1988 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

Schedule

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[[1988 Clemson Tigers football team|No. 4 Clemson]]

Virginia Tech (0–1) opened the 1988 season with a 40–7 loss to No. 4 Clemson (1–0) on September 3 at Memorial Stadium. The Hokies fell behind early and were unable to recover, trailing 31–7 at halftime and failing to score in the second half.

Tech's lone scoring drive came midway through the second quarter. Trailing 14–0, the Hokies assembled a 12-play, 67-yard possession that featured short completions by quarterback Will Furrer and inside runs by Rich Fox and Malcolm Blacken. Fox capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run at the 9:33 mark, and Chris Kinzer added the extra point to cut the deficit to 14–7.

Virginia Tech finished with 214 total yards of offense, including 98 rushing and 116 passing, and recorded 21 first downs. Furrer completed 17 of 36 passes for 116 yards and 2 interceptions, while being sacked seven times. Fox led the rushing attack with 43 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, and Blacken added 40 yards on 7 attempts. Lamar Smith and Brian McCall combined for 50 receiving yards on 6 catches.

Defensively, Scott Rice led the Hokies with 9 total tackles, followed by Jimmy Whitten with 8 and Horacio Moronta with 7. Jock Jones blocked a punt and recorded a tackle for loss, while Sean Lucas and Archie Hopkins added stops behind the line. Virginia Tech forced one fumble and held Clemson to 3-of-12 on third down conversions.

Despite the lopsided score, the Hokies showed flashes of defensive resilience and special teams execution. The game marked the debut of Furrer as starting quarterback and the first career touchdown for Rich Fox.

[[1988 East Carolina Pirates football team|East Carolina]]

Virginia Tech (1–1) earned its first win of the 1988 season with a 27–16 victory over East Carolina (1–1) on September 10 at Lane Stadium. The Hokies scored in every quarter and never trailed, using a strong rushing attack and opportunistic defense to control the game.

Tech opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run by Jon Jeffries at the 8:32 mark of the first quarter, capping a 14-play, 80-yard drive. After East Carolina tied the game early in the second, Jeffries added a second touchdown — a 5-yard run — to finish a 10-play, 67-yard possession. Chris Kinzer extended the lead to 17–7 with a 28-yard field goal just before halftime.

In the third quarter, Kinzer added a 22-yard field goal to make it 20–10. Virginia Tech's final score came early in the fourth, when Rich Fox powered in from 2 yards out to cap a short-field drive set up by a long punt return and interception. East Carolina added a late touchdown but failed on the two-point conversion.

Virginia Tech totaled 434 yards of offense, including 276 rushing and 158 passing, and recorded 27 first downs. Jeffries led the ground game with 101 yards and 2 touchdowns on 21 carries, while Malcolm Blacken added 68 yards on 10 attempts. Quarterback Will Furrer completed 13 of 18 passes for 158 yards with no interceptions. Myron Richardson caught 4 passes for 59 yards, and Brian McCall added 42 yards on 3 receptions.

Defensively, the Hokies intercepted four passes and recorded two sacks. Jock Jones returned two interceptions for 49 yards, while Scott Rice and Will Gowin added picks. Scott Hill led the team with 5 tackles and 2 sacks, and Tim Boitnott broke up two passes. Virginia Tech held East Carolina to 294 total yards, including just 114 rushing, and limited the Pirates to 2-of-7 on third down conversions.

[[1988 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team|Southern Miss]]

Virginia Tech (1–2) dropped its first road game of the 1988 season with a 35–13 loss to Southern Miss (2–1) on September 17 at Roberts Stadium. The Hokies led 13–7 midway through the second quarter but were undone by special teams breakdowns and three touchdown passes from Brett Favre.

Tech opened the scoring just 2:14 into the game when Don Stokes recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown. Later in the first quarter, Chris Kinzer added a 28-yard field goal to give the Hokies a 10–0 lead. After Southern Miss responded with a touchdown pass from Favre, Virginia Tech answered with a 44-yard field goal by Kinzer to extend the lead to 13–7. Favre struck again with a 22-yard touchdown pass just before halftime, giving Southern Miss a 14–13 lead at the break.

