The 2003 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented the Virginia Tech in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head coach was Frank Beamer. They played their home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia and participated as members of the Big East Conference. The Hokies finished the 2003 season with a record of 8–5 (4–3 Big East) under head coach Frank Beamer.[1] Virginia Tech opened the year with six straight wins, including dominant performances over Texas A&M and Syracuse, and climbed as high as No. 3 in the AP Poll.[2] The offense was led by quarterback Bryan Randall, who threw for 1,996 yards and 15 touchdowns, and tailback Kevin Jones, who rushed for 1,647 yards and 21 touchdowns — the second-highest single-season rushing total in school history.[3] Wide receiver Ernest Wilford added 887 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.[3] Defensively, the Hokies were anchored by linebacker Mikal Baaqee and cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who also contributed as a return specialist.[3] Virginia Tech averaged 35.4 points per game while allowing 23.0, finishing 13th nationally in scoring offense.[1] However, the team faltered down the stretch, losing four of its final six games, including a 52–49 shootout against California in the Insight Bowl.[2] The Hokies played their home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Virginia Tech opened the 2003 season with a 49–28 victory over UCF at Lane Stadium, showcasing a balanced offensive attack and explosive special teams. The Hokies fell behind 14–7 early, but responded with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Bryan Randall to Ernest Wilford and a 1-yard scoring run by Kevin Jones to take control. Mike Imoh added a short touchdown run before halftime, and Marcus Vick extended the lead with a 3-yard run in the third quarter. DeAngelo Hall electrified the crowd with a 71-yard punt return touchdown, and Justin Hamilton capped the scoring with a 7-yard run in the fourth. Randall finished with 278 passing yards, while Jones led the ground game with 83 yards and a score. Defensively, linebacker Mikal Baaqee recorded nine tackles and a sack, and Jimmy Williams added an interception as Tech forced two turnovers and held UCF to just 3-of-13 on third down.[5]
September 6 – vs. James Madison
The Hokies dominated James Madison 43–0 in a shutout win that featured scoring in all three phases. Cedric Humes opened the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run, followed by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Bryan Randall to Ernest Wilford. Marcus Vick and Mike Imoh each added short rushing touchdowns, and Jon Mollerup converted a 38-yard field goal. DeAngelo Hall delivered another highlight with a 64-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Randall threw for 153 yards, while Humes led all rushers with 75 yards. Wilford added 58 receiving yards and a score. On defense, Mikal Baaqee posted eight tackles and two tackles for loss, and the Hokies recorded four sacks, an interception, and two forced fumbles while holding the Dukes to just 104 total yards.[5]
September 18 – vs. Texas A&M
In a nationally televised Thursday night matchup, Virginia Tech defeated Texas A&M 35–19 behind a dominant performance from Kevin Jones and a swarming defense. Jones scored twice on short runs and rushed for 145 yards, while Bryan Randall threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Ernest Wilford and added 146 passing yards. Marcus Vick chipped in with a 6-yard touchdown run, and DeAngelo Hall returned a punt 52 yards for a score to break the game open in the second half. Nathaniel Adibi led the defensive front with two sacks, and Mikal Baaqee added 10 tackles as the Hokies sacked Aggie quarterback Reggie McNeal five times and forced two turnovers.[5]
September 27 – vs. Connecticut
Virginia Tech rolled to a 47–13 win over Connecticut in Lane Stadium, improving to 4–0 behind another dominant performance from Kevin Jones and a swarming defense. The Hokies opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run by Jones, followed by a 9-yard touchdown pass from Bryan Randall to Ernest Wilford. Jones added two more rushing touchdowns—one from 3 yards and another from 8—as Tech built a 34–0 halftime lead. Randall connected with Wilford again for a 28-yard score in the third quarter, and Jon Mollerup added two field goals to cap the scoring. Jones finished with 105 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Randall threw for 199 yards and two scores. Wilford led all receivers with 93 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, Mikal Baaqee recorded 11 tackles and a sack, and the Hokies held UConn to just 48 rushing yards while forcing two turnovers.[5]
October 4 – at Rutgers
The Hokies remained unbeaten with a 48–22 road win over Rutgers in Piscataway. Kevin Jones continued his scoring tear with three rushing touchdowns, including runs of 2, 5, and 7 yards, and finished with 118 yards on the ground. Bryan Randall threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns—one to Ernest Wilford and another to Richard Johnson—as Virginia Tech built a 34–7 halftime lead. Mike Imoh added a 91-yard kickoff return touchdown in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. Wilford caught five passes for 94 yards, and the Hokies racked up 504 total yards. Defensively, Vegas Robinson led the team with nine tackles, and the unit recorded three sacks and an interception while holding Rutgers to 3-of-13 on third down.[5]
October 11 – vs. Syracuse
Virginia Tech delivered its most complete performance of the season in a 51–7 rout of Syracuse. The Hokies scored on their first five possessions, including a 1-yard touchdown run by Kevin Jones and a 19-yard touchdown pass from Bryan Randall to Ernest Wilford. Jones added a 26-yard scoring run in the second quarter, and Randall found Wilford again for a 35-yard touchdown just before halftime. DeAngelo Hall returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown, and Jon Mollerup added three field goals. Jones rushed for 160 yards and two touchdowns, while Randall threw for 193 yards and two scores. Wilford caught five passes for 94 yards and both touchdowns. The defense forced four turnovers, including two interceptions by Hall, and held the Orange to 160 total yards.[5]
October 22 – at West Virginia
