Virginia Tech routs Virginia

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The low murmur that started building Saturday behind the north end zone of Scott Stadium with a few minutes left in No. 14 Virginia Tech's 42-13 win against Virginia turned in to a thunderous plea as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

"Keep Al Groh! Keep Al Groh!"

As good as the Groh years have been for Tech (9-3 overall, 6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), the mocking chant of Tech fans likely didn't move U.Va.'s athletic department decision-makers. The decision regarding Groh's job status was certainly already final before Saturday's game.

This year's installment of the rivalry was more about Tech running back Ryan Williams further stamping himself as one of the nation's best running backs than it was a heartfelt swan song for Groh. Williams, a redshirt freshman, carried the ball 24 times for a career-high 183 yards and four touchdowns.

U.Va. (3-9, 2-6) finished the season with six consecutive losses, sending it to its worst record since going 2-9 in 1982. It also tied a school-record with its sixth straight loss against Tech, which has won 10 of the last 11 meetings against U.Va.

With 1,538 yards on the season, Williams is already the leading freshman runner in Tech and ACC history. Now, he needs 110 yards in Tech's yet to be determined bowl game to pass Kevin Jones for the best single-season rushing mark in school history.

"I think I've done the unexpected," said Williams regarding his production this season, which has included nine 100-yard games, tying him with Jones for the school record. "My main goal for this season was to try to help the team the best I can to win. I think I did that very well."

His four touchdowns came on the heels of a four touchdown effort Nov. 21 against North Carolina State, making him the second Tech player to score four or more touchdowns in back-to-back games. In 2000, Lee Suggs had five touchdowns against Central Florida, and followed it two weeks later with four touchdowns against U.Va.

Williams has scored 20 touchdowns this season—19 rushing and one receiving—to establish another ACC freshman mark.

"He is an incredibly tough runner who is going to have a great career in this league," said U.Va. linebacker Aaron Clark, who was part of a defense that gave up 483 yards to Tech, including 298 yards rushing. "He was able to make some big plays today."

Williams did it against U.Va. in a style similar to how he's performed all season. He carried and dragged defenders for hard yards, and popped big runs of 14, 16, 20 and 51 yards.