The game turned in the third quarter, when Southern Miss returned two blocked punts for touchdowns — a 60-yard return by Simmie Carter and a 44-yard return by James Henry — to push the lead to 28–13. Favre added his third touchdown pass with 1:46 remaining in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Virginia Tech totaled 194 yards of offense, including 77 rushing and 117 passing, and recorded 14 first downs. Will Furrer completed 9 of 24 passes for 95 yards, while Cam Young added 22 yards on 2 completions in relief. Jon Jeffries led the rushing attack with 61 yards on 18 carries and added 16 receiving yards. Nick Cullen caught 4 passes for 33 yards, and Myron Richardson added a 20-yard reception.

Defensively, the Hokies were led by Horacio Moronta with 13 total tackles and a sack, followed by Jock Jones with 10 and Randy Cockrell with 9. Don Stokes recovered a fumble and returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, while Scott Hill and Al Chamblee each recorded sacks. Will Gowin and Sean Lucas recovered fumbles, and Stokes added a pass breakup.

Virginia Tech intercepted Favre once and held Southern Miss to 226 total yards, including just 78 rushing. However, the Hokies allowed three passing touchdowns and two special teams scores, while failing to score in the second half.

[[1988 Syracuse Orangemen football team|Syracuse]]

Virginia Tech (1–3) was shut out by Syracuse (2–1) 35–0 on September 24, 1988, at the Carrier Dome. The Hokies trailed 21–0 at halftime and failed to score despite reaching Syracuse territory multiple times. The loss marked Virginia Tech's second shutout of the season and its third straight defeat.

Tech's best scoring opportunity came late in the second quarter, when Will Furrer led a 10-play, 58-yard drive to the Syracuse 33. Chris Kinzer attempted a 50-yard field goal with 0:35 remaining, but the kick missed wide left. The Hokies reached the red zone once in the third quarter but failed to convert on fourth down from the Syracuse 10.

Virginia Tech totaled 224 yards of offense, including 63 rushing and 161 passing, and recorded 14 first downs. Phil Bryant led the rushing attack with 46 yards on 4 carries, while Jon Jeffries added 39 receiving yards and 20 rushing yards. Furrer completed 15 of 33 passes for 145 yards and 4 interceptions, and Cam Young added 16 yards on 2 completions in relief. Nick Cullen led all receivers with 5 catches for 47 yards.

Defensively, Bobby Martin recorded 8 tackles and returned an interception 14 yards in the second quarter. Horacio Moronta and Scott Hill each registered a sack, and Al Chamblee broke up a pass. Virginia Tech forced one turnover and held Syracuse to 4-of-14 on third down conversions, but allowed four passing touchdowns — three of them to Rob Moore — and 379 total yards.

[[1988 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|No. 7 West Virginia]]

Virginia Tech (1–4) dropped its fourth straight game with a 22–10 loss to No. 7 West Virginia (5–0) on October 1, 1988, at Lane Stadium. The Hokies trailed 12–0 early but closed the gap to 15–10 late in the third quarter before surrendering a final touchdown in the fourth.

West Virginia opened the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown run by Craig Taylor at the 9:49 mark of the first quarter. After a 19-yard field goal made it 9–0, the Mountaineers added a 37-yard kick early in the second quarter to extend the lead to 12–0. Virginia Tech responded with a 28-yard field goal by Chris Kinzer at 7:05 of the second quarter, capping a 4-play, 7-yard drive set up by a fumble recovery.

In the third quarter, West Virginia pushed the lead to 15–3 with a 29-yard field goal. Virginia Tech answered with its only touchdown of the game when Jock Jones returned a blocked punt for a score at the 2:29 mark. Kinzer's extra point cut the deficit to 15–10. The Hokies had a chance to take the lead early in the fourth but turned the ball over on downs at the West Virginia 32. The Mountaineers sealed the game with a 5-yard touchdown run by Anthony Brown with 10:11 remaining.

