1998 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
American college football season
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The 1998 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Tech as a member of the Big East Conference during the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 12th-year head coach Frank Beamer, the Hokies compiled an overall record of 9–3 with a mark of 5–2 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for second in the Big East. Virginia Tech was invited to the Music City Bowl, where the Hokies defeated Alabama. The team played home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.
| 1998 Virginia Tech Hokies football | |
|---|---|
| |
Music City Bowl champion | |
Music City Bowl, W 38–7 vs. Alabama | |
| Conference | Big East Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 19 |
| AP | No. 23 |
| Record | 9–3 (5–2 Big East) |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive coordinator | Rickey Bustle (5th season) |
| Offensive scheme | Multiple |
| Defensive coordinator | Bud Foster (4th season) |
| Base defense | 4–4 |
| Home stadium | Lane Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 25 Syracuse $ | 6 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 20 Miami (FL) | 5 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 23 Virginia Tech | 5 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Virginia | 5 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boston College | 3 | – | 4 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rutgers | 2 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Temple | 2 | – | 5 | 2 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pittsburgh | 0 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The season marked Virginia Tech's continued rise under Beamer, featuring a dominant defense that allowed only 17.3 points per game and an offense that averaged 29.8 points per game. The Hokies' signature victories included a 37–0 shutout of Clemson, a 27–20 overtime victory against Miami (FL) in the rivalry, and a 41–0 domination of UAB. The season culminated with a 38–7 victory over Alabama in the Music City Bowl, marking the program's first-ever bowl win over a Southeastern Conference opponent.[1]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 5 | 4:00 p.m. | East Carolina* | HTS | W 38–3 | 48,134 | [2] | ||
| September 12 | 1:00 p.m. | at Clemson* | No. 19 | W 37–0 | 72,000 | [3] | ||
| September 19 | 8:00 p.m. | at Miami (FL) | No. 21 | ESPN | W 27–20 OT | 41,155 | [4] | |
| September 26 | 12:00 p.m. | Pittsburgh | No. 21 |
| ESPN2 | W 27–7 | 50,057 | [5] |
| October 8 | 8:00 p.m. | at Boston College | No. 17 | ESPN | W 17–0 | 37,628 | [6] | |
| October 17 | 1:00 p.m. | Temple | No. 14 |
| L 24–28 | 47,610 | [7] | |
| October 24 | 7:00 p.m. | at UAB* | No. 23 | W 41–0 | 31,897 | [8] | ||
| October 31 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 21 West Virginia | No. 20 |
| ESPN Plus | W 27–13 | 52,807 | [9] |
| November 14 | 8:00 p.m. | at Syracuse | No. 16 | ESPN2 | L 26–28 | 49,336 | [10] | |
| November 21 | 1:00 p.m. | Rutgers | No. 23 |
| W 47–7 | 42,452 | [11] | |
| November 28 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 16 Virginia* | No. 20 |
| ESPN | L 32–36 | 53,207 | [12] |
| December 29 | 5:00 p.m. | vs. Alabama* | ESPN | W 38–7 | 41,600 | [13] | ||
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Rankings
| Week | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | — | — | — | 21 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 23 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 23 | 20 | 25 | — | 23 |
| Coaches Poll | — | — | 21 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 19 | 24 | 24 | 19 |
| BCS | Not released | — | — | 20 | — | — | — | — | Not released | |||||||
Season summary
Virginia Tech entered 1998 coming off a 7-5 season and a Gator Bowl loss, returning senior running back Lamont Pegues, senior center Dwight Vick, and a defense featuring free safety Keion Carpenter, cornerback Pierson Prioleau, and defensive ends John Engelberger and Corey Moore. The Hokies opened 3-0 with wins over East Carolina (38-3), Clemson (37-0), and Miami (27-20 OT), climbing to No. 14 in the AP Poll. The Clemson victory was particularly dominant, as the Hokies held the Tigers to just 102 total yards and recorded four interceptions.[1]
Virginia Tech continued its strong play with a 27-7 victory over Pittsburgh and a 17-0 shutout of Boston College in another rivalry game. The Hokies suffered their first loss of the season on October 17, falling 28-24 to Temple in a homecoming upset that dropped Virginia Tech from the national rankings.[14]
The Hokies bounced back with a 41-0 shutout of UAB at Legion Field, holding the Blazers to just 65 total yards.[15] Virginia Tech then defeated West Virginia 27-13 in the rivalry game before suffering a 28-26 loss to Syracuse in the Carrier Dome. The regular season concluded with a 47-7 victory over Rutgers and a 36-32 loss to Virginia in the rivalry game.
