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All Games at the VCU Siegel Center
Group A
Friday's Semifinals
Gate City def. Rappahannock County 25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 23-25, 15-7
Strasburg def. Grayson County 21-25, 25-21, 13-25, 25-20, 15-13

Saturday's Championship
Gate City vs. Strasburg, 5 p.m.

Group AA
Friday's Semifinals
Grafton def. Northside 25-18, 25-21, 25-18
Loudoun County def. Brookville 25-14, 25-13, 25-18

Saturday's Championship
Grafton vs. Loudoun County, 3 p.m.

Group AAA
Thursday's Semifinals
Deep Run def. Frank Cox 25-21, 22-25, 17-25, 25-19, 15-11
Langley def. Mills Godwin 26-24, 22-25, 23-25, 25-18, 15-9

Saturday's Championship
Deep Run vs. Langley, 7 p.m.

Were you hoping the Virginia Tech-Virginia duel on Nov. 24 would be a night game, so you’d have plenty of time for tailgating? Wondering why it will instead air at noon, on either ESPN or ESPN2? Well, ESPN is airing Alabama-Auburn that night, while ESPN2 will be showing Clemson-South Carolina. Under ESPN’s contract with the SEC, those channels can air SEC games only at night. And ABC would rather show a Big 12 game that night; it will pick between Missouri-Kansas or Oklahoma State-Oklahoma. ABC’s regional 3:30 game, by the way, will be Georgia-Georgia Tech. — Mark Berman

Does just the ACC need better football officials, or does all of college football? At least two helmet-to-helmet calls should have been made during Saturday night’s Virginia Tech-Florida State game. You would think if they were going to look the other way, they certainly wouldn’t do so when quarterbacks are involved. The hits on Drew Weatherford and Sean Glennon should have drawn flags. Replay hasn’t solved everything, though it did give Tech a huge break in the fourth quarter when an incompletion was overturned that led to a touchdown. And while I’m at it, what about the obvious Illinois fumble that wasn’t called or even reviewed that led to a touchdown against Ohio State? Let’s at least ramp up the training of officials. — Jeff Gilbert

Kudos to NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson for his gutsy effort at Texas Motor Speedway last Sunday. Too often, a driver in a points race takes the safe (read: boring) route at the end of the Nextel Cup season, but Johnson showed some serious moxie in passing Matt Kenseth for his third straight win. With two races to go, Johnson would have led the points race even with a runner-up finish. But his extra effort leaves him 30 points clear of Jeff Gordon. You think Gordon wishes he could have that spring Martinsville race back? He didn’t risk wrecking Johnson that day in the final laps — an admirable gesture from one teammate to another — but you can bet that if the situation presents itself again in the final two races, Gordon won’t be so courteous. — Aaron McFarling

Roger Goodell has been understandably tough on misbehaving players this season. Too bad he wasn’t as tough as he should have been on New England Patriots coach Bill Belicheat. He punished Belicheat and the team for shooting illegal game video, but that win over the Jets should have been forfeited as well. Did he really think he needed to cheat to beat the Jets? Now that the Pats have beaten the Colts, the perfect season watch is the biggest storyline in the NFL. The ’72 Dolphins are awfully smug about their perfect season being the only one in NFL history, but for this season, at least, let’s hope their perfection isn’t equaled. — Jeff Gilbert

Apparently, the McRib sandwich thinks it’s Roger Clemens. “I’m coming back … maybe … and now I’m done again … and now I’m back.” Make up your mind, McRib! I have grown so tired of your noncommittal nature. Oh, who am I kidding? I could never stay mad at that tangy, pickle-topped patty o’ pork. Clemens, on the other hand, really needs to make up his mind. We can expect his decision in about six months, I suppose. The lesson here is, Roger would be a lot more lovable if he were on a bun. — Aaron McFarling

If tumbling was an Olympic sport, Roanoke would be sending an athlete to next summer’s games in Beijing. Susannah Johnson, a student at Faith Christian School, is a member of the team that recently won the team gold medal at the World Trampoline and Tumbling Championships in Quebec City. Her team is governed by USA Gymnastics, which will send other athletes to Beijing, but not tumblers. These athletes perform routines on a runway similar to that of what a gymnast uses for the vault. Johnson and her teammates did qualify for the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. If tumbling is part of the 2012 Olympics in London, Johnson might get her chance then. — Jeff Gilbert

Group AA
Grafton def. Western Albemarle 25-21, 14-25, 25-17, 25-15
Northside def. Hidden Valley 25-22, 29-27, 19-25, 25-20
Loudoun County def. Chancellor 25-16, 21-25, 25-14, 25-16
Brookville def. Salem 25-16, 24-26, 25-23, 25-20

Group A
Rappahannock County def. Lancaster, 24-26, 25-18, 25-18, 25-21.
Gate City def. Glenvar 25-23, 16-25, 25-14, 21-25, 15-7.
Strasburg def. Middlesex 25-18, 25-13, 25-17
Grayson County def. Rye Cove 25-6, 25-7, 25-15

Virginia has had more important wins and it has made more dramatic wins, but the Cavaliers haven't had many wins more impressive than their 48-0 triumph Saturday night in Miami's final home game at the Orange Bowl.