Virginia Tech totaled 194 yards of offense, including 107 rushing and 87 passing, and recorded 8 first downs. Ralph Brown led the ground game with 73 yards on 19 carries, while Myron Richardson had a 50-yard reception and 71 all-purpose yards. Will Furrer completed 5 of 21 passes for 39 yards and an interception, while Jeff Roberts added a 50-yard completion on his only attempt. The Hokies converted just 2 of 15 third downs and were 0-for-2 on fourth down.

Defensively, Scott Hill led the team with 12 tackles, and Horacio Moronta and Bobby Martin each added 9. Jock Jones returned a blocked punt for a touchdown and recorded a tackle for loss. Sean Lucas and John Granby each intercepted a pass, and Al Chamblee and Scott Hill combined for five tackles behind the line. Virginia Tech forced four fumbles and held West Virginia to no passing touchdowns, but allowed 518 total yards, including 313 rushing.

[[1988 South Carolina Gamecocks football team|No. 8 South Carolina]]

Virginia Tech (1–5) dropped its fifth straight game with a 26–24 loss to No. 8 South Carolina (6–0) on October 8, 1988, at Lane Stadium. The Hokies led 21–10 late in the second quarter and 24–17 entering the fourth, but surrendered three field goals and committed five interceptions in a back-and-forth contest.

Tech opened the scoring with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Will Furrer to Brian McCall at the 1:56 mark of the first quarter, following a missed South Carolina field goal. After the Gamecocks tied the game on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Todd Ellis to Mike Dingle, Virginia Tech responded with two defensive scores in the final three minutes of the half. Roger Brown returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown at 2:17, and Leslie Bailey added a 19-yard pick-six just 55 seconds later to give the Hokies a 21–10 lead.

South Carolina opened the third quarter with a 98-yard kickoff return by Robert Brooks to cut the lead to 21–17. Virginia Tech answered with a 43-yard field goal by Chris Kinzer at 11:48, but missed two other attempts from 46 and 51 yards. In the fourth quarter, Collin Mackie converted field goals of 28, 50, and 23 yards to give South Carolina the win.

Virginia Tech totaled 217 yards of offense, including 74 rushing and 143 passing, and recorded 14 first downs. Ralph Brown led the ground game with 55 yards on 18 carries, while Phil Bryant added 40 yards on 12 attempts. Furrer completed 17 of 40 passes for 143 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions. Myron Richardson led all receivers with 7 catches for 65 yards, and Nick Cullen added 32 yards on 3 receptions.

Defensively, the Hokies intercepted five passes: Roger Brown and Leslie Bailey each returned one for a touchdown, while Mitch Dove, Sean Lucas, and Jock Jones added picks in the second half. Lucas and Jones also recorded 9 tackles apiece, and Horacio Moronta added 6 stops and 2 sacks. Scott Hill and Randy Cockrell each contributed tackles for loss. Virginia Tech held South Carolina to 0 rushing yards on 27 attempts and forced five turnovers.

Despite the defensive effort, Virginia Tech committed five turnovers of its own and was penalized 14 times for 123 yards. The Hokies converted just 3 of 19 third downs and failed to score in the fourth quarter.

[[1988 Cincinnati Bearcats football team|Cincinnati]]

Virginia Tech (2–5) earned its second win of the season with a 41–14 victory over Cincinnati (2–4) on October 14, 1988, at Nippert Stadium. The Hokies controlled the game with 36:40 of possession, 91 offensive plays, and a season-high 396 total yards.

Tech opened the scoring with a 27-yard field goal by Chris Kinzer at 8:35 of the first quarter. In the second, Ralph Brown broke free for a 24-yard touchdown run to make it 10–0. Cincinnati answered with a 12-yard touchdown pass, but Virginia Tech responded with 17 unanswered points in the third quarter. Brown scored twice more — on runs of 2 and 3 yards — and Kinzer added a 21-yard field goal to extend the lead to 27–7.

In the fourth quarter, Will Furrer threw touchdown passes of 27 yards to Jeff Roberts and 5 yards to Greg Daniels. Cincinnati added a late score on a 19-yard pass, but Virginia Tech closed out the game with a 10-play, 33-yard touchdown drive.