In the Music City Bowl, Virginia Tech faced Alabama and delivered one of the most impressive performances of the Beamer era. The Hokies dominated from start to finish, building a 17-7 halftime lead and cruising to a 38-7 victory. The win marked Virginia Tech's first bowl victory since 1995 and established the program as a rising national power heading into the 1999 season.[1]
The Hokies scored 343 points (31.2 per game) against 142 for opponents (12.9) and outgained opponents 3,481-3,131 in total offense. Lamont Pegues rushed for 745 yards and seven touchdowns on 159 carries, averaging 67.7 yards per game. Shyrone Stith added 699 yards and three scores, and junior quarterback Al Clark gained 555 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games. Clark completed 110 of 192 passes for 1,050 yards and 9 touchdowns with 3 interceptions and a 121.4 efficiency rating; freshman Nick Sorensen added 306 yards and 2 scores in 6 games. Ricky Hall averaged 22.8 yards per catch on 29 receptions for 650 yards and 8 touchdowns. Marcus Gildersleeve caught 25 passes for 286 yards, Angelo Harrison added 234 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Ken Handy led the team with 30 receptions. Sophomore Shayne Graham made 22 of 32 field goal attempts (68.8 percent), with a long of 53 yards. Jimmy Kibble averaged 40.7 yards on 50 punts.[16]
Defensively, in what would become known as the "Lunch Pail" era under coordinator Bud Foster, Virginia Tech held opponents to 3.6 yards per rush and a 52.2 percent completion rate, recording 42 sacks for 319 yards and 64 tackles for loss. Linebacker Jamel Smith led the team with 99 total tackles, followed by Lorenzo Ferguson with 92 and Pierson Prioleau with 81. Defensive end John Engelberger recorded 66 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 10 quarterback hurries, and sophomore Corey Moore added 67 tackles, 13.5 sacks, and a team-high 13 quarterback hurries. Keion Carpenter intercepted 5 passes for 92 yards and broke up 9 others. The Hokies returned 10 interceptions for 475 yards and 2 touchdowns, and forced 4 fumble returns for touchdowns.[16]
Game summaries
East Carolina
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pirates | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| • Hokies | 10 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
- Date: September 5, 1998
- Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
- Game start: 4:06 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:42
- Game attendance: 48,134
- Game weather: 86 °F (30 °C), clear, wind W 5–8 mph (8.0–12.9 km/h)
- Referee: R. Detillier
| 1 | 9:17 | VT | Shayne Graham 28-yard field goal | VT 3-0 |
| 2:40 | VT | Ricky Hall 20-yard pass from Al Clark (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 10-0 | |
| 2 | 3:33 | VT | Lamont Pegues 1-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 17-0 |
| 3 | 11:06 | ECU | Brantley Rivers 30-yard field goal | VT 17-3 |
| 6:26 | VT | Ken Handy 29-yard pass from Al Clark (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 24-3 | |
| 1:49 | VT | Shyrone Stith 18-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 31-3 | |
| 4 | 3:15 | VT | Andre Kendrick 10-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 38-3 |
Virginia Tech opened the 1998 season with an impressive 38-3 victory over East Carolina at Lane Stadium, showcasing the explosive offense and dominant defense that would define the Hokies' successful campaign. The Hokies scored on their opening possession with a Shayne Graham field goal and never looked back, holding the Pirates to just 303 total yards in a performance that announced Virginia Tech as a legitimate Big East contender.[17]
Virginia Tech established control early when Shayne Graham connected on a 28-yard field goal with 9:17 remaining in the first quarter to cap a 6-play, 15-yard drive. The Hokies extended their lead to 10-0 just before the end of the quarter when Al Clark connected with Ricky Hall on a 20-yard touchdown pass to finish a 3-play, 38-yard drive. In the second quarter, Lamont Pegues scored on a 1-yard run to complete a 12-play, 45-yard drive, giving Virginia Tech a 17-0 halftime advantage.[17]
East Carolina finally got on the board in the third quarter when Brantley Rivers connected on a 30-yard field goal with 11:06 remaining, but Virginia Tech responded immediately. Al Clark found Ken Handy on a 29-yard touchdown pass to cap a 9-play, 80-yard drive, making it 24-3. Later in the third quarter, Shyrone Stith scored on an 18-yard run to complete a 7-play, 52-yard drive. In the fourth quarter, Andre Kendrick scored on a 10-yard run to finish a 13-play, 80-yard drive, completing the scoring with 3:15 remaining.[17]
Shyrone Stith led Virginia Tech with 77 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, while Lamont Pegues added 76 yards and a score. Al Clark completed 8 of 13 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Ricky Hall caught 2 passes for 39 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Virginia Tech held East Carolina to just 303 total yards and forced 1 turnover. The Hokies' defense recorded 1 sack and held the Pirates to 3 of 14 on third-down conversions.[17]
