Luck runs out on 5th try for Hokies’ backup kicker
After he ties game with :02 left, OT miss sets up defeat
NEW ORLEANS — As Virginia Tech’s Justin Myer trotted onto the field in overtime for his fifth field-goal attempt of Tuesday night’s Sugar Bowl, he went through the same paces and lined up the same way he had for his four successful kicks in the game.
But a fairy-tale ending wasn’t in Myer’s future.
Myer, Virginia Tech’s third-team kicker, playing only because two other kickers had been suspended, missed from 37 yards. Brendan Gibbons proceeded to make his own 37-yarder to give No. 13 Michigan a 23-20 overtime win.
With the game tied at 17 in the fourth quarter, No. 17 Virginia Tech (11-3) was able to advance only 9 yards in three plays, which presented the Hokies with a fourth-and-1 from Michigan’s 48-yard line. After a timeout with 7:30 left, punter Danny Coale took the snap and tried to run to his right. He was stopped at Virginia Tech’s 45, where he fumbled and Michigan recovered.
Michigan (11-2) turned around and drove to Virginia Tech’s 22 in seven plays before Gibbons nailed a 39-yard field goal to put Michigan up 20-17 with four minutes left.
Tech still had life, and Myer would provide the game-saving swing of the leg.
Starting from its own 9 with 3:53 left, Virginia Tech drove to Michigan’s 8 in 10 plays. Quarterback Logan Thomas was 6-for-7 passing for 81yards on the drive.
With five seconds left, and the Hokies looking at fourth-and-2 from the 8, Myer lined up for a 25-yard field-goal attempt.
Myer, a senior, made the kick with two seconds left to tie the game. It was Myer’s fourth successful kick of the game, adding to field goals of 37, 43 and 36 yards.
Leading 6-0 in the second quarter, Tech’s downward trend started late in the half, when Thomas was stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-1 sneak at Michigan’s 4. Michigan was stopped after five plays and brought out its punt team at its own 26.
James Hopper was flagged for roughing punter Matt Wile, giving Michigan a first down at its 41. Michigan advanced to Virginia Tech’s 45, where it faced a third-and-17.
On the third-down play, quarterback Denard Robinson rolled to his right while being pursued by cornerback Kyle Fuller. Robinson managed to fling up a prayer down the sideline to wide receiver Junior Hemingway, who was at Virginia Tech’s 20.
Free safety Eddie Whitley seemed to have a chance to make a play on the ball, but he whiffed on an interception attempt. Hemingway made the catch and ran into the end zone with no further resistance for a touchdown to put Michigan up 7-6 with 49 seconds left in the half.
Virginia Tech’s Tony Gregory fumbled away the ensuing kickoff, setting Michigan up at the Hokies’ 26. After three plays that netted just seven yards, Michigan looked as if it was ready to line up for a field goal, but the Wolverines chose to fake it.
Holder Drew Dileo couldn’t find running room on fourth-and-3 as he rolled to his right. With linebacker Jack Tyler barreling into his chest, Dileo lofted a pass to the middle of the field.
Fuller and Alonzo Tweedy converged on the fluttering pass, which was tipped, but it miraculously wound up in the arms of Michigan lineman Jareth Glanda at Virginia Tech’s 8 with eight seconds left in the half. Two plays later, Gibbons tacked on a 24-yard field goal as time expired to extend Michigan’s lead to 10-6.
The Hokies’ prospects for a comeback took another significant hit in the third quarter after Thomas had a pass intercepted at the line of scrimmage by defensive end Frank Clark, putting the ball back in Michigan’s hands at Virginia Tech’s 35 with 11:39 left in the quarter. Michigan made the Hokies pay for the turnover.
On the drive after the interception, Robinson connected with Hemingway for a leaping18-yard touchdown catch, coming down with a foot inbounds in the back of the end zone to give Michigan a 17-6 advantage with 9:43 left in the quarter.
Virginia Tech got into Michigan’s red zone for a third time on its next drive, but failed again to get a touchdown. Myer’s
Today’s bowl game
36-yard field goal kept the Hokies within striking distance 17-9 with 4:48 remaining in the quarter.
After Virginia Tech held Michigan to three-and-out on its next drive, the Hokies finally got in the end zone, but not without some drama. Facing fourth-and-11 from Michigan’s 35, Thomas scrambled for 13 yards and a first down with 13:25 left.
Later in the drive, Virginia Tech had third-and-goal from the 9 when Thomas tried to get the ball to receiver Marcus Davis at the goal line. Though Thomas’ pass looked uncatchable, cornerback Blake Countess was called for pass interference on Davis, putting the ball at the 2.
Two plays later, Thomas scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 10:22 left. His ensuing two-point conversion pass to a leaping Davis tied the game at 17.
The Hokies’ defense stiffened again to hold Michigan to a three-and-out. Of course, Virginia Tech picked up only 9 yards on three plays on its next drive before Coale’s failed fake punt.