made the plays when needed and VT did not. Vey much an indicator of an experienced team on their part. Ok State was just the better team last night. The cliche of football being a game of inches was also on full display.
1. First key play and inches. SP looks like he is in for TD, but ruled down at 1 not enough replay evidence to overturn. Next play we fumble. Poor execution, inches away from scoring to go up 14-3.
2. Pokes recover fumble and drive the field turning our fumble into points. Believe this drive had a 65 yd pass completion? They made plays and capitalized, 10-7.
3. Second key play. VT driving and ball thrown a bit off, but catchable (game of inches) instead bounces off WR hands and into cowboy DB for interception. I believe they turn this turnover into points also.
4. Third key play. Deep post pattern WR is open by a step or two, JJ has good protection, slings it 60 yards and overthrows Murphy by maybe 2 feet or so. Just enough not to make a play and JJ admitted he`s never overthrown Murphy before. Game of inches and we end up punting.
5. Fourth Key play. Probably the dagger. 4th and short, we have mojo back, drove the field in scoring position. JJ is calling checks and Gallo snaps the ball nobody is ready, loss of 8-10 yards. Pokes ball. Execution and game of inches. Yet we are still in the game, still have hope!
6. Fifth and final key play. Cowboys 3d and 11, if D makes a stop we get ball back and still have time. LPD thinking pass all the way, line up in 30 defense and pokes run draw and RB runs outside for a big gain 31
yards. Game over.

Those are the 5 plays that stood out to me. Execution misfires and turnovers for VT and zero for Ok State. Rudolph was 65% passing for 351 yards against Bud and DBU! Our Frosh QB and WRs were 50% passing for 248ish yards. Both teams ran the ball well although we ran much better I thought, we just lacked explosive plays and scoring plays which OSU had.
Sucks to lose, but losing close to a team that was in playoff conversation and QB with early Heisman contention with our youngsters who never quit, kept fighting until the end, and was a close entertaining bowl game I dont feel nearly as bad after some of the losses we've endured in previous bowl games. 9-4 is a great season with better things to come! Time to get back to work as the schedule gets tougher next season. Game on in Tallahassee vs the noles in 247 days! GO HOKIES!!
[Post edited by 91HokieBob at 12/29/2017 12:46PM]