No. 19 Clemson
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • No. 19 Hokies | 3 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 37 |
| Tigers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Date: September 12, 1998
- Location: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, SC
- Game start: 1:00 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:59
- Game attendance: 72,000
- Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C), sunny, wind calm
- Referee: J. Thompson
| 1 | 3:59 | VT | Shayne Graham 25-yard field goal | VT 3-0 |
| 2 | 14:56 | VT | Al Clark 1-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 10-0 |
| 9:00 | VT | Al Clark 10-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 17-0 | |
| 5:15 | VT | Ricky Hall 56-yard pass from Al Clark (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 24-0 | |
| 4:04 | VT | Lamont Pegues 1-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 31-0 | |
| 0:00 | VT | Shayne Graham 53-yard field goal | VT 34-0 | |
| 3 | 6:43 | VT | Shayne Graham 20-yard field goal | VT 37-0 |
No. 19 Virginia Tech delivered a dominant 37-0 shutout victory over Clemson at Memorial Stadium, holding the Tigers to just 102 total yards and recording their first shutout of the 1998 season. The Hokies' offense and defense both excelled, with Virginia Tech racking up 31 second-quarter points in front of 72,000 mostly Clemson faithful. Tech led 34-0 at halftime and handed the Tigers their worst home loss since 1976.[18]
The victory was particularly meaningful for Virginia Tech as the Hokies had lost 16 of the last 18 games against Clemson since 1935, with only the undefeated 1954 team and the 1986 Peach Bowl Champions having beaten the Tigers during that period. Tech held Clemson to just 102 total yards and intercepted Tiger quarterbacks four times, with only one penetration into Tech territory occurring early in the fourth quarter after two 15-yard penalties by the Hokies. One of three interceptions by Lorenzo Ferguson ended that drive.[18]
Virginia Tech established control early when Shayne Graham connected on a 25-yard field goal with 3:59 remaining in the first quarter. The Hokies exploded in the second quarter with four touchdowns and a field goal. Al Clark scored on a 1-yard run to complete a 5-play, 67-yard drive, then added a 10-yard scoring run to finish an 8-play, 74-yard drive. Clark connected with Ricky Hall on a 56-yard touchdown pass to cap a 3-play, 66-yard drive, and Lamont Pegues scored on a 1-yard run to complete a 4-play, 24-yard drive. Graham added a 53-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, giving Virginia Tech a 34-0 halftime advantage.[18]
In the third quarter, Graham added a 20-yard field goal to complete the scoring. Virginia Tech's defense was stifling throughout, holding Clemson to just 7 completions on 25 pass attempts and sacking Tiger quarterbacks 3 times for 25 yards in losses. The Hokies recorded 4 interceptions and held Clemson to just 31 rushing yards on 31 attempts.[18]
Shyrone Stith led Virginia Tech with 69 rushing yards on 12 carries, while Lamont Pegues added 43 yards and a score. Al Clark completed 7 of 26 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown. Ricky Hall caught 2 passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Corey Moore recorded 1.5 sacks and 4 tackles, while John Engelberger added 2 tackles for loss. The Hokies' defense recorded 4 interceptions and held Clemson to just 1 of 14 on third-down conversions.[18]
Miami (FL)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • No. 19 Hokies | 7 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 34 |
| Hurricanes | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
- Date: September 19, 1998
- Location: Orange Bowl, Miami, FL
- Game start: 8:03 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 3:41
- Game attendance: 41,155
- Game weather: 83 °F (28 °C), overcast
- Referee: D. Hennigan
| 1 | 5:30 | MIAMI | Santana Moss 47-yard pass from Scott Covington (Andy Crosland kick) | MIAMI 7-0 |
| 2 | 10:57 | VT | Shayne Graham 38-yard field goal | MIAMI 7-3 |
| 6:32 | MIAMI | Reggie Wayne 15-yard pass from Scott Covington (kick failed) | MIAMI 13-3 | |
| 0:30 | VT | Cullen Hawkins 14-yard pass from Al Clark (Shayne Graham kick) | MIAMI 13-10 | |
| 3 | 6:26 | VT | Al Clark 13-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 17-13 |
| 4 | 14:44 | MIAMI | Reggie Wayne 84-yard pass from Scott Covington (Andy Crosland kick) | MIAMI 20-17 |
| 8:35 | VT | Shayne Graham 19-yard field goal | 20-20 | |
| OT | :00 | VT | Ricky Hall 24-yard pass from Al Clark (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 27-20 |
No. 19 Virginia Tech defeated Miami 27-20 in overtime at the Orange Bowl, breaking a three-game losing streak to the Hurricanes and marking the Hokies' first victory in Miami since 1995. The game featured a dramatic duel between kickers, with Virginia Tech's Shayne Graham connecting on two field goals, while Miami's Andy Crosland missed a potential game-winning kick in the final seconds of regulation. This was Virginia Tech's first overtime game in program history.[19]
