facilities Duane Brown and Branden Ore Macho Harris Last year, the Hokies put together their third consecutive season with 10 or more victories and earned Tech’s 14th-straight bowl bid 2007 VIRGINIA TECH FOOTBALL 71 3 2006 in review 2006 Season in Review College Football’s Top Defense and a Strong Finish Land Hokies in Atlanta Following an Atlantic Coast going to come easily. After losing season schedule gave the Hokies Conference championship in 2004 more than half of its starters from some opportunities to work out and a Coastal Division title in an 11-2 Gator Bowl season in their kinks. 2005, the Virginia Tech Hokies 2005 — including a Tech-record The 2006 season kicked off had their work cut out for them to nine players chosen in the NFL with a 38-0 blanking of I-AA maintain the level of success they draft — there would be a lot of Northeastern on Sept. 2 at Lane had achieved during their first new faces on the field, and on Stadium before a new home two years in the league. Despite the sideline, as the team was also attendance record of 66,233. having some big holes to fill in breaking in four new assistant Glennon wasted no time cementing 2006, Tech was chosen to finish coaches. his role as the starter as he led second in the Coastal Division, Was Sean Glennon the the offense to touchdowns on its and was penciled into the No. Redshirt sophomore QB Sean right man for the quarterback first three possessions. He finished 17 slot in the preseason national Glennon improved throughout the position? Could Branden Ore fill the game 15-of-18 passing for rankings. season and led the Hokies to 10 wins the shoes of the departed Cedric 222 yards and three touchdowns. The Hokies eventually wound and a Chick-fil-A Bowl berth. Humes and Mike Imoh behind Although the running game never up with a 10-3 record and an an inexperienced offensive line? got going, the Hokie defense and invitation to the Chick-fil-A Bowl in a year when perennial powers Would the defense be able to special teams held strong behind after finishing nearly exactly Miami and Florida State struggled follow up its No. 1 billing from two interceptions and two blocked the way they were predicted to .500 marks, and teams like 2005? kicks. — second in the Coastal and 19th Wake Forest shocked the league Although the answer to those Tech’s first road game came in the nation. The maroon and with a conference title. questions would ultimately be the following week in Chapel orange was solid once again, even But Tech’s success wasn’t a resounding ‘yes,’ Tech’s early- Hill against North Carolina. Josh Morgan tallied the Hokies’ third 2006 Start Chart blocked kick in two games, while Offense FL LT LG C RG RT TE QB FB TB SE Ore rushed for 111 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. NU Royal Frye Shuman McGrath Render Brown Boone Glennon Allen Ore Morgan The score ended up 35-10 in the UNC Clowney Marshman Shuman McGrath Render Brown Boone Glennon Wang (TE) Ore Morgan Hokies’ favor after the defense DUKE Clowney Frye Shuman McGrath Render Brown Wheeler Glennon Wang (TE) Ore Morgan picked off four passes, including UC Royal Frye Shuman McGrath Render Brown Boone Glennon Allen Ore Morgan one by Brenden Hill that was returned 69 yards for a touchdown. GT Clowney Frye Shuman McGrath Render Brown Boone Glennon Allen Ore Harper The Hokies returned to BC Royal Frye Shuman McGrath Render Brown Boone Glennon Allen Ore Harper Blacksburg on Sept. 16 to begin USM Royal Frye Shuman McGrath Render Brown Boone Glennon Wheeler (TE) Ore Morgan a three-game homestand, which CU Royal Frye Shuman McGrath Render Brown Boone Glennon Wheeler (TE) Ore Morgan started with their second shutout win in three contests — a 36-0 UM Royal Frye Gore McGrath Render Brown Boone Glennon Wheeler (TE) Ore Morgan defeat of Duke. David Clowney KSU Royal Marshman Gore McGrath Render Brown Boone Glennon Allen Ore Morgan established a career-high with 120 WF Royal Frye Gore McGrath Render Brown Wheeler Glennon Clowney (FL) Ore Morgan receiving yards, while freshmen VA Clowney Frye Gore McGrath Render Brown Wheeler Glennon Allen K. Lewis Morgan Sam Wheeler and Kenny Lewis, Jr., each recorded their first collegiate UGA Royal Frye Gore McGrath Render Brown Wheeler Glennon Harper (SE) Ore Morgan scores. The defense and special Defense DE DT DT DE ILB ILB WHIP CB ROVER FS CB teams were solid once again, as NU Ellis Booker Powell Burchette Hall Adibi Hill Flowers Rouse Parker Harris the Hokies racked up eight sacks, UNC Ellis Booker Powell Burchette Hall Adibi Hill Flowers Rouse Parker Harris while Eddie Royal returned a punt DUKE Ellis Booker Powell Burchette Hall Adibi Hill Flowers Rouse Parker Harris 58 yards for a touchdown. Tech improved to 4-0 the UC Ellis Booker Powell Burchette Hall Adibi Hill Flowers Rouse Parker Harris