1989 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

1989 Virginia Tech Hokies football
ConferenceIndependent
Record6–4–1
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorSteve Marshall (2nd season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorMike Clark (2nd season)
Base defense4–4
Home stadiumLane Stadium
Seasons
← 1988
1990 →
1989 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Miami (FL)   –   11 – 1 – 0
No. 2 Notre Dame   –   12 – 1 – 0
No. 3 Florida State   –   10 – 2 – 0
Northern Illinois   –   9 – 2 – 0
No. 15 Penn State   –   8 – 3 – 1
No. 17 Pittsburgh   –   8 – 3 – 1
No. 21 West Virginia   –   8 – 3 – 1
Syracuse   –   8 – 4 – 0
Southwestern Louisiana   –   7 – 4 – 0
Akron   –   6 – 4 – 1
South Carolina   –   6 – 4 – 1
Virginia Tech   –   6 – 4 – 1
Louisiana Tech   –   5 – 4 – 1
Army   –   6 – 5 – 0
Louisville   –   6 – 5 – 0
East Carolina   –   5 – 5 – 1
Tulsa   –   6 – 6 – 0
Southern Miss   –   5 – 6 – 0
Tulane   –   4 – 8 – 0
Navy   –   3 – 8 – 0
Rutgers   –   2 – 7 – 2
Boston College   –   2 – 9 – 0
Memphis State   –   2 – 9 – 0
Cincinnati   –   1 – 9 – 1
Temple   –   1 – 10 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1989 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University as an independent during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by third-year head coach Frank Beamer, the Hokies finished the season with a record of 6–4–1.[1] The team played its home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Virginia Tech opened the season with a 29–3 win over Akron, then rallied to tie South Carolina 17–17 on the road.[2] The Hokies fell 27–7 at No. 7 Clemson before rebounding with a 23–0 shutout of Temple.[3] After a bye week, Tech upset No. 17 West Virginia 12–10 in Morgantown, then returned home for a 41–7 loss to No. 6 Florida State.[4]

In late October, Virginia Tech dropped a close game to East Carolina, then defeated Tulane 30–13 and Vanderbilt 18–0 in consecutive weeks.[5] Beamer missed the Tulane game while recovering from a heart procedure, and assistant head coach Billy Hite served as interim head coach.[6] Beamer made a surprise appearance in the locker room before kickoff, delivering an emotional message that galvanized the team.[6]

The Hokies fell 32–25 to in-state rival Virginia in Charlottesville, but closed the season with a 25–23 win at NC State.[7]

Over 11 games, Virginia Tech scored 213 points and allowed 191.[8] The Hokies gained 3,456 total yards, including 1,752 rushing and 1,704 passing.[8] Quarterback Will Furrer led the team with 1,868 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.[8] Jon Jeffries rushed for 753 yards and 8 touchdowns, while Myron Richardson led all receivers with 662 yards and 4 scores.[8] Kicker Mickey Thomas converted 17 field goals, and linebacker Jody Grooms] recorded 108 total tackles, including 12 for loss and 4 sacks.[8]

Despite posting a winning record and upsetting a ranked opponent, Virginia Tech was not selected for a bowl game.[1] The Hokies were considered for the Independence Bowl, which ultimately invited Oregon (7–4) and Tulsa (6–5).[9] At the time, only 18 bowl games were held, offering 36 total spots, and selections were influenced by conference affiliations and regional appeal.[10]

The 1989 season was viewed as a turning point in Beamer’s rebuilding effort, establishing a foundation for the program’s rise in the decade ahead.[6]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 212:00 p.m.Akron
SCAW 29–328,371[11]
September 97:00 p.m.at South Carolina
T 17–1771,842[12]
September 167:00 p.m.No. 7 Clemson
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
WJPRL 7–2747,152[13]
September 2312:00 p.m.Temple
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
WJPRW 23–032,157[14]
October 71:00 p.m.at No. 9 West Virginia
W 12–1062,563[15]
October 1412:00 p.m.No. 19 Florida State
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
WJPRL 7–4141,832[16]
October 212:00 p.m.at East Carolina
L 10–1435,100[17]
October 2812:00 p.m.Tulanedagger
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
SCAW 30–1326,353[18]
November 412:00 p.m.Vanderbilt
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
WJPRW 18–023,752[19]
November 111:00 p.m.at No. 18 Virginia
L 25–3244,300[20]
November 181:00 p.m.at NC State
W 25–2343,100[21]

[22]

Game summaries

Akron

Team 1 234Total
Akron 0 300 3
• Virginia Tech 7 787 29
  • Date: September 2
  • Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2:47
  • Game attendance: 36,100
  • Game weather: Sunny, 76 °F (24 °C), Winds NW 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
Box Score

Virginia Tech (1–0) opened the 1989 season with a 29–3 win over Akron (0–1) on September 2 at Lane Stadium. The Hokies rushed for 245 yards, forced three turnovers, and held the Zips scoreless after the second quarter.

