BERKELEY, Calif. For the second week in a row, Virginia Tech had a game in its hands late. Once again, the Hokies couldn’t close it out.
Cal running back Ashten Emory scored on a 2-yard run with 18 seconds left. As a result, the Golden Bears beat Virginia Tech 25-20 on Saturday night.
How the Virginia Tech Cal game slipped away
Virginia Tech had just taken a 20-19 lead. Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer scored on a 1-yard run with a little over a minute left. However, Cal answered with a six-play, 75-yard drive. Then the Hokies’ final pass into the end zone fell incomplete.
The loss drops Virginia Tech to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the ACC. It is also the second straight one-score loss for first-year head coach James Franklin. The first came at home against Pitt.
Because the Hokies started 4-0, the slide stings. In fact, some fans have voiced their frustration online.
Cal wins with its backups
Meanwhile, Cal (3-3, 2-1 ACC) won with a backup quarterback and a backup running back. Jackson Brousseau made his first start because Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele was out with a concussion. Even so, Brousseau threw for 321 yards and a touchdown.
Emory, in turn, filled in for injured starter Adam Mohammed. He ran 19 times for 46 yards. He also scored both of Cal’s rushing touchdowns.
Grunkemeyer produces, but misses hurt
For Virginia Tech, Grunkemeyer was productive. He completed 21 of 31 passes for 288 yards. In the first half, he threw a 30-yard touchdown to Ayden Greene. Later, Marcellous Hawkins Jr. added a 3-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter. So the Hokies led 14-10 at halftime.
However, missed chances hurt. Kicker John Love went 0 for 2 on field goals. He missed from 55 yards in the first quarter and from 39 yards in the fourth. In addition, Cal grabbed its first second-half lead with a 14-play, 79-yard drive. That drive took 7:07 off the clock.
On defense, linebacker Keon Wylie made a career-high nine tackles. Kemari Copeland also recorded Virginia Tech’s only sack.
Next, the Hokies return to Lane Stadium. They host Georgia Tech on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. Above all, they need a win to stop a two-game slide.
