to the Virginia Tech 13. The Hokie defense held them there and Buchholz made his second field goal of the night to cut the Tech lead to 31-8 at intermission.</p> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">document.write(insertImage('/IMAGES/Player/video/0906-VPIVICTORHARRIS_250.JPG', '', 1, 300, 250, 1, 'Harris added a touchdown and an interception in the contest.', '', 1191722825000, '', 1014, 'Align=Left'));</script> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="258" align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="252"></td> <td width="6" rowspan="4"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right"><font face="verdana" size="1">Associated Press</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><font size="1">Harris added a touchdown and an interception in the contest.</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Just in the first half, Eddie Royal had three punt returns for 121-yards and a touchdown. The second half started to shift towards the Tigers. For most of the third quarter both teams struggled to move the ball on offense. Then with 4:10 remaining, Clemson came to life. They started from the 13 and drove 87-yards down the field capped by a Tyler Grisham touchdown reception on a crucial fourth and three to cut the lead to 31-15. Virginia Tech had a quick four and out on the next possession and Cullen Harper and the Tigers got back to work moving the ball to the Tech 12-yard line once again helped by Kelly catching three receptions for 41-yards on the drive. On fourth and three, Harper hit a diving C.J. Spiller in the back of the endzone for a touchdown, but Spiller was ruled ineligible since he had stepped out of bounds before making the grab.</p> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">document.write(insertImage('http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/1020/544139.jpg', '544139.jpg', 1, 267, 200, 1, 'Taylor ran all over the Tigers in the second half going for 115-yards.', '', 1191722942000, 'Taylor run 200', 1020, 'Align=Right'));</script> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="208" align="right" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="4"></td> <td width="202"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right"><font face="verdana" size="1">Associated Press</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><font size="1">Taylor ran all over the Tigers in the second half going for 115-yards.</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Virginia Tech got the ball on the change of possession at the 12 and on a key third and four; Taylor sprinted down the sideline for a huge 52-yard pickup to get the ball to the Clemson 30. Tech was held to a minimal gain from there and on fourth down Dunlevy stayed perfect on the year nailing a field goal from 47-yards to push the Hokie lead up to 19, 34-15 with 7:10 remaining in the game. The Tigers wouldn't give up though, following the kickoff which was returned to the Clemson 36. Harper efficiently moved his team down the field again hitting Aaron Kelly for three receptions including an important third and 10 from the 18 for a touchdown. Kelly juggled and then hauled in the reception over a Hokie defender. Clemson followed that play by going for two in which Harper hit Grisham in the back of the endzone for the conversion to cut the deficit 34-23 with 4:37 remaining. Clemson attempted an onsides kick on the kickoff, but failed as linebacker Xavier Adibi recovered the ball at the Clemson 42. Two plays later, Taylor used his legs to keep the clock rolling by picking up 21-yards on a second and nine. From there, Virginia Tech running back Branden Ore bruised it in for a touchdown six plays later to give the Hokies a 41-23 lead and account for the final margin. Virginia Tech fulfilled the game plan limiting the Clemson running game to just nine net yards. James Davis carried the ball six times for nine yards, while C.J. Spiller had six attempts for three yards. The Hokies weren't much better at least for Branden Ore as he had 23 carries for 30-yards. Hokie quarterback Tyrod Taylor ran 15 times for 115-yards. In the passing game, Taylor was 7-of-14 for 65-yards and one touchdown. Clemson's Harper completed 37-of-66 passes for 368-yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Meanwhile, Justin Harper led all the Hokie receivers with three receptions for 33-yards and one touchdown. The Tigers had two receivers over 100-yards. Kelly caught 11 passes for 174-yards and a touchdown. Grisham had 10 receptions for 100-yards, one touchdown and one two-point conversion. Virginia Tech will head back on the road again next week to play Duke in Durham, N.C. at noon next Saturday.</p>
