If you haven’t heard by now, Virginia Tech beat Cincinnati last night 20 to 7 in the 75th annual Orange Bowl.

Several things stood out in my mind.  First, I thought sophmore quarterback Tyrod Taylor did an excellent job.  He totally out played the Cincinatti quarterback Tony Pike, who had one of the worst bowl game’s I’ve ever seen.

We all knew Tyrod was one of the best high school quarterbacks in the nation when he played at Hampton High School, the only question was could he be as good in college. Well, in only his second year (and he didn’t even start the entire season), he has won an ACC Championship (where he was named the most valuable player) and he won a BCS bowl game.

Second, freshman running back Darren Evans is the real deal. We knew he was one of the best high school runners in the nation, and here in his first bowl game, (and not the PapaJohnsdotcompizza bowl, but a BCS game), he runs for 153 yards and two touchdowns and is named the game’s MVP.

Unless for some reason they were to leave school early, both Taylor and Evans will be back for at least two more years Evans maybe three.  Toss in the fact that all but four of the starters from last night’s game will be back next year, and the future looks bright for the Hokies.

Don’t mess with the Eastern Region!

If you think your gonna line up against this area’s best football players and come away with a win, think again. The titles have been handed out and Hampton Roads makes it 3 for 3. Oscar Smith, Phoebus and Franklin are king of the hill in Virginia.

Dinwiddie, done! Osbourn, ouch! Clintwood, crushed! And the damage doesn’t end there. Boston College, bumbed! Villanova, vanished! Players from the 757 took a big bite out of the competition and made a statement on the grandest stage.

Here’s a tought question. Who had the best weekend?

Does the honor go to Phoebus battering ram Shawne Alston? All he did was run wild on Dinwiddie. The West Virginia bound recruit weaved his way for 237 yards and 2 touchdowns. How about teamate Tajh Boyd. All he did was throw 3 touchdown passes in the final game of his high school career.

Maybe the best performance was in the Oscar Smith blow out over Osbourn. Tim Smith only caught 6 balls. But 4 of those catches went for touchdowns and they were all long. His touchdowns covered 34, 64, 54 and 54 yards. How about his runningmate and future Virginia teamate Perry Jones. Jones rushed for 150 yards and 2 touchdowns. Smith and Jones had games they will never forget, but the best of the bunch goes to Phillip Sims. All he did was throw for a state championship 6 touchdowns. Sims had 5 touchdown tosses before halftime. It was a good thing Oscar Smith took it’s foot off the pedal in the second half, or else Sims would have torched Lane Stadium like never scene before. Instead he finished with 334 yards passing. Keep in mind, the kid is just a junior and yes now more than ever, schools from near and far will be busting down his door!

Now Franklin had it’s share of studs too. Quarterback Donzelle Shearin capped off a great season with 2 touchdowns in the state title game.

No doubt these kids will go on to great careers in college. It seems like just yesterday we were praising Tyrod Taylor and Rodney Landers. Taylor ran for 2 touchdowns and was named the ACC Championship game MVP. Landers almost single-handidly led James Madison to the Div. 1AA semifinal. He threw 3 touchdowns and ran for another. The former Tallwood star was the games leading rusher.

Yes you could say the boys from the 757 made a statement this weekend. The path to football greatness goes thru Hampton Roads.