Where the heck did that come from? That question — or some variation — was asked by all who watched the Virginia-Maryland football game Saturday night.

BLACKSBURG — Virginia Tech junior running back Kenny Lewis suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon in the third quarter Saturday, and will miss the rest of the season.
He took a handoff from quarterback Tyrod Taylor, and appeared to come up lame before being tackled. He was helped off the field with 13 minutes left in the third quarter.

BLACKSBURG — Doing just enough to win might be impressive on the road against the likes of North Carolina and Nebraska. But at home against Western Kentucky? Not so much.

No. 20 Virginia Tech pulled out an uninspiring 27-13 win against the Hilltoppers on Saturday afternoon at Lane Stadium. 

CHARLOTTESVILLE — It took the Virginia Cavaliers more than four games, but they finally threw a touchdown pass.

The breakthrough came last night against Maryland, which surrendered a 51-yard TD pass from sophomore quarterback Marc Verica to junior wide receiver Kevin Ogletree late in the first quarter.

CHARLOTTESVILLE — For one night, all was right at Scott Stadium.

Virginia’s football team silenced its many critics with a spectacular performance that was as improbable as the one tailback Mikell Simpson turned in last year at Maryland’s Byrd Stadium.

CONWAY, S.C. — When Zach Terrell left Liberty’s game with Coastal Carolina on Saturday night with an apparent left knee injury, it opened the door for one of the Flames’ more intriguing players — redshirt freshman A-back B.J. Hayes.

CONWAY, S.C. — When Danny Rocco took over Liberty’s football program in December 2005, the Flames were on a 10-game losing streak, the worst skid in school history. Confidence needed to be rebuilt. Baby steps needed to be taken.
The Flames were competitive in Rocco’s first year. Of their five losses, four were by seven points or less. Rocco reflected on that year after his team beat Coastal Carolina 43-38 Saturday night in Conway, and how the fortunes of a once-moribund program had completely changed.
The win gave Liberty a school-record-tying 10th straight victory.

CHARLOTTESVILLE — Even at full strength, the University of Virginia football team would face an enormous challenge tonight against ACC rival Maryland. And UVa isn’t close to full strength.

Leave it to the Big South’s schedule makers to completely suck the drama out of the race for the conference’s football championship.

BLACKSBURG — Today’s home game against four-touchdown underdog Western Kentucky and next week’s open date come smack dab in the middle of one of No. 20 Virginia Tech’s toughest scheduling stretches in recent memory.

Nearly six weeks after the University of Virginia banned all signs at its sporting events - including football and basketball - the university abruptly switched course Thursday afternoon and rescinded its controversial no-sign policy. 

When Alex Stadler accepted a scholarship offer to play football at Alabama after his senior year at Bealeton’s Liberty High School, he chose the Crimson Tide over 25 other offers.

BLACKSBURG — Virginia Tech redshirt freshman running back Darren Evans will see a familiar face on the Western Kentucky sideline Saturday at Lane Stadium.

CHARLOTTESVILLE — If he’d been a one-game wonder, a comet visible for only a few hours, the drop-off would not be so mystifying.

BLACKSBURG — A description of Virginia Tech freshman wide receiver Jarrett Boykin must begin with his hands.

James Madison and Furman both went into Coastal Carolina’s Brooks Stadium for night games as ranked opponents.

To inspire Rashad Jennings last week, Liberty football coach Danny Rocco showed his senior tailback video of the second half of the Youngstown State-North Dakota State game. Specifically, he wanted Jennings to watch North Dakota State tailback Tyler Roehl, who had missed the first half nursing an ankle injury.

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said Tuesday during his media conference that the Hokies would request a medical hardship waiver for sophomore rover Davon Morgan, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the second quarter of Saturday’s 35-30 win over Nebraska.
“Yeah, we’re checking into it. … I know the NCAA is about what’s best for the kids. I think they would really look into that. … That’s what’s best for this guy, for sure,” Beamer said.

CHARLOTTESVILLE — By any measure, the Virginia Cavaliers are one of the worst teams in college football. And that’s not helping the approval rating of UVa’s beleaguered head coach.

BLACKSBURG — Virginia Tech was thin to begin with at rover. Now that starter Davon Morgan is out for the season with a knee injury ... well, the position has become an even bigger question mark for the Hokies’ proud defense.

Nick Hursky quietly left the practice field the Thursday before Liberty played Western Carolina. He didn’t practice that day, and his right knee was wrapped in a soft brace. He walked with a noticeable limp, and Flames coach Danny Rocco shook his head when asked about Hursky’s status for the upcoming game.

Following his dominating performance in Liberty’s victory over No. 23 Youngstown State, the honors continue to roll in for the Flames’ Rashad Jennings.
On Monday, the senior was named the Sports Network’s FCS National Co-Offensive Player of the Week.

Freshmen have played an increasingly large role for Virginia’s defense, and that’s likely to continue.

Tyrod Taylor doesn’t call it luck.
Maybe he’s right, because after all, luck eventually runs out. That hasn’t happened yet for Virginia Tech’s football team.

Redshirt freshman right guard Blake DeChristopher returned to Virginia Tech’s starting lineup Saturday night.
He missed two games and most of a third with a variety of injuries, including a bruised kidney and bruised leg, sustained after taking a jarring hit during the first drive of the Hokies’ season-opening loss to East Carolina.
DeChristopher returned to the field last Saturday against North Carolina, though he didn’t start. He played 48 snaps against the Tar Heels, and starter Richard Graham played 18.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Liberty football coach Danny Rocco had little to say to freshman kicker Matt Bevins in the waning moments of Saturday night’s game at Youngstown State. At Warwick High School in Newport News, Bevins had never been in position to attempt a game-winning field goal. And Liberty’s short field-goal operation hadn’t really been smooth in the first three games of the season.

DURHAM, N.C. — Nobody wanted to be the ACC football team that lost to Duke.

LINCOLN, Neb. — Virginia Tech’s offense found the balance it has been so sorely lacking. Ironically, it did it against a team with a history of defensive dominance.

Zach Terrell was one of Virginia’s most decorated prep quarterbacks while at Manassas Park High School. He came to Liberty as a quarterback before making the transition to running back and receiver as his career unfolded.
That doesn’t mean the Flames senior has forgotten how to throw the football.

Virginia coach Al Groh did his best to sound upbeat after his team’s 31-3 loss at Duke on Saturday.
“The only thing that really counts is what’s up on the scoreboard. That’s what we play for,” Groh told reporters. “Despite what we see up there, in a lot of different areas we saw some positive movement with the team.”