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The 2007 Dr. Pepper ACC Championship Game featured the Boston College Eagles and the Virginia Tech Hokies in a regular-season college football game that determined the conference's champion for the 2007 season. Virginia Tech defeated Boston College 30–16 to win the ACC football championship. The game, held at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, was a rematch of a regular-season game that took place on October 25, in Blacksburg, Virginia. In that game, Boston College, courtesy of a late-game comeback by quarterback Matt Ryan, won 14–10. Following the loss, Virginia Tech won five straight games to win the Coastal Division of the ACC, while Boston College stumbled, losing two games before defeating the Clemson Tigers to win the Atlantic Division and representation in the Championship Game. Most pre-game media coverage of the event cast the game as an opportunity for Virginia Tech to avenge its earlier loss. In addition, the winner of the game would be awarded an automatic bid to the Bowl Championship Series 2008 Orange Bowl game in Miami, Florida on January 3, 2008. Despite Boston College's earlier win over Virginia Tech, spread bettors favored Virginia Tech by five points. In the opening quarter of the game, the Eagles took a 7–0 lead on a 51-yard fumble return for a touchdown. The Eagles' offense dominated the first half of the game statistically, but failed to add to its early lead until the second quarter, when a field goal made it 10–0. Virginia Tech answered with a touchdown of their own, but Boston College responded with a seven-play, 74-yard touchdown drive of its own. Then came perhaps the most pivotal play of the game. During the extra point kick following the Boston College touchdown, Virginia Tech's Duane Brown blocked the kick, which was caught by the Hokies' cornerback Brandon Flowers, who returned it 75 yards for a defensive two-point conversion. The play changed the momentum of the game. Virginia Tech added a tying touchdown before halftime, and after a scoreless third quarter, two Matt Ryan interceptions resulted in 14 points for Virginia Tech and a 30–16 Virginia Tech win. With the victory, the Hokies earned their second Atlantic Coast Conference football championship in four years and their first Orange Bowl bid since 1996. ==Background== The ACC Championship Game matches the winner of the Coastal and Atlantic Divisions of the Atlantic Coast Conference. A conference championship game was added in 2005, as a result of the league's expansion the previous year, adding former Big East members Miami,〔(ACC invites Miami, Va. Tech ) Tim Candon, ''The Daily Tar Heel'', June 26, 2003. Accessed December 6, 2007.〕 Virginia Tech, and Boston College.〔(Eagles' move just another BCS-windle ) Brendan Hall, The ''Massachusetts Daily Collegian'', October 24, 2003. Accessed December 6, 2007.〕 With the addition of Boston College, the ACC consisted of 12 teams, allowing it to hold a conference championship game under NCAA rules.〔(ACC expansion doesn't concern members of SEC ) Tim Vacek, Gannett News Service, July 8, 2003. Accessed December 6, 2007.〕 Florida State defeated Virginia Tech, 27–22 in the first ACC Championship game.〔(Inaugural Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game ) The Atlantic Coast Conference. Accessed December 6, 2007.〕 The following year, the game, held in Jacksonville, Florida, pitted Wake Forest against Georgia Tech, with Wake Forest winning 9–6.〔(2006 Dr Pepper ACC Championship ) The Atlantic Coast Conference. Accessed December 6, 2007.〕 Before the 2007 season began, most sports writers and pollsters predicted that Florida State would win the Atlantic Division while Virginia Tech would win the Coastal Division, setting up a rematch of the 2005 ACC Championship Game.〔(2007 ACC Football Preseason Poll Announced ) ACC Press release, July 23, 2007. Accessed December 6, 2007.〕 In October, Florida State lost back-to-back ACC conference games to Wake Forest and Miami, eliminating them from contention for their division title.〔(Miami Edges FSU In Rivalry Game ) Florida State University, October 20, 2007. Accessed December 7, 2007.〕 Boston College, which had finished second in the preseason Atlantic Division poll, was ranked No. 2 in the country after Florida State's loss to Miami.〔(2007 NCAA Football Rankings - Week 8 (Oct. 21) ) ESPN.com, Accessed December 7, 2007.〕 Virginia Tech, which suffered a 48–7 defeat at the hands of then-No. 2 LSU,〔(Tigers swarm Hokies in Death Valley, 48-7 ) Virginia Tech Sports Information Department, September 9, 2007. Accessed December 7, 2007.〕 nevertheless remained at the top of the Coastal Division standings as the Eagles passed the Seminoles for the Atlantic Division lead. On October 25, Boston College traveled to Blacksburg, Virginia, home of Virginia Tech, for a Thursday night game broadcast on ESPN.〔(Boston College faces toughest test of the season in Blacksburg ) ESPN.com. Accessed December 7, 2007.〕 In heavy rain, Virginia Tech's defense dominated for most of the game.〔 As time ran down, however, Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan orchestrated two late-game touchdown drives, scoring 14 points in the final 2 minutes to win 14–10.〔(BC rains on Hokies' parade with 14-10 victory ) Virginia Tech Sports Information Department, October 25, 2007. Accessed December 7, 2007.〕 The victory seemingly sealed Boston College's route to a national championship game, while the loss potentially jeopardized Virginia Tech's chances of being selected to play in the ACC Championship Game.〔(Noles end Boston College's dream start to season ) Mark Schlabach, ESPN.com, November 5, 2007. Accessed February 2, 2008.〕 Over the next two weeks, however, Boston College was upset by Florida State and Maryland.〔(BC Falls to Maryland, 42-35 ) Boston College Athletic Department, November 11, 2007.〕 The Eagles rallied to win their final two games—against Miami and Clemson—to clinch the division title.〔(No. 15 Boston College Tops Miami, 28-14 ) Boston College Athletic Department, November 24, 2007. Accessed December 7, 2007.〕 Virginia Tech, meanwhile, was undefeated through the remainder of its schedule, including a division-clinching win over its archrival, Virginia.〔(Hokies win Coastal division with 33–21 defeat of UVa ) Virginia Tech Sports Information Department, November 24, 2007. Accessed December 7, 2007.〕 This meant that the ACC Championship Game in Jacksonville would be a rematch between these two division champions. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「2007 ACC Championship Game」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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