Virginia Tech Vs. Miami: First Quarter A Tied Affair

We welcome fledgling quarterback Stephen Morris to his third consecutive start for the Miami Hurricanes. He's got easy work ahead of him for the first drive, a handoff-heavy affair featuring Graig Cooper and Damien Berry by turns. Taking three minutes exactly off the clock, Miami takes the ball from their own 40-yard line to Virginia Tech's 8, where Morris completes his second pass of the drive and his second to Leonard Hankerson for an eight-yard touchdown.

Virginia Tech looks disjointed early, thanks in large part to monster hits by various Miami defenders. Tyrod Taylor gets a great 17-yard scramble on second down, but is sacked on the Hokies' next third down.

VT gets a break, and then does not. Miami's punt returner, Travis Benjamin, fumbles the ball, and the Hokies recover, but Taylor is sacked and fumbles himself on the very first play from scrimmage, and the ball goes back. Miami, ever polite, will turn the ball over again less than two minutes later.

Now the Hokies appear to be willing to play football, but the 'Canes defenders are mauling them. Receiver Marcus Davis is knocked out of the game on a nasty hit, and on the very next play, Taylor has to be helped off. He shakes it off, and reenters play, but not before redshirt freshman backup Logan Thomas comes in and completes a 24-yard pass on his only play. This sets up Ryan Williams for a 14-yard touchdown run in the waning minutes of the quarter.

At the end of the first quarter, Miami and Virginia Tech are tied, 7-7.

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