Tech opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run by Phil Bryant at 9:12 of the first quarter, capping a 10-play, 66-yard drive. Akron responded with a 36-yard field goal early in the second quarter, but Virginia Tech answered with a 2-yard touchdown run by Ralph Brown to take a 14–3 lead into halftime.

In the third quarter, the Hokies extended their lead with a safety and a 3-yard touchdown run by Brown, then sealed the win in the fourth with a 5-yard scoring run by Bryant.

Virginia Tech totaled 366 yards of offense, including 245 rushing and 121 passing, and recorded 20 first downs. Brown led the ground game with 108 yards and 2 touchdowns on 20 carries, while Bryant added 72 yards and 2 scores on 16 attempts. Will Furrer completed 10 of 18 passes for 121 yards, and Myron Richardson caught 4 passes for 56 yards.

Defensively, the Hokies intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble. Jock Jones led the team with 10 tackles and a sack, while Mitch Dove and Roger Brown each recorded interceptions. Scott Hill added 8 tackles and a quarterback hurry, and Al Chamblee contributed a tackle for loss.

On special teams, Marcus Mickel returned 2 kickoffs for 42 yards and 2 punts for 18 yards. Chris Baucia averaged 37.5 yards on 4 punts, and Chris Kinzer converted 3 of 4 extra points.[23][24]

South Carolina

Team 1 234Total
Virginia Tech 7 370 17
South Carolina 7 307 17
  • Date: September 9
  • Location: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC
  • Game start: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:02
  • Game attendance: 72,123
  • Game weather: Clear, 78 °F (26 °C), Winds SW 4 mph (6.4 km/h)
Box Score

Virginia Tech (1–0–1) and South Carolina (1–0–1) played to a 17–17 tie on September 9, 1989, at Williams-Brice Stadium. The Hokies led 17–10 entering the fourth quarter, but South Carolina tied the game with a late touchdown and neither team scored again.

Tech opened the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run by Ralph Brown at 11:42 of the first quarter. South Carolina responded with a 1-yard touchdown run by Mike Dingle to tie the game. In the second quarter, Chris Kinzer converted a 32-yard field goal, and South Carolina answered with a 40-yard kick to make it 10–10 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Virginia Tech took the lead on a 3-yard touchdown run by Phil Bryant, capping a 12-play, 78-yard drive. South Carolina tied the game with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Todd Ellis to Robert Brooks at 6:22 of the fourth quarter.

Virginia Tech totaled 312 yards of offense, including 191 rushing and 121 passing, and recorded 18 first downs. Brown led the ground game with 89 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, while Bryant added 62 yards and a score on 13 attempts. Will Furrer completed 11 of 20 passes for 121 yards, and Myron Richardson caught 5 passes for 58 yards.

Defensively, the Hokies recorded two sacks and forced one turnover. Jock Jones led the team with 11 tackles and a sack, while Scott Hill added 9 tackles and a quarterback hurry. Mitch Dove intercepted a pass in the third quarter, and Al Chamblee contributed a tackle for loss.

On special teams, Marcus Mickel returned 3 kickoffs for 66 yards and 2 punts for 22 yards. Chris Baucia averaged 36.8 yards on 5 punts, and Kinzer converted both extra points and a 32-yard field goal.[25]

No. 7 Clemson

Team 1 234Total
• No. 7 Clemson 7 3170 27
Virginia Tech 0 070 7
  • Date: September 16
  • Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
  • Game start: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:04
  • Game attendance: 47,152
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 70 °F (21 °C), Calm winds
Box Score

Virginia Tech (1–1–1) dropped its first loss of the season with a 27–7 defeat to No. 7 Clemson (3–0) on September 16, 1989, at Lane Stadium. The Hokies were held scoreless until the third quarter and committed three turnovers, while Clemson scored three touchdowns in a span of 32 seconds to break the game open.