At a site where the Hurricanes once won 58 consecutive games between 1985-1994 and had outscored their first six visitors 81-7 in the first half, Virginia dominated every facet of the game, forcing a season-high five fumbles and outgaining the Hurricanes 418-189.

Virginia had gained as many as 400 in only other game (434 at Maryland) and had not held a team under 200 all season (the previous low was 229 against Duke). The Cavaliers had not forced more than three turnovers in a game all season and had not blocked a punt all season.

"My team was very mindful of some of the great performances individually and team wise that have occurred in this stadium and we tried to set it as a standard of performance tonight," UVa coach Al Groh said.

"A lot of teams have run out of this locker room here today and the environment and competition has raised the level of their play and it looks like it raised the level of our play a little bit tonight."

Miami coach Randy Shannon said. "It was a tough one today ... big-time tough lkoss for us. I feel very bad and disappointed for the city of Miami, Dade County and the University of Miami. The fans were out tonight, the atmopshere was right but we just couldn't get anything started."

Virginia now has a bye week and suffered no obvious injuries. Mikell Simpson limped off the field in the closing minutes but all he had was a cramp. Simpson had 147 all-purpose yards -- 22 carries for 93 yards and three receptions for 54 yards.

So there it is: the long-awaited victory over Florida State. It had been 31 years since the Hokies had defeated the Seminoles, and their fourth-quarter flurry left no doubt as they ran away for a 40-21 victory.

Freshman quarterback Tyrod Taylor was huge when he needed to be, running in the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter and connecting on the two-point conversion to give Tech a 28-21 lead. From there, it was all defense, as Chris Ellis intercepted a pass for a touchdown and the Hokies notched a safety to produce the final margin.

Career game for receiver Justin Harper, who caught five passes for 167 yards and a touchdown. Don't look now, but that offense is looking strong. A week after putting up a season-high 481 yards of offense, the Hokies notched 395 yards against FSU.

Quarterbacks coach Mike O'Cain said the two-quarterback plan was hatched on Wednesday. Sean Glennon, who left the game with a concussion, said he doesn't remember the play that knocked him out of the game or anything that happened before it. He did return to the game in the fourth quarter and should be fine for next week's game against Miami.

The fans stormed the field and the players dumped a cooler of water on Beamer's head.

“I hope it means a lot to him, because it meant a lot to us," senior defensive end Chris Ellis said. "We dumped the cooler on him to show him how much it meant to us. We wanted to lift him in the air, but we let him slide on that.”

That's all for tonight. See you next week as the Hokies take on Miami.

IN-GAME POSTS:

-The Curse of the Bowdino is over. Tech wins 40-21. Back with more later.

-Blog will return after the game.

-Jud Dunlevy tacks on a 22-yard field goal to give the Hokies a 31-21 lead with 5:32 remaining in the game. Barry Booker forced a fumble that Cam Martin returned to the FSU 29 to help set up the score.

-Tyrod Taylor runs one in on 3rd-and-goal from the 3, then floats a pass to Zach Luckett on the two-point conversion to give the Hokies a 28-21 lead with 10:10 remaining in the game. Huge replay earlier in the drive on a deep pass from Taylor to Justin Harper. Harper caught it near the left sideline, but the question was whether he got a foot inbounds. The officials originally ruled that he hadn't but overturned it after review, giving the Hokies a 45-yard gain and a first down at the FSU 1. Beautiful pass on the move by Taylor there. Harper now has five catches for 167 yards. Also, Branden Ore has an ankle injury. We'll get you an update when we can.

-Missed call here right before the end of the third quarter. A deep pass from Tyrod Taylor intended for Josh Morgan fell incomplete, but replays showed a Florida State defender had his arms wrapped around Morgan before the ball got there. About to start the fourth quarter, the Hokies have it 3rd-and-6 at the FSU 43, trailing 21-20.