Virginia Tech suffered its first loss of the season in a 28–7 defeat at West Virginia, as the Mountaineers controlled the line of scrimmage and dominated time of possession. The Hokies opened the scoring with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Bryan Randall to Ernest Wilford midway through the first quarter, but were shut out the rest of the way. West Virginia responded with a touchdown run by Quincy Wilson and added two more scores in the second half to pull away. Randall threw for 247 yards but was intercepted twice, and Kevin Jones was held to 57 rushing yards on 20 carries. Wilford led all receivers with 94 yards and the lone touchdown. Defensively, Mikal Baaqee recorded 12 tackles and a sack, while Nathaniel Adibi added two tackles for loss. The Hokies committed four turnovers and were penalized 10 times for 100 yards.[5]
November 1 – vs. No. 2 Miami (FL)
Virginia Tech rebounded in dramatic fashion with a 31–7 upset of No. 2 Miami in Blacksburg, snapping the Hurricanes’ 10-game winning streak. Kevin Jones rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown, and Bryan Randall threw for 148 yards and two scores—one to Ernest Wilford and another to Keith Willis. The Hokies led 14–0 at halftime and extended the lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by Jones in the third quarter. DeAngelo Hall returned an interception 26 yards for a touchdown to seal the win. Wilford finished with 62 receiving yards, and the defense held Miami to just 175 total yards. Baaqee led the team with 10 tackles, and the Hokies forced four turnovers while sacking Brock Berlin three times.[5]
November 8 – at No. 25 Pittsburgh
Virginia Tech fell 31–28 in a back-and-forth battle at Heinz Field, despite a career-best performance from Kevin Jones. The junior tailback rushed for 241 yards and four touchdowns, including scoring runs of 1, 2, 8, and 53 yards. The Hokies led 28–24 late in the fourth quarter, but Pittsburgh’s Larry Fitzgerald caught a 52-yard touchdown pass with under two minutes remaining to give the Panthers the win. Bryan Randall threw for 157 yards, and Wilford added 71 receiving yards. On defense, Vegas Robinson recorded nine tackles, and Adibi added a sack, but the Hokies were unable to contain Fitzgerald, who finished with 185 receiving yards and two scores.[5]
November 15 – at Temple
Virginia Tech narrowly escaped Philadelphia with a 24–23 win over Temple, surviving a late rally and a missed field goal by the Owls in the final minute. Kevin Jones opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run, and Bryan Randall followed with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Ernest Wilford to give the Hokies a 14–0 lead. Temple responded with 17 unanswered points before Jones broke free for a 40-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Jon Mollerup added a 32-yard field goal early in the fourth to extend the lead to 24–17. Temple scored again with under five minutes remaining but missed the extra point, and their final drive ended with a missed 42-yard field goal attempt. Jones finished with 160 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Randall threw for 186 yards and a score. Wilford led all receivers with 78 yards. On defense, Mikal Baaqee recorded 11 tackles and a forced fumble, and the Hokies held Temple to 3-of-14 on third down.[5]
November 22 – vs. Boston College
Virginia Tech fell 34–27 to Boston College in a back-and-forth contest in Blacksburg. The Hokies took an early lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by Kevin Jones and a 28-yard touchdown pass from Bryan Randall to Ernest Wilford. After BC tied the game at 14, Randall connected with Wilford again for a 17-yard score just before halftime. Jon Mollerup added two field goals in the third quarter, but the Eagles scored 17 unanswered points in the second half, including a 48-yard touchdown pass from Paul Peterson and a 1-yard run by Derrick Knight. Jones rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown, while Randall threw for 273 yards and two scores. Wilford had a season-high 110 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Vegas Robinson led the team with 10 tackles, and the Hokies recorded two sacks but struggled to contain Knight, who rushed for 197 yards.[5]
November 29 – at Virginia
Virginia Tech closed the regular season with a 35–21 loss to in-state rival Virginia in Charlottesville. The Hokies struck first with a 1-yard touchdown run by Kevin Jones, but the Cavaliers responded with three straight scores, including a 32-yard touchdown pass from Matt Schaub and a 1-yard run by Wali Lundy. Bryan Randall threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Wilford in the third quarter, and Jones added a 3-yard scoring run to cut the deficit to 28–21. Virginia sealed the win with a late touchdown drive capped by a 5-yard run from Lundy. Jones rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns, while Randall threw for 188 yards and a score. Wilford added 67 receiving yards and a touchdown. On defense, Nathaniel Adibi recorded a sack and forced fumble, and Baaqee added nine tackles, but the Hokies allowed 466 total yards and lost the turnover battle 2–0.[5]
December 26 – vs. California (Insight Bowl)
Virginia Tech closed the season with a 52–49 loss to California in the Insight Bowl, a wild shootout in Phoenix that featured over 1,000 yards of combined offense and a breakout performance from Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Hokies struck first with a 1-yard touchdown run by Kevin Jones, but Rodgers responded with three first-half touchdown passes to give the Golden Bears a 35–21 lead at the break. Bryan Randall kept Tech in the game with a pair of scoring strikes to Ernest Wilford and Keith Willis, and Jones added a second rushing touchdown in the third quarter. Cal extended its lead to 52–35 early in the fourth, but the Hokies rallied with two late touchdowns—Randall’s third TD pass to Wilford and a 1-yard run by Marcus Vick—to cut the deficit to three. Tech’s final drive stalled near midfield, and Cal ran out the clock. Randall finished with a career-high 398 passing yards and four touchdowns, while Jones rushed for 153 yards and two scores in his final collegiate game. Wilford caught eight passes for 110 yards and three touchdowns. On defense, Mikal Baaqee led the team with 13 tackles, but the Hokies struggled to contain Rodgers, who threw for 394 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another.[6]
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