next week with a 29-13 win GT O. Martin Booker Powell Burchette Hall Adibi Hill Flowers Rouse Parker Harris over Cincinnati, but for the first BC Ellis Booker Powell Burchette Hall Adibi Hill Flowers Rouse Parker Harris time on the young season, it did USM Ellis Booker Powell Burchette Hall Adibi Hill Flowers Wade Parker Harris not come without a fight. The Bearcats led 10-5 at the half CU Ellis Booker Powell Burchette Hall Adibi Hill Flowers Rouse Parker Harris and 13-10 at the start of the UM Ellis Booker Powell Burchette Hall Adibi Hill Flowers Wade Parker Harris fourth quarter, but the Hokies KSU Ellis Booker Powell Burchette Hall Adibi Hill Flowers Rouse Parker Harris put up 17 unanswered points in WF Ellis Booker Powell Burchette Hall Adibi Hill Flowers Rouse Parker Harris the final quarter to pull away. Ore carried the offense with 152 VA Ellis Booker Powell Burchette Hall Adibi Hill Flowers Rouse Parker Harris second-half rushing yards, while UGA Ellis Booker Powell Burchette Hall Adibi Hill Flowers Rouse Parker Harris cornerback Victor “Macho” Harris 138 2007 VIRGINIA TECH FOOTBALL 2006 in review Tech in the NCAA Rankings (Top 30 only) Individual Statistics Team Statistics Passes Defended ......PD Per Game Total Defense ........Yds. Per Game 3. Brandon Flowers ..........1.62 1. Virginia Tech ........... 219.46 Tackles ............ Tackles Per Game Passing Defense ....Yds. Per Game 9. Vince Hall ...................9.85 1. Virginia Tech ........... 128.23 Scoring ................. Pts. Per Game Scoring Defense ..................Avg. 11. Branden Ore ................8.50 1. Virginia Tech ............. 11.00 Field Goals ............ FGs Per Game Pass Efficiency Defense .... Rating t15. Brandon Pace ..............1.38 2. Virginia Tech ............. 91.37 Punt Retuns ........Yds. Per Return Rushing Defense ...Yds. Per Game 12. Eddie Royal ............... 13.22 11. Virginia Tech ............. 91.23 Rushing ................Yds. Per Game Interceptions ......................INTs 25. Branden Ore .............. 94.75 t-15. Virginia Tech ................. 17 The Tech defense handled eventual ACC champion Wake Forest in a 27-6 victory over the No. 14 Punting .................Yds. Per Punt 27. Nic Schmitt ............... 42.21 Demon Deacons and went on to lead the nation in total defense, scoring defense and pass defense. made two late picks, including a just two touchdowns while Hokies’ touchdowns, including the the archrival Cavaliers of Virginia. game-sealing 72-yard interception posting two more shutouts. game-winner with 1:34 remaining Usually an intensely played return for a touchdown. The Hokies got back on track to give Tech a 17-10 triumph. contest, this one was no different, Ranked at a season-high 11th in Blacksburg on Oct. 21 with a Xavier Adibi’s interception with even though the outcome was in the nation, the Hokies headed 36-6 drubbing of Southern Miss. 3:33 remaining set up the score, decided early in the second into a Sept. 30 battle with No. Glennon completed only four while Brandon Flowers’ second half. Although Tech scored just 24 Georgia Tech — the first real passes on the day, but that was pick of the game during Miami’s 17 points on scores by Bell and test of the season. The game was more than enough as Ore rushed last effort sealed the victory. Royal, and Pace’s 22nd-straight not as close as the 38-27 final for a career-high 207 yards to The Hokies returned home on field goal, the defense dominated score indicated, as the Yellow carry the load, including a 70-yard Nov. 11 for a non-conference tilt once again. Led by Hall and Jackets jumped out to a 21-0 scamper to the end zone early in with Kent State, and promptly Adibi’s 20 combined tackles, the lead after less than 11 minutes of the fourth to put the game out of shut out the Golden Flashes 23-0. Hokies posted their fourth shutout play behind a pair of touchdowns reach. The Tech defense recorded Pace nailed three field goals to and surrendered a season-low 112 from All-American receiver Calvin six sacks and its second safety of break Tech’s record for consecutive total yards to Viginia’s offense, Johnson. Tech spent the rest of the season. field goals made, while Ore tallied as the Cavaliers snapped the ball game clawing its way back behind The biggest game of the year his 15th touchdown of the season in Tech territory just once, which career-highs from Glennon (339 — and the season’s brightest for the offense. Vince Hall led the happened to be on a punt. The yards passing), Justin Harper (109 moment — came just five days defensive charge with a career- Hokies’ 17-0 triumph helped them yards receiving) and Royal (102 later against Clemson in another high 15 tackles, before defensive retain the Commonwealth Cup, yards receiving), but it was too Thursday night ESPN game.