The ninth-ranked Hokies (10-1, 6-1 ACC) moved just one Virginia loss from clinching the ACC Coastal Division title and earning a berth in the league’s championship game for the fifth time in seven years. Yet it was only about six weeks ago when some wondered whether Thomas might be in over his head at quarterback after he threw for just 125 yards in the Hokies’ only loss, 23-3 to Clemson.
“It was a drastic change to the Clemson game to the Miami game to the rest of the season after that,” said running back David Wilson, who was held under 100 yards on Thursday for the first time in seven games. “Now he looks like an all-American quarterback to me. He’s just making plays left and right when we need them.”
Though Thomas didn’t put up the sort of gaudy numbers on Thursday that he had in recent weeks, the redshirt sophomore’s impact on the game was undeniable. He finished 19 of 32 passing for 195 yards, throwing for two touchdowns and running for one more. But it was the manner in which he scored that made his performance particularly impressive.
With Virginia Tech clinging to a 10-7 lead after halftime, Thomas showed off the powerful running style that has separated him from his peers this year. On a third-and-two play, he took an innocent-looking quarterback sneak 23 yards, bouncing off Tar Heels tacklers before waltzing into the end zone.
Known for his strong arm, Thomas ended the third quarter by displaying the improved accuracy coaches have raved about for more than a month. Facing third and nine, he threaded a pass to wide receiver Jarrett Boykin (career-high 10 catches for 106 yards), who juked his way down the field for a 39-yard reception. Thomas then capped off the drive with a perfectly placed ball to D.J. Coles, who was running a fade route in the end zone and ended up with a four-yard touchdown catch.
“His poise rubs off on the other guys,” Beamer said of Thomas. “He’s to the point now where I think he makes the people around him better.”
That final score proved to be the dagger, though North Carolina (6-5, 2-5) mounted a late charge. First, quarterback Bryn Renner found wide receiver Erik Highsmith for a five-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter. The duo connected again on a 64-yard completion later in the quarter, and running back Ryan Houston scored from two yards out to draw the Tar Heels to within three with less than three minutes remaining.
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