‘Pass Interference Territory’ — Virginia Tech Fans Turn Celebratory Post Around After Hokies Fall to Cal on Final Play
· Yahoo Sports
For the second straight week, Virginia Tech lost a game on its final play. ACC Network celebrated this one, Cal’s 25-20 comeback win on Saturday, with a post on X proclaiming Berkeley as Bear territory.
Backup quarterback Jackson Brousseau threw for 321 yards in his first start for Cal, and reserve running back Ashten Emory’s 2-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left answered Virginia Tech quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer’s 1-yard sneak, which had put the Hokies ahead 20-19 with 1:15 to play.
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Tech still drove to the Cal 7 with three seconds left, but Grunkemeyer’s pass to tight end Luke Reynolds in the back of the end zone fell incomplete to end the game. That’s where the Hokies’ fans’ claims begin.
Virginia Tech Fans Dispute Officiating in Cal Win
“This is Bear territory,” ACC Network posted after Cal, which trailed for nearly the entire game, improved to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the ACC.
The Hokies got to the 7 on a pass interference call against Cal and back-to-back catches by Marlion Jackson, then went to Reynolds, whose PFN Impact grade of 90.8 through Week 5 ranked 8th of 412 graded and qualified FBS tight ends.
“Pass interference territory, worst officials in the NCAA,” one fan replied, turning the network’s phrase around.
On Cal’s winning drive, Tech was flagged for roughing the passer on Kaleb Spencer and pass interference on Cam Chadwick, two 15-yard penalties that moved the Bears to the Tech 33. Ian Strong’s catch-and-run to the 2 then set up Emory’s run off the left edge on a Wildcat snap.
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“Two blown calls by your refs,” another fan replied. “Definitely offensive pass interference on Cal’s last drive and 100 percent defensive pass interference on the last play of the game. This is getting too obvious.”
A week earlier, Virginia Tech kicker John Love’s 36-yard field goal try as time expired sailed wide left in a 35-33 loss to Pitt. On Saturday, he went 0 for 2, missing from 55 and 39 yards.
A Virginia Tech fan asked the network to answer for a simultaneous-catch ruling that went Pitt’s way last week and what the fan called blatant missed pass interference on Saturday’s final play, writing that “VT is fighting more than just the opposing teams.”
Still, for the game, Cal was penalized 10 times for 99 yards, Virginia Tech seven times for 88.
With Tech leading 14-13, a false start on left guard Michael Troutman on fourth-and-1 during a fourth-quarter drive into the Cal red zone kept the Hokies from going for it. Cal answered with a 14-play, 79-yard drive that ended with Brousseau’s 3-yard touchdown pass to running back Carson Perry-Smith.
Cal Overcomes Injuries to Beat Tech
“Looks like the same taunting we were called for,” a Virginia Tech fan replied, taking aim at the network’s post itself and adding that the conference needs to be consistent and either call it or not.
Cal won shorthanded. Quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele was ruled out after pregame warmups with a concussion from last week’s loss to UNLV, and Emory was filling in for injured starter Adam Mohammed.
The Bears were also without starting safety Kingston Lopoa, the national interception leader, who suffered a concussion at UNLV as well. Brousseau, a Colorado State transfer, completed 29 of 43 passes, with Strong catching five for 97 yards and Chase Hendricks seven for 94.
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“Reading the comments has me cackling,” one fan wrote, sharing the network’s post and telling the critics to stay mad.
“Ashten has been carrying that rock and inspiring the team the way he runs the ball and runs through contact,” Cal coach Tosh Lupoi said of Emory, who finished with 46 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
Looking Ahead in Week 7 to Georgia Tech
Cal hosts Wake Forest on October 17 with its second conference win in hand. “Now we’re learning as a team to finish, as you just saw,” Lupoi said.
Virginia Tech returns to Lane Stadium the same day for its Week 7 homecoming game against Georgia Tech, having lost two straight, both by one score, after a 4-0 start.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.