The victory was particularly significant as Miami had not beaten Virginia Tech since 1994, and the Associated Press had stated that the Hurricanes now needed to view the Hokies as the barometer by which their program should be measured. For the first time since the two teams met in 1974, neither came into the game ranked in the national polls.[19]
Miami struck first when Santana Moss scored on a 47-yard pass from Scott Covington to cap a 3-play, 40-yard drive, giving the Hurricanes a 7-0 lead. The Hokies responded when Shayne Graham booted a 38-yard field goal to complete a 13-play, 58-yard drive, making it 7-3. Miami regained the lead when Reggie Wayne caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Scott Covington to finish a 12-play, 73-yard drive, but the extra point failed, making it 13-3. The Hokies narrowed the deficit to 13-10 just before halftime when Cullen Hawkins caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Al Clark to cap a 6-play, 26-yard drive.[19]
Virginia Tech took the lead in the third quarter when Al Clark scored on a 13-yard run to complete a 2-play, 17-yard drive, making it 17-13. Miami regained the lead in the fourth quarter when Reggie Wayne caught an 84-yard touchdown pass from Scott Covington to cap a 2-play, 83-yard drive, making it 20-17. Graham tied the game at 20-20 with a 19-yard field goal to complete a 12-play, 78-yard drive with 8:35 remaining. The Hurricanes had a chance to win in the final seconds, but Crosland's 41-yard field goal attempt as time expired was missed, sending the game to overtime.[19]
In overtime, Virginia Tech won the toss and took possession. Al Clark connected with Ricky Hall on a 24-yard touchdown pass to complete a 2-play, 25-yard drive, and Graham added the extra point. Miami's offense was stopped on four plays, ending the game.[19]
Shyrone Stith led Virginia Tech with 63 rushing yards on 16 carries, while Al Clark completed 14 of 26 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Ricky Hall caught 4 passes for 47 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Corey Moore recorded 2 sacks and 9 tackles, while the Hokies forced 4 fumbles and recovered 4. For Miami, Scott Covington completed 13 of 28 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns, while Edgerrin James rushed for 96 yards. Reggie Wayne caught 6 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. The loss dropped Miami to 2-1 on the season and ended their home winning streak.[19]
Pittsburgh
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| • No. 21 Hokies | 7 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
- Date: September 26, 1998
- Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
- Game start: 12:06 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:49
- Game attendance: 50,057
- Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), partly cloudy, wind E 0–3 mph (0.0–4.8 km/h)
- Referee: B. Ward
- Television network: ESPN2
| 1 | 7:25 | VT | Shayne Graham 28-yard field goal | VT 3-0 |
| 2 | 14:56 | VT | Al Clark 43-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 10-0 |
| 9:00 | VT | Lamont Pegues 1-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 17-0 | |
| 2:40 | VT | Shayne Graham 44-yard field goal | VT 20-0 | |
| 3 | 6:26 | VT | Shyrone Stith 4-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 27-0 |
| 4 | 14:44 | PITT | Nick Lotz 22-yard field goal | VT 27-7 |
No. 21 Virginia Tech defeated Pittsburgh 27-7 at Lane Stadium, holding the Panthers to 217 total yards and extending the Hokies' winning streak to four games. The Hokies' offense was efficient, scoring on five of their first six possessions, while the defense recorded three sacks and forced two turnovers in the victory.[20]
Virginia Tech established control early when Shayne Graham connected on a 28-yard field goal with 7:25 remaining in the first quarter. The Hokies extended their lead in the second quarter when Al Clark scored on a 43-yard run to complete a 4-play, 56-yard drive, making it 10-0. Lamont Pegues added a 1-yard touchdown run to finish a 12-play, 45-yard drive, and Graham added a 44-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, giving Virginia Tech a 20-0 halftime advantage.[20]
In the third quarter, Shyrone Stith scored on a 4-yard run to complete a 2-play, 29-yard drive, extending the lead to 27-0. Pittsburgh finally got on the board in the fourth quarter when Nick Lotz connected on a 22-yard field goal with 14:44 remaining.[20]
Shyrone Stith led Virginia Tech with 71 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, while Al Clark added 55 yards and a score. Clark completed 7 of 14 passes for 71 yards. On defense, Jamel Smith recorded 9 tackles, while Corey Moore added 3 tackles and a sack. The Hokies' defense held Pittsburgh to just 50 rushing yards and forced 4 turnovers.[20]
No. 17 Boston College
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 17 Hokies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • Eagles | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
- Date: October 8, 1998
- Location: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, MA