Clemson opened the scoring with a 15-yard touchdown run by Terry Allen at 1:55 of the first quarter. The Tigers added a 40-yard field goal in the second quarter to take a 10–0 halftime lead. In the third quarter, Clemson extended the lead with a 37-yard field goal, followed by a 66-yard halfback pass from Allen to Gary Cooper and a 47-yard interception return by Levon Kirkland — all within 32 seconds.

Virginia Tech’s only score came on a 90-yard kickoff return by Marcus Mickel immediately after Cooper’s touchdown. The Hokies recovered an onside kick but turned the ball over on the next play.

Virginia Tech totaled 215 yards of offense, including 91 rushing and 124 passing, and recorded 12 first downs. Ralph Brown led the ground game with 58 yards on 14 carries, while Will Furrer completed 11 of 24 passes for 124 yards and 2 interceptions. Myron Richardson caught 4 passes for 52 yards, and Jeff Roberts added 3 receptions for 46 yards.

Defensively, the Hokies were led by Jock Jones with 9 tackles and a sack, while Scott Hill added 8 tackles and a quarterback hurry. Mitch Dove and Roger Brown each broke up passes, and Al Chamblee recorded a tackle for loss.

On special teams, Mickel returned 3 kickoffs for 132 yards, including the 90-yard touchdown. Chris Baucia averaged 38.0 yards on 5 punts, and Chris Kinzer converted the extra point.[26]

Temple

Team 1 234Total
Temple 0 000 0
• Virginia Tech 7 1033 23
  • Date: September 23
  • Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
  • Game start: 12:10 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:10
  • Game attendance: 32,157
  • Game weather: Rain, 71 °F (22 °C), Winds W 12 mph (19 km/h)
Box Score

Virginia Tech (2–1–1) earned its second win of the season with a 23–0 shutout of Temple (0–4) on September 23, 1989, at Lane Stadium. The Hokies rushed for 241 yards, forced two turnovers, and held the Owls to –24 rushing yards and just 9 first downs.

Tech opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run by Tony Kennedy at 12:35 of the first quarter. In the second, Vaughn Hebron added a 1-yard touchdown run and Mickey Thomas converted a 26-yard field goal with 18 seconds remaining to make it 17–0 at halftime.

Thomas added two more field goals in the second half — a 31-yarder in the third quarter and a 29-yarder in the fourth — to complete the scoring.

Virginia Tech totaled 354 yards of offense, including 241 rushing and 113 passing, and recorded 19 first downs. Hebron led the ground game with 84 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, while Kennedy added 62 yards and a score on 12 attempts. Will Furrer completed 10 of 18 passes for 113 yards, and Myron Richardson caught 4 passes for 52 yards.

Defensively, the Hokies recorded five sacks and held Temple to 137 total yards. Jock Jones led the team with 10 tackles and 2 sacks, while Scott Hill added 8 tackles and a quarterback hurry. Mitch Dove and Roger Brown each broke up passes, and Al Chamblee contributed a tackle for loss. Temple converted just 2 of 13 third downs.

On special teams, Marcus Mickel returned 2 kickoffs for 44 yards and 2 punts for 16 yards. Mickey Thomas converted all three field goal attempts and both extra points.[27]

No. 9 West Virginia

Team 1 234Total
• Virginia Tech 3 333 12
No. 9 West Virginia 0 730 10
  • Date: October 7
  • Location: Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, WV
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:10
  • Game attendance: 63,500
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 66 °F (19 °C), Winds W 10 mph (16 km/h)
Box Score

Virginia Tech (3–1–1) stunned No. 9 West Virginia (4–1–1) with a 12–10 road victory on October 7, 1989, at Mountaineer Field. Redshirt freshman Mickey Thomas kicked four field goals, and the Hokies’ defense held the Mountaineers to 10 points and just 3 second-half first downs.

Tech opened the scoring with a 27-yard field goal by Thomas at 4:52 of the first quarter. West Virginia took the lead in the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by Garrett Ford Jr., but Thomas answered with a 32-yard field goal to tie the game 6–6 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Thomas converted a 34-yard field goal to give Tech a 9–7 lead. West Virginia responded with a 42-yard field goal to retake the lead, but Thomas hit his fourth kick — a 29-yarder with 8:12 remaining — to put the Hokies ahead for good.

