Hokies: Game with Cavs is biggest yet in rivalry

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Posted 7:47AM on Wednesday, November 24, 2004

BLACKSBURG, VIRGINIA - Up the road in Charlottesville, Virginia coach Al Groh's mantra that every game only counts one has swept across the minds of his players. That idea doesn't sell in Blacksburg, where the No. 11 Hokies are gearing up for Saturday's game against No. 16 Virginia like it's the biggest in series history. Virginia Tech can stay on course for the ACC title and a Bowl Championship Series berth with a victory, while the Cavaliers get a share of the ACC title if they prevail. ``There is a lot on the line,'' Hokies quarterback Bryan Randall said Tuesday. ``Before we weren't even in the same conference. It kind of took a little bit away from it. Now that a conference championship is on the line, ... there's a lot of hype.'' ``I'd definitely say it's the biggest game of my career.'' For 19 Hokies, it also will be the last game at Lane Stadium, and they will be honored before the game, only adding to the emotion of a monumental matchup. ``It's definitely a big advantage being on our home field,'' tight end Jared Mazzetta said. ``It's senior day and our last home game. We'll have a lot of emotions out there. ``It's gonna be wild out there for my last game.'' Hokies coach Frank Beamer said this one is the biggest in the series. ``We've never played when whoever the winner is has at least got a share of the conference championship,'' he said. ``That's a first in this series.'' The Hokies lead the all-time series 43-37-5 since it started in 1895, but the Cavaliers won 35-21 last year, ending a four-game losing streak in the series. The game also marks the first time the teams have played as conference rivals in 69 years; both were charter members of the Southern Conference from 1922-35. RANDALL FOR ACC MVP: He's too team-oriented and humble to say it himself, but teammates say there isn't a better person for ACC Player of the year than Bryan Randall, the senior quarterback who has been like a coach to the younger Hokies. ``MVP. Three letters, the MVP of our team,'' reserve tailback Justin Hamilton said of Randall. ``That's unanimous; you ask any member of our team and he'll tell you Bryan Randall is the MVP. It's so good for me to see that because we went through the tough times as freshman roommates together. I watched him kind of grow up.'' Randall has thrown for 1,617 yards with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions despite playing behind a sometimes shaky offensive line. He's also the team's second-leading rusher with 402 yards 614 if sacks aren't factored in with three TDs. In the Hokies' 17-16 loss to North Carolina State on Sept. 25, Randall was sacked 10 times, but drove the Hokies from their 5 to the Wolfpack 26 in the final 2:44, where Brandon Pace's 43-yard field goal attempt missed by less than 2 feet. It's the Hokies' only loss in their last nine games. ``I never think of myself as the ACC player of the year, but then again I've never really sat down and compared myself to how other players are doing,'' Randall said. ``I'd rather be the worst player in the ACC and win the ACC championship.'' IMOH TO GO?: Tailback Mike Imoh's availability remains in question after he strained a hamstring on his second touchdown run against Maryland last Thursday. Beamer and trainer Mike Goforth said the starting tailback is questionable for Saturday 1 p.m. kickoff, and that he needs to be full speed before he can play. ``Hopefully he's there,'' Beamer said, adding that Imoh has also had a stomach virus and if he can't play, Beamer's confident Hamilton and Cedric Humes can do the job. ``Justin and Cedric came in there and did a very good job for us against Maryland,'' Beamer said. Humes ran for 85 yards against the Terps, Hamilton 48 with a touchdown. END QUOTE: ``We played very well against Maryland and then things went our way. Hopefully we didn't use up all of our luck.'' Frank Beamer.