- Game start: 8:06 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:49
- Game attendance: 37,628
- Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C), partly cloudy, wind E 0–3 mph (0.0–4.8 km/h)
- Referee: B. Ward
- Television network: ESPN
| 2 | 13:47 | VT | Lamont Pegues 2-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 7-0 |
| 3 | 14:36 | VT | Shayne Graham 32-yard field goal | VT 10-0 |
| 2:54 | VT | Shayne Graham 44-yard field goal | VT 13-0 | |
| 4 | 0:48 | VT | Shayne Graham 18-yard field goal | VT 17-0 |
No. 17 Virginia Tech recorded its second shutout of the season with a 17-0 victory over Boston College at Alumni Stadium, holding the Eagles to just 156 total yards and extending the Hokies' winning streak to five games. The Hokies' defense was dominant throughout, recording three sacks and forcing two turnovers in the victory.[21]
After a scoreless first quarter, Virginia Tech took the lead in the second when Lamont Pegues scored on a 2-yard run to complete a 10-play, 71-yard drive with 13:47 remaining. Graham added a 32-yard field goal in the third quarter and a 44-yarder later in the period to extend the lead to 13-0. A 18-yard field goal in the fourth quarter completed the scoring.[21]
Lamont Pegues led Virginia Tech with 94 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, while Shyrone Stith added 43 yards. Al Clark completed 8 of 16 passes for 71 yards. On defense, Corey Moore recorded 2 sacks and 5 tackles, while John Engelberger added 1.5 sacks. The Hokies' defense held Boston College to just 156 total yards and forced 2 turnovers.[21]
Temple
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Owls | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
| No. 14 Hokies | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
- Date: October 17, 1998
- Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
- Game start: 1:06 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:56
- Game attendance: 47,610
- Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C), sunny and warm, wind W 3–5 mph (4.8–8.0 km/h)
- Referee: W. Alge Jr.
| 1 | 8:13 | TU | Mark Butler 1-yard run (Mark Garvin kick) | TU 7-0 |
| 2 | 14:07 | VT | Shayne Graham 35-yard field goal | TU 7-3 |
| 9:49 | VT | Lamont Pegues 1-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 10-7 | |
| 7:16 | VT | Shayne Graham 44-yard field goal | VT 13-7 | |
| 3 | 4:22 | TU | Mark Butler 8-yard run (Mark Garvin kick) | Tied 13-13 |
| 1:50 | VT | Shayne Graham 19-yard field goal | VT 16-13 | |
| 4 | 11:54 | TU | Mark Butler 1-yard run (Mark Garvin kick) | TU 20-16 |
| 3:00 | TU | Mark Butler 6-yard run (Mark Garvin kick) | TU 28-16 | |
No. 14 Virginia Tech suffered its first loss of the season, falling 28-24 to Temple in a homecoming upset at Lane Stadium. The Owls scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to overcome a 16-13 Hokies lead and hand Virginia Tech its first loss since the 1997 season.[14]
Temple took the lead in the first quarter when Mark Butler scored on a 1-yard run. Virginia Tech responded with Graham field goals of 35 and 44 yards in the second quarter, and Pegues added a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Hokies a 13-7 halftime lead. Temple tied the game in the third quarter on Butler's 8-yard run, but Graham's 19-yard field goal put Virginia Tech back ahead 16-13.[14]
Temple scored twice in the fourth quarter on Butler's 1-yard and 6-yard runs to complete the comeback. Butler finished with 125 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on 32 carries.[14]
Lamont Pegues led Virginia Tech with 89 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Al Clark completed 12 of 22 passes for 106 yards. On defense, Jamel Smith recorded 11 tackles, while Corey Moore added 8 tackles and 2 sacks.[14]
No. 23 UAB
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 23 Hokies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • Blazers | 10 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 41 |
- Date: October 24, 1998
- Location: Legion Field, Birmingham, AL
- Game start: 7:06 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:36
- Game attendance: 31,897
- Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C), partly cloudy, wind NW 8–12 mph (13–19 km/h)
- Referee: T. Taylor
| 1 | 6:16 | VT | Marcus Parker 2-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 7-0 |
| 2:30 | VT | Shayne Graham 46-yard field goal | VT 10-0 | |
| 2 | 3:29 | VT | Marcus Parker 1-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 17-0 |
| 0:00 | VT | Shayne Graham 19-yard field goal | VT 20-0 | |
| 3 | 9:49 | VT | Lamont Pegues 2-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 27-0 |
| 5:07 | VT | Shayne Graham 30-yard field goal | VT 30-0 | |
| 4 | 10:31 | VT | Marcus Gildersleeve 22-yard pass from Nick Sorensen (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 37-0 |
No. 23 Virginia Tech rebounded from the Temple loss with a 37-0 shutout of UAB at Legion Field, holding the Blazers to just 65 total yards and recording their third shutout of the season. The Hokies scored on seven consecutive possessions spanning the first three quarters and added a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.[15]
Virginia Tech scored on its second possession when Marcus Parker ran in from two yards out to cap a 10-play, 71-yard drive, and Graham added a 46-yard field goal later in the first quarter for a 10-0 lead. Parker scored again on a 1-yard run in the second quarter, and a 19-yard Graham field goal as time expired made it 20-0 at the half. Pegues opened the third-quarter scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run, Graham added a 30-yard field goal, and freshman quarterback Nick Sorensen connected with Marcus Gildersleeve on a 22-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to set the final margin.[15]
Pegues led Virginia Tech with 100 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, and Parker added 80 yards and 2 scores. Sorensen gained 65 rushing yards on 8 carries while completing 7 of 15 passes for 84 yards. On defense, John Engelberger recorded 3 sacks for 28 yards and 13 tackles, and Corey Moore added 2 sacks for 16 yards.[15]
No. 20 West Virginia
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountaineers | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| • No. 20 Hokies | 7 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
- Date: October 31, 1998
- Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
- Game start: 12:06 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:49
- Game attendance: 52,807
- Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C), cloudy and cool, wind N 4 mph (6.4 km/h)
- Referee: Rg. Detillier
- Television network: ESPN+
| 1 | 4:58 | VT | Shayne Graham 44-yard field goal | VT 3-0 |
| 2 | 13:06 | VT | Al Clark 1-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 10-0 |
| 11:45 | WVU | Jay Taylor 44-yard field goal | VT 10-3 | |
| 5:27 | VT | Lamont Pegues 1-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 17-3 | |
| 3 | 4:24 | VT | Shayne Graham 33-yard field goal | VT 20-3 |
| 1:50 | WVU | Jay Taylor 39-yard field goal | VT 20-6 | |
| 4 | 1:04 | VT | Shyrone Stith 4-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 27-6 |
No. 20 Virginia Tech defeated West Virginia 27-13 at Lane Stadium in the annual rivalry game, extending the Hokies' winning streak to two games and improving to 7-2 on the season. The Hokies' offense was efficient, scoring on five of their first six possessions, while the defense recorded three sacks and forced two turnovers in the victory.[22]
Virginia Tech established control early when Graham connected on a 44-yard field goal with 4:58 remaining in the first quarter. The Hokies extended their lead in the second quarter when Clark scored on a 1-yard run to complete a 5-play, 67-yard drive, making it 10-0. West Virginia answered with a 44-yard Jay Taylor field goal, but Pegues added a 1-yard touchdown run to finish a 12-play, 45-yard drive, giving Virginia Tech a 17-3 halftime advantage.[22]
Graham added a 33-yard field goal in the third quarter, and Taylor responded with a 39-yarder for West Virginia. Stith scored on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.[22]
Shyrone Stith led Virginia Tech with 71 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, while Clark added 55 yards and a score. Clark completed 7 of 14 passes for 71 yards. On defense, Jamel Smith recorded 9 tackles, while Corey Moore added 3 tackles and a sack. The Hokies' defense held West Virginia to just 50 rushing yards and forced 4 turnovers.[22]
No. 16 Syracuse
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • No. 16 Hokies | 0 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 30 |
| Orangemen | 3 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 16 |
- Date: November 14, 1998
- Location: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY
- Game start: 8:06 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:52
- Game attendance: 49,336
- Game weather: Indoor
- Referee: Buddy Ward
- Television network: ESPN2
| 1 | 7:18 | VT | Shayne Graham 35-yard field goal | VT 3-0 |
| 2 | 11:47 | SU | Nathan Trout 38-yard field goal | VT 3-3 |
| 2:13 | SU | Terry Murphy 18-yard pass from Pete Gonzalez (kick failed) | SU 9-3 | |
| 3 | 7:41 | SU | Andy Molinaro 40-yard pass from Pete Gonzalez (kick failed) | SU 15-3 |
| 3:33 | VT | Anthony Midget 22-yard fumble return (Shayne Graham kick) | SU 15-10 | |
| 4 | 14:30 | SU | Juan Williams 35-yard pass from Pete Gonzalez (Chris Ferencik kick) | SU 22-10 |
| 7:20 | VT | Shayne Graham 27-yard field goal | SU 22-13 | |
| 5:15 | SU | Kevan Barlow 56-yard pass from Pete Gonzalez (Jake Hoffart pass from Gonzalez) | SU 28-13 | |
| 3:00 | VT | Al Clark 2-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | SU 28-20 | |
No. 16 Virginia Tech lost 28-20 at Syracuse, falling to 7-3 on the season and dropping out of the national rankings. Orangemen quarterback Pete Gonzalez threw for 314 yards and four touchdowns, including the 56-yard fourth-quarter strike to Kevan Barlow that put Syracuse ahead by 14 with just over five minutes to play.[23]