Virginia Tech totaled 271 yards of offense, including 156 rushing and 115 passing, and recorded 17 first downs. Ralph Brown led the ground game with 92 yards on 22 carries, while Will Furrer completed 10 of 19 passes for 115 yards. Myron Richardson caught 4 passes for 48 yards, and Jeff Roberts added 3 receptions for 41 yards.

Defensively, the Hokies recorded three sacks and forced one turnover. Jock Jones led the team with 11 tackles and a sack, while Scott Hill added 9 tackles and a quarterback hurry. Mitch Dove intercepted a pass in the third quarter, and Al Chamblee contributed a tackle for loss.

On special teams, Marcus Mickel returned 2 kickoffs for 44 yards and 2 punts for 18 yards.Thomas converted all four field goal attempts.[28][29]

No. 19 Florida State

Team 1 234Total
• No. 19 Florida State 7 17107 41
Virginia Tech 0 007 7
  • Date: October 14
  • Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
  • Game start: 12:10 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:10
  • Game attendance: 41,832
  • Game weather: Sunny, 70 °F (21 °C), Winds NW 3 mph (4.8 km/h)
Box Score

Virginia Tech (3–2–1) suffered its worst loss of the season in a 41–7 defeat to No. 19 Florida State (5–2) on October 14, 1989, at Lane Stadium. The Seminoles scored on six of their first eight possessions and held the Hokies scoreless until the final quarter.

Florida State opened the scoring with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Peter Tom Willis to Dexter Carter at 13:21 of the first quarter. The Seminoles added a 23-yard field goal, a 1-yard touchdown run by Willis, and a 10-yard touchdown pass to Ronald Lewis to take a 24–0 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, Willis connected with Amp Lee for a 67-yard touchdown, and Richie Andrews added a 32-yard field goal. Virginia Tech’s only score came on a 1-yard touchdown run by Phil Bryant with 4:12 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Florida State outgained Virginia Tech 478 to 195 and recorded 26 first downs to Tech’s 11. The Hokies managed just 59 rushing yards and committed two turnovers. Will Furrer completed 10 of 21 passes for 136 yards and an interception, while Ralph Brown rushed for 42 yards on 12 carries. Myron Richardson caught 4 passes for 62 yards.

Defensively, Jock Jones led the Hokies with 11 tackles and a sack, while Scott Hill added 9 tackles and a quarterback hurry. Mitch Dove broke up two passes, and Al Chamblee recorded a tackle for loss.

On special teams, Marcus Mickel returned 3 kickoffs for 72 yards and 2 punts for 18 yards. Chris Baucia averaged 37.5 yards on 6 punts, and Mickey Thomas converted the extra point.[30]

East Carolina

Team 1 234Total
Virginia Tech 0 1000 10
• East Carolina 7 007 14
  • Date: October 20
  • Location: Ficklen Memorial Stadium, Greenville, NC
  • Game start: 7:30 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:05
  • Game attendance: 31,000
  • Game weather: Clear, 63 °F (17 °C), Winds NE 5 mph (8.0 km/h)
Box Score

Virginia Tech (3–3–1) fell 14–10 to East Carolina (5–1–1) on October 20, 1989, at Ficklen Memorial Stadium. The Hokies led 10–7 entering the fourth quarter but surrendered a late touchdown and failed to score on their final possession.

East Carolina opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run by Junior Smith at 6:20 of the first quarter. Virginia Tech responded in the second with a 1-yard touchdown run by Ralph Brown and a 32-yard field goal by Mickey Thomas to take a 10–7 halftime lead.

Both defenses held firm in the third quarter. In the fourth, East Carolina regained the lead with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Blake to Dion Johnson at 9:14. Virginia Tech’s final drive stalled near midfield.

Virginia Tech totaled 278 yards of offense, including 162 rushing and 116 passing, and recorded 16 first downs. Brown led the ground game with 78 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, while Will Furrer completed 10 of 19 passes for 116 yards. Myron Richardson caught 4 passes for 54 yards, and Jeff Roberts added 3 receptions for 38 yards.

Defensively, the Hokies recorded two sacks and forced one turnover. Jock Jones led the team with 11 tackles and a sack, while Scott Hill added 9 tackles and a quarterback hurry. Mitch Dove broke up two passes, and Al Chamblee recovered a fumble.

