It was Sean Glennon to the rescue again for Virginia Tech.
Sort of.
On a frigid night when just about nothing went right on offense for either team, Glennon relieved an ineffective and turnover-prone Tyrod Taylor late in the first half Saturday, directed a critical 86-yard touchdown march and kept the Hokies on track to win the Coastal Division title in the Atlantic Coast Conference -- and a return to the ACC championship game.
"When things happen, he just comes in and he did what he had to do," said Jarrett Boykin, who caught Glennon's 19-yard touchdown pass 38 seconds before halftime.
The 14-3 win keeps the Hokies (7-4, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) in position to successfully defend its division title next week when archrival Virginia comes to Lane Stadium.
"We're not always pretty, but all I know is we're one win away from battling for the ACC championship," Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said.
Glennon, who lost his job to the more mobile Taylor early in the year, was called on after Taylor threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball away twice in the first half. Just as he had last year when Taylor got hurt, Glennon made enough key plays to lift the Hokies.
"Like usual, I'll stay ready in case my number is called," Glennon said.
His pass to Boykin capped an 11-play march and was the first touchdown catch by one of the Hokies' wide receivers this year.
Glennon was 12-for-20 for 132 yards and was sacked three times, and on a night when temperatures started in the high 20s and dropped, his one hot streak was all it took.
Taylor said he was "a little disappointed in myself," but thought bringing Glennon in was the right move.
The Hokies played much of the first half in their own territory, but limited the Blue Devils to six first downs and 136 yards for the game.
"We were ready the whole game, but the breaks just did not go our way today," Duke backup quarterback Zack Asack said.
Duke's only points came on a 39-yard field goal by Nick Maggio in the second quarter on a 22-yard drive after Matt Daniels recovered Taylor's fumble.
When Victor Harris came up with his second interception -- and Virginia Tech's fourth against Asack -- his 23-yard scoring return mostly served to take the pressure off the Hokies and allow fans to head for the exits seeking warmth.
Virginia Tech finished with 334 yards, while Duke managed just 20 yards through the air as Asack was only 2-for-9 in place of the injured Thaddeus Lewis.
Duke's passing yardage and two completions are the lowest against Virginia Tech in Beamer's 22 years as coach.