-And the Tech lead is gone. FSU quarterback Christian Ponder hits De'Cody Fagg over the middle from eight yards out to give the Seminoles a 21-20 lead with 3:41 remaining in the third quarter. FSU goes for two again and fails again.

-Tyrod Taylor makes his first significant mistake of the game, throwing behind Justin Harper over the middle. Harper tips the ball but can't bring it in, and Dekoda Watson picks it off and runs it back 40 yards for a touchdown. The Seminoles try a two-point conversion and don't get it, so with 9:06 left in the third quarter, it's 20-15 Hokies.

-Tech goes three-and-out on its first possession, and FSU uses good starting field position to set up a 50-yard field goal by Gary Cismesia, which bangs off the right upright and through to close the gap to 20-9 Hokies with 11:00 remaining in the third quarter.

-HALFTIME: Big ovation for the Hokies as they head to the locker room here at Lane Stadium, as they've put up 257 yards of offense and lead Florida State 20-6. For the second straight week, Tech's offense is clicking well. Last week it was Sean Glennon under center; today it's been Tyrod Taylor carving up the defense. The freshman has completed 7 of 9 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns and has also run three times for 40 yards.

After being mum on his plans all week, coach Frank Beamer unveiled a two-quarterback system very unlike what we saw with Bryan Randall and Marcus Vick in 2003. Starting with Tech's second possession, both Glennon and Taylor were alternating depending on down, distance and hunches. Taylor took over full time on Tech's first drive of the second quarter after Glennon was hit hard while scrambling for four yards. Taylor entered and promptly hit Greg Boone for 16 yards over the middle on 3rd-and-5, then hit Josh Morgan two plays later in the end zone to give Tech a 13-6 lead.

Obviously no reason to mess with the hot hand now, even though Glennon has been cleared to return after his bell ringing. This ought to be Taylor's offense for the time being. FSU quarterback Drew Weatherford might return, but backup Christian Ponder will start the third quarter.

Defensively, the Hokies have allowed 153 yards but have done an excellent job turning potential touchdown drives into field goals. That was especially key after FSU's successful fake punt, which threatened to swing the momentum in a big way and prompt that "here-we-go-again-with-Bobby-Bowden" sensation. The defense stiffened and forced a field goal, ensuring FSU didn't take the lead.

Branden Ore, always a storyline, has gained 41 yards on 12 carries. He had a nice 18-yard run on Tech's first touchdown drive but hasn't found much room other than that. Receiver Justin Harper is having a monster day so far, catching three passes for 107 yards and a touchdwon.

The 20 points scored by Tech is the most scored in the first half against Florida State since Clemson put up 24 in the season opener. The message in the Tech locker room right now? Just keep doin' what you're doin', and the Curse of the Bowdino will be history.

-A 2-yard touchdown run by Branden Ore puts the Hokies up 20-6 with 6:54 to play in the first half. Tyrod Taylor is 5-for-5 for 114 yards and two touchdowns and has run for 40 yards on two carries. He hit Josh Hyman for a big third-down conversion early in the drive and then threw a perfect pass to Justin Harper for 58 yards that set the Hokies up inside the FSU 5.

-A crushing hit by Tech's Brandon Flowers has knocked FSU quarterback Drew Weatherford out of the game, at least for now. Backup Christian Ponder, a redshirt freshman, is in at QB.

-A 5-yard touchdown pass from Tyrod Taylor to Josh Morgan gives the Hokies a 13-6 lead with 12:29 remaining in the first half. FSU tried an onside kick and had a shot at it, but Purnell Sturdivant wound up with the ball for Tech on the FSU 45. Later, on 3rd-and-31 from the Tech 34, Taylor ran for 38 yards and a key first down.

-All week, the Tech players talked about how Bobby Bowden always seems to have something up his sleeve. He pulls out a big trick early, as punter Graham Gano runs a fake and picks up 24 yards on 4th-and-10. The play helps set up a 39-yard field goal by Gary Cismesia. With :50 remaining in the first quarter, it's 6-6.

-The QB platoon is underway. Tyrod Taylor comes in for Sean Glennon midway through Tech's second possession and throws a 31-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Justin Harper. Jud Dunlevy misses the extra point. With 8:16 remaining in the first, it's 6-3 Hokies.

-A 41-yard field goal by Gary Cismesia gets FSU on the board. With 9:43 remaining in the first quarter, it's 3-0 Seminoles.

-Both teams go three-and-out on their first possessions, and a 32-yard punt by Brent Bowden has set FSU up 1st-and-10 on the VT 40. 11:44 remaining in the first quarter, no score.

-- Aaron McFarling