The Hokies rushed for 278 yards on 71 attempts and passed for 118 yards, finishing with 21 first downs and 5-of-6 red zone conversions. Brown led the offense with 125 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on 27 carries. Furrer completed 11 of 19 passes for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Myron Richardson caught 5 passes for 58 yards and added 38 return yards. Jeff Roberts and Greg Daniels each caught a touchdown.

Defensively, Virginia Tech recorded 5 sacks and forced four turnovers. John Granby intercepted a pass and returned it 27 yards, while Archie Hopkins, Randy Cockrell, and Steve Mitchem each recovered fumbles. Horacio Moronta led the pass rush with 2 sacks for 30 yards, and Scott Hill added a sack and 6 tackles. Jock Jones led the team with 9 tackles and a forced fumble, and Don Stokes recorded 2 tackles for loss.

Virginia Tech held Cincinnati to 195 total yards, including just 53 rushing, and limited the Bearcats to 3-of-16 on third down conversions.

[[1988 Virginia Cavaliers football team|Virginia]]

Virginia Tech (2–6) fell to in-state rival Virginia (4–4) by a score of 16–10 on October 29, 1988, at Lane Stadium. The Hokies led 10–6 midway through the second quarter but were shut out over the final 40 minutes and committed three turnovers in a game dominated by missed opportunities.

Tech opened the scoring with a 25-yard field goal by Chris Kinzer at 8:17 of the first quarter, capping a 10-play, 66-yard drive. After Virginia tied the game with a 35-yard field goal, the Cavaliers added another kick early in the second quarter to take a 6–3 lead. Virginia Tech responded with a 7-play, 84-yard drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown pass from Will Furrer to Brian McCall at 10:55. Virginia answered just before halftime with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Shawn Moore to Herman Moore, giving the Cavaliers a 13–10 lead.

In the third quarter, Virginia extended the lead to 16–10 with a 34-yard field goal. The Hokies missed two field goals — from 41 and 26 yards — and turned the ball over on downs at the Virginia 25 with 1:09 remaining. Furrer's final pass was intercepted at the Virginia 40 with 36 seconds left.

Virginia Tech totaled 424 yards of offense, including 132 rushing and 292 passing, and recorded 18 first downs. Furrer completed 17 of 40 passes for 292 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions. Myron Richardson led all receivers with 129 yards on 5 catches, followed by Nick Cullen with 94 yards on 4 receptions. Ralph Brown added 37 receiving yards and 14 rushing yards, while Phil Bryant led the ground game with 40 yards on 11 carries.

Defensively, Don Stokes led the Hokies with 11 tackles and a pass breakup. Jock Jones recorded 10 tackles and a sack, while Al Chamblee and Horacio Moronta each added a sack and multiple stops. Roger Brown intercepted a pass, and Will Gowin broke up two passes. Virginia Tech recorded four sacks and held Virginia to 70 rushing yards on 40 attempts.

Despite outgaining the Cavaliers 424–351 and winning time of possession, the Hokies converted just 2 of 5 red zone chances and committed three turnovers.

[[1988 Louisville Cardinals football team|Louisville]]

Virginia Tech (2–7) fell to Louisville (7–3) by a score of 13–3 on November 5, 1988, at Cardinal Stadium. The Hokies outgained the Cardinals 221–206 and recorded more first downs, but committed four turnovers and failed to score in the second half.

Tech opened the scoring with a 21-yard field goal by Chris Kinzer at 12:23 of the second quarter, capping a 7-play, 16-yard drive set up by a short field. Louisville tied the game with a 52-yard field goal by Ron Bell at 3:53 of the second quarter. In the third quarter, Deon Booker scored the game's only touchdown on a 1-yard run at 10:25, and Bell added a 25-yard field goal with 1:16 remaining in the fourth to seal the win.

