Virginia Tech overcame a sloppy, slow start to take a lead, but couldn’t stop Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore at the end.
Moore, the Broncos’ heralded quarterback, led a 56-yard game-winning touchdown drive in the final minutes as No. 10 Virginia Tech fell to the third-ranked Broncos 33-30 Monday in the opener for both teams at FedEx Field in Washington, D.C.
Moore’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Austin Pettis with 1:09 remaining proved to be the game-winner, but the Hokies still had time to get in field goal range.
However, after taking over on its own 35-yard line, Hokies quarterback Tyrod Taylor threw three incompletions and was sacked once as Virginia Tech’s hopeful path to a national title game took a severe hit with another early-season loss.
It is the fourth year in a row Virginia Tech lost in September, and the third straight season the Hokies lost the season opener.
Moore finished 23 of 38 for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Doug Martin had 12 carries for 83 yards and Titus Young and Pettis combined for 12 catches for 153 yards.
Taylor completed 15 of 22 passes for 186 yards and a pair of scores. He also led the Hokies in rushing with 73 yards on 16 carries as they held the ball for more than 34 minutes.
Boise State took a 17-0 in the first quarter as it took advantage of a fumbled snap, blocked a punt and also was the beneficiary of a running into the punter call.
However, the Hokies battled back as Ryan Williams (21 carries, 44 yards) ran for two scores and also caught a 12 touchdown pass from Taylor as they took a 21-20 lead midway through the third quarter.
Boise State countered quickly as D.J. Harper ran 71 yards for a score to make it 26-21, but the Hokies responded on the next drive as Taylor ended a 77-yard drive with a 28-yard touchdown pass with 2:40 left in the third quarter.
The Hokies added a 34-yard field goal by Chris Hazley midway through the fourth quarter as they went ahead 30-26, but the defense couldn’t hold on as Moore drove the Broncos 56 yards in 38 seconds for the winning score.