Third Quarter Live Blog: Boston College @ Virginia Tech

B.C. @ VaTech | 1st Qtr | 2nd Qtr | 3rd Qtr | 4th Qtr

Welcome back!

We'll return to the third quarter in just a few minutes. In the meantime, be sure to tune into Lou Holtz's "pep talk" for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Those are always entertaining.

Virginia Tech leads #2 Boston College 7-0 at halftime of a rainy game. The Hokies have clearly been dominant, if slightly underperforming on offense.

Lou Holtz quote: "we solved sexism, racism . . ." People aren't going to like that.

His thesis: Nebraska football changes when the players start to "care" and make people's lives better.

Live blog after the jump . . .

9:32 - Who else but Chris Ellis on that deflection on first down? Great game for him so far.

9:33 - And Matt Ryan finds Kevin Challenger the very next play to cross midfield.

9:34 - Next play: interception! What a weird night for Ryan. His receiver fell down, but it was a misfire just the same. Poor decision-making there. They'll review this one as well. You know what, hate to go against the Hokies here but from that angle it looks like he didn't get an appendage down in-bounds. The officials will have a rough time overturning that, though.

9:37 - Call stands. Eeeeeeeehhhhhh. Two questionable calls go into Virginia Tech's favor here. Eagle fans and coaches aren't going to be happy about that. Where's the equity? Heh.

9:40 - Thank you ESPN. Matt Ryan is 11/26 passing for less than 100 yards right now. His Heisman hope are ovah pending some miraculous comeback.

9:42 - I LOVE this Thursday night gig, but you never want to be caught covering a game where a punter is getting high marks for his performance. I hope that changes and both offenses wake up a bit.

9:53 - Macho Harris should have had that pick there. That would've helped changed the complexion of this game. The last two quarters have been this eerie dance, as if the two teams were "in limbo". To borrow a coaching phrase, time for some "sudden change".

9:55 - Well, that's a start. Play-action, lazy deep pass goes to Eddie Royal deep into Eagle territory for 42 yards. That's almost a mirror-image of the play Royal dropped earlier in the game.

10:00 - Interception on a poorly thrown deep pass, but the pass interference is called. Yeh that's pretty obvious, if light.

10:02 - The 45-yard field goal attempt is . . . good. Well done! Virginia Tech 10 - Boston College 0. Number two's in deep doo doo here if they can't get their offense together in the next 20 minutes.

10:08 - SACK. The Hokie defensive line has been relentless all night. That sets up third and 30-something after a penalty on first down. Punt time after a surrender draw on third down.

10:09 - Wow. Virginia Tech got flagged for a personal foul for running into the kicker, netting an automatic first down. That's a weak "personal foul". GREAT flop-job by the punter.

10:14 - I'm with Craig James here, BC needs to run the ball more. They have quality backs. They're not the most explosive but they can put a dent in the aggressive Hokie defense and set up some down and short situations to get some easy completions and relax the clearly jumpy Matt Ryan.

10:16 - I never thought I'd see a very average Sean Glennon badly outplay Matt Ryan.

10:17 - I sense some deflation with the Eagle defense. They're not making good tackles this drive. The only comeback scenario I see right now: Virginia Tech scores quickly on this drive and then relaxes. This is what I call "the relent". Psychologically they'll check out of the game for a few minutes on one or both sides of the ball and give some hope for Boston College if they can get their act together for even one offensive possession.

See you at the Fourth Quarter Live Blog