Virginia Tech totaled 221 yards of offense, including 73 rushing and 148 passing, and recorded 15 first downs. Cam Young completed 15 of 23 passes for 137 yards and an interception, while Jeff Roberts added 11 yards on his only attempt. Myron Richardson led all receivers with 48 yards on 4 catches, and Jeff Roberts added a 25-yard reception. Ralph Brown rushed for 30 yards on 14 carries, and Phil Bryant added 32 yards on 14 attempts.

Defensively, Scott Hill and Jimmy Whitten led the Hokies with 12 tackles each, and Virginia Tech recorded five sacks for 45 yards. Al Chamblee, Bryan Campbell, Randy Cockrell, and Jock Jones each contributed tackles for loss, and Leslie Bailey intercepted a pass. Sean Lucas broke up a pass and added a quarterback hurry, while Horacio Moronta and Don Stokes combined for 15 tackles.

Virginia Tech converted 5 of 18 third downs and 2 of 2 fourth downs, but fumbled three times and failed to score on two red zone trips.

[[1988 Florida State Seminoles football team|No. 5 Florida State]]

Facing its third top 10 opponent of the year, Virginia Tech (2–8) fell to No. 5 Florida State (9–1) by a score of 41–14 on November 12, 1988, at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Hokies trailed 14–7 at halftime but surrendered three touchdowns in the third quarter and were outgained 520–276 overall.

Florida State opened the scoring with an 11-yard touchdown run by Sammie Smith at 14:54 of the second quarter. Virginia Tech answered with a 44-yard touchdown pass from Will Furrer to Jon Jeffries at 12:47, but the Seminoles responded with a 3-yard touchdown run by Dayne Williams to take a 14–7 lead into halftime.

In the third quarter, Florida State scored three times: Marion Butts ran for a 1-yard touchdown, Chip Ferguson threw a 7-yard TD pass to Bruce LaSane, and Peter Tom Willis added a 36-yard scoring strike to Lawrence Dawsey. Smith scored again in the fourth quarter on a 25-yard run, and Virginia Tech closed the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run by Lamar Smith at 5:10.

Virginia Tech totaled 276 yards of offense, including 177 rushing and 99 passing, and recorded 15 first downs. Furrer completed 8 of 21 passes for 99 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. Jeffries led all receivers with 44 yards and a touchdown, while Myron Richardson added 27 yards on 3 catches. Ralph Brown rushed for 48 yards on 12 carries, and Phil Bryant added 31 yards on 4 attempts.

Defensively, Scott Hill recorded 8 tackles and 2 sacks, while Al Chamblee added a sack and 3 quarterback hurries. John Granby intercepted a pass, and Jimmy Whitten forced a fumble. Virginia Tech recorded 3 sacks and 10 quarterback pressures, but allowed 245 rushing yards and 275 passing yards.

Virginia Tech converted just 2 of 13 third downs and committed 7 penalties for 56 yards.

[[1988 James Madison Dukes football team|James Madison]]

Virginia Tech (3–8) snapped a four-game losing streak with a 27–6 win over James Madison (6–4) on November 18, 1988, at Lane Stadium. The Hokies rushed for 280 yards, forced four turnovers, and held the Dukes scoreless in the second half.

The game followed a week of speculation about head coach Frank Beamer's future, which reportedly motivated the team. According to the Daily Press, rumors that Beamer might be fired “sparked” the Hokies to a focused and physical performance, especially on defense.

Tech opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run by Ralph Brown at 6:03 of the first quarter, capping a 9-play, 80-yard drive. James Madison responded with two second-quarter field goals — from 27 and 36 yards — to cut the lead to 7–6 at halftime. Virginia Tech took control in the third quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run by Phil Bryant and a 3-yard scoring run by Brown. In the fourth quarter, Cam Young connected with Greg Daniels for a 5-yard touchdown to seal the win.

Virginia Tech totaled 375 yards of offense, including 280 rushing and 95 passing, and recorded 22 first downs. Brown led the ground game with 122 yards and 2 touchdowns on 22 carries, while Bryant added 72 yards and a score on 14 attempts. Cam Young completed 6 of 11 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown, and Myron Richardson caught 3 passes for 56 yards. Jeff Roberts added 2 receptions for 34 yards.