On special teams, Marcus Mickel returned 3 kickoffs for 72 yards and 2 punts for 20 yards.[31]

Tulane

Team 1 234Total
Tulane 0 706 13
• Virginia Tech 10 1073 30
  • Date: October 28
  • Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:00
  • Game attendance: 33,100
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 66 °F (19 °C), Winds W 7 mph (11 km/h)
[ https://stats.hokiesports.com/football/box/?5832 Box Score]

Virginia Tech (4–3–1) bounced back from consecutive losses with a 30–13 win over Tulane (2–6) on October 28, 1989, at Lane Stadium. The Hokies rushed for 246 yards, forced two turnovers, and scored on five of their first six possessions.

Tech opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run by Tony Kennedy at 9:42 of the first quarter. Mickey Thomas added a 27-yard field goal to make it 10–0. In the second quarter, Vaughn Hebron scored on a 2-yard run and Thomas converted a 32-yard field goal. Tulane responded with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Terrence Jones to Michael Pierce to cut the lead to 20–7 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Kennedy added his second touchdown on a 3-yard run. Thomas capped the scoring with a 29-yard field goal in the fourth. Tulane added a late touchdown on a 1-yard run by Jones but failed on the two-point conversion.

Virginia Tech totaled 387 yards of offense, including 246 rushing and 141 passing, and recorded 21 first downs. Hebron led the ground game with 102 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, while Kennedy added 78 yards and two scores on 15 attempts. Will Furrer completed 12 of 20 passes for 141 yards, and Myron Richardson caught 5 passes for 64 yards.

Defensively, the Hokies recorded three sacks and forced two turnovers. Jock Jones led the team with 10 tackles and a sack, while Scott Hill added 9 tackles and a quarterback hurry. Mitch Dove intercepted a pass in the third quarter, and Al Chamblee recovered a fumble.

On special teams, Marcus Mickel returned 3 kickoffs for 68 yards and 2 punts for 22 yards. Chris Baucia averaged 38.5 yards on 4 punts, and Thomas converted all three field goal attempts and three extra points.[32]

Vanderbilt

Team 1 234Total
• Virginia Tech 7 3107 27
Vanderbilt 7 1000 17
  • Date: November 4
  • Location: Dudley Field, Nashville, TN
  • Game start: 2:00 p.m. CST
  • Elapsed time: 3:10
  • Game attendance: 31,200
  • Game weather: Sunny, 68 °F (20 °C), Winds S 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
Box Score

Virginia Tech (5–3–1) rallied from a 17–10 halftime deficit to defeat Vanderbilt (1–7) by a score of 27–17 on November 4, 1989, at Dudley Field. The Hokies scored 17 unanswered points in the second half and forced two turnovers to secure the win.

Vanderbilt opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run by Carl Woods at 10:12 of the first quarter. Virginia Tech responded with a 1-yard touchdown run by Tony Kennedy. In the second quarter, the Commodores added a 42-yard field goal and a 5-yard touchdown pass from Eric Jones to Boo Mitchell. The Hokies cut the lead to 17–10 with a 29-yard field goal by Mickey Thomas just before halftime.

In the third quarter, Kennedy scored his second touchdown on a 2-yard run to tie the game. Thomas gave Virginia Tech the lead with a 31-yard field goal at 2:18 of the third. In the fourth quarter, Will Furrer connected with Myron Richardson for a 12-yard touchdown pass to seal the win.

Virginia Tech totaled 342 yards of offense, including 201 rushing and 141 passing, and recorded 20 first downs. Kennedy led the ground game with 92 yards and 2 touchdowns on 19 carries, while Vaughn Hebron added 68 yards on 13 attempts. Furrer completed 11 of 19 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown, and Richardson caught 5 passes for 64 yards.

Defensively, the Hokies recorded three sacks and forced two turnovers. Jock Jones led the team with 10 tackles and a sack, while Scott Hill added 8 tackles and a quarterback hurry. Mitch Dove intercepted a pass in the third quarter, and Al Chamblee recovered a fumble.

On special teams, Marcus Mickel returned 3 kickoffs for 70 yards and 2 punts for 18 yards. Chris Baucia averaged 38.0 yards on 4 punts, and Thomas converted both field goal attempts and all three extra points.[33]

No. 18 Virginia

Team 1 234Total
Virginia Tech 0 0169 25
• No. 18 Virginia 7 1780 32
  • Date: November 11
  • Location: Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA
  • Game start: 1:01 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2:52
  • Game attendance: 44,300
  • Game weather: Excellent, 56 °F (13 °C), Winds S 19 mph (31 km/h)
Box Score

Virginia Tech (5–4–1) fell 32–25 to No. 18 Virginia (9–2) on November 11, 1989, at Scott Stadium. The Hokies rallied from a 25–7 deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but Virginia held on for the win.