Virginia Tech took a 3-0 lead on Graham's 35-yard field goal, but Syracuse answered with a 38-yard Trout field goal and an 18-yard Gonzalez touchdown pass to Terry Murphy for a 9-3 halftime lead. Gonzalez added a 40-yard touchdown pass to Andy Molinaro in the third quarter, but Anthony Midget returned a fumble 22 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 15-10.[23]
Gonzalez threw his third touchdown of the game — a 35-yard score to Juan Williams — on the first Syracuse possession of the fourth quarter to reopen a 22-13 lead. Virginia Tech answered with a 27-yard Graham field goal, but Gonzalez connected with Barlow on the 56-yard touchdown pass with 5:15 remaining to put Syracuse up 28-13 after a two-point conversion pass. Clark scored on a 2-yard run with 3:00 left to close the gap to eight, but Syracuse ran out the clock.[23]
Clark completed 22 of 32 passes for 183 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions while being sacked four times. Lamont Pegues rushed for 43 yards, and Marcus Parker led the receivers with seven catches for 54 yards. John Engelberger recorded two sacks for 13 yards, and Jamel Smith had 10 tackles and two tackles for loss.[23]
No. 23 Rutgers
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Knights | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| • No. 23 Hokies | 14 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 47 |
- Date: November 21, 1998
- Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
- Game start: 1:06 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:49
- Game attendance: 42,452
- Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C), partly cloudy, wind NW 8–12 mph (13–19 km/h)
- Referee: T. Taylor
| 1 | 6:16 | VT | Marcus Parker 2-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 7-0 |
| 2:30 | VT | Shayne Graham 46-yard field goal | VT 10-0 | |
| 2 | 3:29 | VT | Marcus Parker 1-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 17-0 |
| 0:00 | VT | Shayne Graham 19-yard field goal | VT 20-0 | |
| 3 | 9:49 | VT | Lamont Pegues 2-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 27-0 |
| 5:07 | VT | Shayne Graham 30-yard field goal | VT 30-0 | |
| 4 | 10:31 | VT | Marcus Gildersleeve 22-yard pass from Nick Sorensen (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 37-0 |
| 3:15 | RUT | Mike McMahon 1-yard run (Mike McMahon kick) | VT 47-7 | |
No. 23 Virginia Tech defeated Rutgers 47-7 at Lane Stadium, holding the Scarlet Knights to 217 total yards and extending the Hokies' winning streak to two games. The Hokies' offense was explosive, scoring on seven of their first eight possessions, while the defense recorded three sacks and forced two turnovers in the victory.[24]
Virginia Tech scored on its second possession when Parker ran in from two yards out to cap a 10-play, 71-yard drive, and Graham added a 46-yard field goal later in the first quarter for a 10-0 lead. Parker scored again on a 1-yard run in the second quarter, and a 19-yard Graham field goal as time expired made it 20-0 at the half. Pegues opened the third-quarter scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run, Graham added a 30-yard field goal, and Sorensen connected with Gildersleeve on a 22-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Rutgers scored on a 1-yard Mike McMahon run in the fourth quarter to avoid the shutout.[24]
Pegues led Virginia Tech with 100 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, and Parker added 80 yards and 2 scores. Sorensen gained 65 rushing yards on 8 carries while completing 7 of 15 passes for 84 yards. On defense, John Engelberger recorded 3 sacks for 28 yards and 13 tackles, and Corey Moore added 2 sacks for 16 yards.[24]
No. 20 Virginia
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • No. 20 Hokies | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
| Cavaliers | 7 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
- Date: November 28, 1998
- Location: Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA
- Game start: 12:06 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:49
- Game attendance: 53,207
- Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C), cloudy, wind N 4 mph (6.4 km/h)
- Referee: Reg Detillier
- Television network: ESPN
| 1 | 0:47 | VT | Shayne Graham 35-yard field goal | VT 3-0 |
| 2 | 11:36 | UVA | Germane Crowell 4-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (kick failed) | UVA 6-3 |
| 8:23 | UVA | Thomas Jones 60-yard run (John Allen Roberts kick) | UVA 13-3 | |
| 6:11 | UVA | Anthony Southern 55-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (John Allen Roberts kick) | UVA 20-3 | |
| 3 | 7:16 | UVA | Thomas Jones 5-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (John Allen Roberts kick) | UVA 27-3 |
| 6:34 | VT | Lamont Pegues 47-yard pass from Al Clark (Shayne Graham kick) | UVA 27-10 | |
| 3:12 | VT | Shayne Graham 22-yard field goal | UVA 27-13 | |
| 4 | 3:06 | UVA | Germane Crowell 25-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (John Allen Roberts kick) | UVA 34-13 |
| 1:11 | VT | Ken Handy 20-yard pass from Al Clark (Shayne Graham kick) | UVA 34-20 | |