Defensively, the Hokies forced four turnovers — including interceptions by Roger Brown and Mitch Dove — and recovered two fumbles. Scott Hill led the team with 11 tackles and a sack, while Don Stokes added 9 tackles and a forced fumble. Al Chamblee and Bryan Campbell each recorded a sack, and Jock Jones contributed 7 tackles and a quarterback hurry. Virginia Tech held James Madison to 205 total yards and just 2-of-13 on third down conversions.

References

References

1. "1988 Virginia Tech Hokies Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC.
2. (September 4, 1988). "Clemson rolls past Va. Tech". The News and Observer.
3. (September 11, 1988). "Virginia Tech rolls by East Carolina". The News Leader.
4. (September 18, 1988). "Southern Miss swamps Tech". Daily Press.
5. (September 25, 1988). "Syracuse pounds Virginia Tech 35–0". Bristol Herald Courier.
6. (October 2, 1988). "W. Virginia 5–0 after sloppy win". The Atlanta Journal & Constitution.
7. (October 9, 1988). "S. Carolina struggles, stops Virginia Tech". The Tampa Tribune.
8. (October 16, 1988). "Brown lifts Va. Tech past Cincy". Greensboro News & Record.
9. (November 20, 1988). "Rumor sparks Hokies past JMU". Daily Press.
10. "1988 Virginia Tech Hokies football statistics". Virginia Tech Athletics.
11. (September 4, 1988). "Clemson rolls past Va. Tech". The News and Observer.
12. (September 11, 1988). "Virginia Tech rolls by East Carolina". The News Leader.
13. (September 18, 1988). "Southern Miss swamps Tech". Daily Press.
14. (September 25, 1988). "Syracuse pounds Virginia Tech 35–0". Bristol Herald Courier.
15. (October 2, 1988). "W. Virginia 5–0 after sloppy win". The Atlanta Journal & Constitution.
16. (October 9, 1988). "S. Carolina struggles, stops Virginia Tech". The Tampa Tribune.
17. (October 16, 1988). "Brown lifts Va. Tech past Cincy". Greensboro News & Record.
18. (October 30, 1988). "Inderlied boots Cavs over Hokies". Kingsport Times-News.
19. (November 6, 1988). "Nothing Hokie about it as U of L prevails 13–3". The Courier-Journal.
20. (November 13, 1988). "20-point period fires up FSU, 41–14". The Miami Herald.
21. (November 20, 1988). "Rumor sparks Hokies past JMU". Daily Press.
22. "1988 Virginia Tech Hokies Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC.
23. "Virginia Tech at Clemson Box Score, September 3, 1988". Virginia Tech Athletics.
24. "East Carolina at Virginia Tech Box Score, September 10, 1988". Virginia Tech Athletics.
25. "Virginia Tech at Southern Miss Box Score, September 17, 1988". Virginia Tech Athletics.
26. "Virginia Tech at Syracuse Box Score, September 24, 1988". Virginia Tech Athletics.
27. (September 25, 1988). "Syracuse pounds Virginia Tech 35–0". Bristol Herald Courier.
28. "West Virginia at Virginia Tech Box Score, October 1, 1988". Virginia Tech Athletics.
29. "South Carolina at Virginia Tech Box Score, October 8, 1988". Virginia Tech Athletics.
30. (October 9, 1988). "S. Carolina struggles, stops Virginia Tech". The Tampa Tribune.
31. "Virginia Tech at Cincinnati Box Score, October 14, 1988". Virginia Tech Athletics.
32. "Virginia vs. Virginia Tech Box Score, October 29, 1988". Virginia Tech Athletics.
33. "Virginia Tech at Louisville Box Score, November 5, 1988". Virginia Tech Athletics.
34. (November 6, 1988). "Nothing Hokie about it as U of L prevails 13–3". The Courier-Journal.
35. "Virginia Tech at Florida State Box Score, November 12, 1988". Virginia Tech Athletics.
36. (November 20, 1988). "Rumor sparks Hokies past JMU". Daily Press.
37. "James Madison at Virginia Tech Box Score, November 18, 1988". Virginia Tech Athletics.