Virginia opened the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run by Durwin Greggs in the first quarter. In the second, Shawn Moore added an 11-yard touchdown run, Jake McInerney kicked a 27-yard field goal, and Terry Kirby scored on a 1-yard run to make it 24–0. Virginia Tech responded with a 1-yard touchdown run by Rich Fox just before halftime.

In the third quarter, Rodd Wooten replaced injured starter Cam Young and led a comeback. He threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Myron Richardson and added a two-point conversion. After Virginia answered with a 22-yard touchdown run by Greggs, Tech responded with a 14-yard reverse touchdown run by Marcus Mickel and another two-point pass to tie the game at 25–25.

In the fourth quarter, Rich Fox scored on a 1-yard run and Mickey Thomas added a 39-yard field goal, accounting for Tech’s final 9 points. Virginia’s scoring was complete by the end of the third quarter.

Virginia Tech totaled 275 yards of offense, including 119 rushing and 156 passing. Wooten completed 9 of 16 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown, while Young added 54 yards on 7 completions before exiting. Richardson led all receivers with 72 yards and a score on 5 catches.

Defensively, Tech recorded 105 total tackles and forced one fumble. Bobby Martin led the team with 11 tackles, while Scott Hill added 10 and Anthony Pack recorded a tackle for loss. Kirk Alexander recovered a fumble, and Mitch Dove broke up two passes.

On special teams, Marcus Mickel returned 3 kickoffs for 70 yards. [34]

NC State

Team 1 234Total
• Virginia Tech 3 1039 25
NC State 7 1006 23
  • Date: November 18
  • Location: Carter–Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2:58
  • Game attendance: 42,100
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 58 °F (14 °C), Winds NE 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
Box Score

Virginia Tech (6–4–1) closed its season with a 25–23 win over NC State (6–5) on November 18, 1989, at Carter–Finley Stadium. The Hokies trailed 17–7 in the second quarter but rallied with three field goals and a fourth-quarter touchdown to secure the victory.

NC State opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run by Tyrone Jackson at 9:42 of the first quarter. Virginia Tech responded with a 32-yard field goal by Mickey Thomas. In the second quarter, the Wolfpack extended their lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by Charles Davenport and a 35-yard field goal. Tech answered with a 1-yard touchdown run by Tony Kennedy and a 29-yard field goal by Thomas to cut the deficit to 17–13 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Thomas added a 34-yard field goal to make it 17–16. In the fourth, Kennedy scored his second touchdown on a 2-yard run, and Thomas converted a 27-yard field goal to give Tech a 25–17 lead. NC State added a late touchdown on a 5-yard pass from Davenport to Gary Downs but missed the two-point conversion.

Virginia Tech totaled 312 yards of offense, including 178 rushing and 134 passing, and recorded 19 first downs. Kennedy led the ground game with 84 yards and 2 touchdowns on 17 carries, while Will Furrer completed 11 of 20 passes for 134 yards. Myron Richardson caught 5 passes for 72 yards, and Jeff Roberts added 3 receptions for 38 yards.

Defensively, the Hokies recorded two sacks and forced one turnover. Jock Jones led the team with 11 tackles and a sack, while Scott Hill added 9 tackles and a quarterback hurry. Mitch Dove intercepted a pass in the third quarter, and Al Chamblee contributed a tackle for loss.

On special teams, Marcus Mickel returned 3 kickoffs for 70 yards and 2 punts for 18 yards. [35]

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  28. ^ "Virginia Tech at West Virginia Box Score, October 7, 1989". Virginia Tech Athletics. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  29. ^ "Oct. 7, 1989 – Tech 'D' gets an 'A'". Inside Hokie Sports. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  30. ^ "Florida State at Virginia Tech Box Score, October 14, 1989". Virginia Tech Athletics. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  31. ^ "Virginia Tech at East Carolina Box Score, October 20, 1989". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  32. ^ "Tulane at Virginia Tech Box Score, October 28, 1989". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  33. ^ "Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt Box Score, November 4, 1989". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  34. ^ "Virginia Tech at Virginia Box Score, November 11, 1989". Virginia Tech Athletics. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  35. ^ "Virginia Tech at NC State Box Score, November 18, 1989". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_Virginia_Tech_Hokies_football_team