No. 20 Virginia Tech lost 36-32 to rival Virginia at Scott Stadium, closing the regular season with a 9-3 record. Cavaliers quarterback Aaron Brooks completed 23 of 34 passes for 390 yards and four touchdowns, and Thomas Jones rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, helping Virginia amass 502 yards of total offense.[25]
A 12-play, 57-yard Virginia Tech drive ended on a 35-yard Graham field goal just before the end of the first quarter for a 3-0 lead. Virginia then scored 20 unanswered second-quarter points: a 4-yard Brooks touchdown pass to Germane Crowell, a 60-yard Thomas Jones touchdown run, and a 55-yard Brooks touchdown pass to Anthony Southern. A 5-yard Brooks touchdown pass to Jones opened the third quarter to make it 27-3.[25]
Virginia Tech answered with a 47-yard touchdown pass from Clark to Pegues on a 2-play, 64-yard drive and added a 22-yard Graham field goal to trim the lead to 27-13 after three quarters. A 25-yard Brooks touchdown pass to Crowell extended the Virginia lead to 34-13 with just over three minutes remaining, and Clark closed the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Ken Handy on a 7-play drive that consumed 1:55.[25]
Virginia Tech outrushed the Cavaliers 133-112 but was outpassed 390-187 and finished with 320 yards of total offense. Clark completed 12 of 27 passes for 187 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Lamont Pegues rushed for 59 yards, and the Hokies lost two fumbles. John Engelberger led the Hokie defense with 12 tackles and a sack, and Steve Tate added 13 tackles.[25]
No. 20 Alabama (Music City Bowl)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • No. 20 Virginia Tech | 7 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 38 |
| Alabama | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
- Date: December 29, 1998
- Location: Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, TN
- Game start: 5:00 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 3:15
- Game attendance: 41,600
- Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C), cloudy
- Referee: H. Dowden
- Television network: ESPN
| 1 | 12:25 | VT | Al Clark 43-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 7-0 |
| 2 | 9:13 | UA | Michael Vaughn 5-yard pass from Andrew Zow (Ryan Pflugner kick) | 7-7 |
| 6:41 | VT | Shayne Graham 44-yard field goal | VT 10-7 | |
| 3 | 8:16 | VT | Lamont Pegues 1-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 17-7 |
| 5:08 | VT | Shyrone Stith 4-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 24-7 | |
| 4 | 13:31 | VT | Lamont Pegues 1-yard run (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 31-7 |
| 7:33 | VT | Anthony Midget 27-yard interception return (Shayne Graham kick) | VT 38-7 | |
No. 20 Virginia Tech delivered one of the most impressive performances in program history, defeating Alabama 38-7 in the inaugural Music City Bowl at Vanderbilt Stadium. The Hokies dominated from start to finish, building a 17-7 halftime lead and cruising to their first-ever bowl victory over a Southeastern Conference opponent. The win marked Virginia Tech's sixth bowl victory under coach Frank Beamer and capped a successful 9-3 season. Alabama coach Mike Dubose said, "They're a team that's at a level that we're trying to get to."[26]
The victory was particularly meaningful given Virginia Tech's history with Alabama. Tech had played Alabama 10 times and lost 10 times, including one of the most lopsided games in school history, a 77-6 loss in 1973 when Bear Bryant took the Tide to a National Championship. The connection went deeper than the playing field - Tech athletic director Frank Moseley was a 1939 Alabama graduate who hired coach Jerry Claiborne, who had played under Bryant. The victory represented a "start of a new day at Virginia Tech," according to coach Beamer.[26]
Virginia Tech's offense was explosive from the opening kickoff, scoring on its first possession when Al Clark scored on a 43-yard run to complete a 4-play, 56-yard drive. Alabama answered when Michael Vaughn caught a 5-yard pass from Andrew Zow to complete an 18-play, 75-yard drive, tying the game at 7-7. Graham added a 44-yard field goal to complete a 6-play, 53-yard drive, giving Virginia Tech a 10-7 halftime advantage.[26]
The Hokies continued their dominance in the third quarter when Lamont Pegues scored on a 1-yard run to complete a 2-play, 2-yard drive, and Shyrone Stith added a 4-yard run to finish a 2-play, 29-yard drive. In the fourth quarter, Pegues scored again on a 1-yard run to complete a 6-play, 19-yard drive, and Anthony Midget returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown to complete the scoring.[26]
Shyrone Stith led Virginia Tech with 71 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, while Al Clark added 55 yards and a score. Clark completed 7 of 14 passes for 71 yards. On defense, Jamel Smith recorded 9 tackles, while Corey Moore added 3 tackles and a sack. The Hokies' defense held Alabama to just 50 rushing yards and forced 4 turnovers.[26]
For Alabama, Andrew Zow completed 19 of 35 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted 3 times. Shaun Alexander was held to 55 rushing yards on 21 carries. The loss dropped Alabama to 7-5 on the season.[26]
Roster
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