Arts, Leisure and Sports
Virginia beat #23 Virginia Tech 39-30 in Charlottesville after a late field goal today, snapping a 15-year losing streak in that intrastate rivalry on the football field – helping to erase a late game UVA collapse in Blacksburg last year. A contest that was a largely defensive battle in the first half today became more of a back and forth offensive showdown after the break. With the win the 9-3 Cavaliers and head coach Bronco Mendenhall earned the right to play Clemson for the ACC championship in Charlotte next Saturday, after topping the Hokies for the Coastal Division crown. The last score came when UVA fell on a Hendon Hooker fumble in the Hokies own end zone with 1:01 left in the game. It was Virginia’s first Coastal division title.
It’s only Black Friday, but the Christmas season is in full force with a tree lighting and cocktail party tonight at the Roanoke City Market Building . VIP tickets are already sold out. Empty Bottles starts playing at 7 when they light the tree. The cocktail party begins at 6 tonight at the Roanoke City Market Building. Elliot Broyles is the market building’s executive director.
The first-ever “Illuminights” opens tonight at Explore Park. It’s expected to be a major fund-raiser for both Center in the Square and Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism. 1,000 or more people are expected each evening, so you are encouraged to sign up on line for a specific hour of arrival. That assures your spot, and it saves you $4 a person. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones:
Click here for full Illuminights information.
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — There was little for Virginia Tech fans to be disappointed about on Saturday, but coach Justin Fuente put a damper on a festive day when he reaffirmed that Bud Foster planned to retire at season’s end. “I think his mind is pretty made up,” Fuente said, smiling.
Such news was disappointing because the Hokies’ defensive coordinator continues to prove his chops. Virginia Tech’s defense put together a vintage performance Saturday, and Hendon Hooker threw for 153 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 25 Virginia Tech to a 28-0 victory over Pittsburgh in a steady downpour.
Hooker threw touchdown passes to Tré Turner and Damon Hazelton, and Virginia Tech held Pittsburgh to under 200 yards and scored on a fumble return, as the Hokies (8-3, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) notched their sixth win in their past seven games.
“I can’t say enough good things about our guys,” Fuente said. “I felt that way about them early in the year, too, though. I really did. I’m enjoying every moment with them. I think they’re a special group of young men. They’ve been through special circumstances and stuck together.”
The win sets up a showdown next weekend with rival Virginia, with the victor claiming the ACC’s Coastal Division and an ACC championship game berth on Dec. 7.
Pittsburgh (7-4, 4-3 ACC) finished with a season-low 177 yards. Kenny Pickett completed 10 of 26 for 103 yards to lead the Panthers.
“Disappointing performance, obviously, today,” Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi said. “A lot of things I saw — too many penalties, 0 for 3 on fourth downs … We don’t make any plays. Just a disappointing performance.
“I give Virginia Tech a lot of props for what they did out there today. Bud Foster’s defense came to play, I can guarantee you that … It’s hard to win when you can’t get in the end zone. We had some field position at times, but just didn’t do anything with it.”
Hooker’s 71-yard pass to Tayvion Robinson led to James Mitchell’s 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, giving the Hokies a 7-0 lead. Moments after that score, Norell Pollard returned a Pickett fumble 7 yards for a touchdown that pushed the lead to 14.
Virginia Tech basically put the game away with Hooker’s 3-yard touchdown to Turner with 45 seconds left in the first half. Hooker completed 10 of 13 passes in moving to 6-0 as the starting quarterback.
“Everyone’s just coming together as a family and just showing love and support,” Hooker said. “At the same, everyone’s expecting you to do your job.”
Bolt Mobility e-scooters/Ian Price photo
Even as Roanokers are still learning the ropes when it comes to the “Lime” E Scooters that appeared a few months ago another company has entered the market. Bolt Mobility introduced its rentable e-scooters in the market plaza today. Before the public demonstration at noon Bolt Mobility spent time with city officials and law enforcement during a “safety education” session. Bolt’s July application says there could be as many as 400 scooters deployed here eventually. Daniel Charlton is the general manager for Bolt in Roanoke: