Virginia Tech recovers from horrendous officiating to beat California in double overtime

After trailing 20-10 at halftime, the Virginia Tech football team dominated California in the third quarter and midway through the fourth to score 17 unearned points for a 27-20 lead.

Kyron Drones scored on a touchdown run midway through the fourth for a seven-point lead. California, which struggled to move the ball in the second half, marched down the field and faced a third and goal from inside the 5-yard line. Virginia Tech sacked Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, but a brutal roughing the passer call gave the visitors new life. Instead of a fourth-and-goal from the 12, they got a first-and-goal inside the 5 and tied the game on a Kendrick Raphael touchdown run.

Both teams would miss field goals in the final two minutes sending the game to overtime before the Hokies were able to win.

Virginia Tech beats Cal in double overtime

Both teams scored first overtime touchdowns before Virginia Tech scored on a Drones to Takye Heath touchdown pass to open the second overtime. Drones added the two-point conversion for a 42-34 lead. The defense was able to stop the Golden Bears on their possession to improve to 3-5.

Look, that may not seem like a big roughing the passer call at the time, but the game strategy changes with fourth-and-goal from the 12-yard line instead of a first-and-goal inside the 5-yard line. Cal had all three timeouts left, and a field goal makes it a 27-23 game. It changes both teams' play-calling on both sides of the ball.

This is the second straight year the Hokies have been hosed on Friday nights after the Miami disaster last year, when the game-winning touchdown was overturned on video review. This time, however, they were able to overcome it.

Virginia Tech finished with 476 yards of total offense, including 357 on the ground. Marcellous Hawkins had 167 on 21 carries, and Drones had 137 on 21 carries as well. Tech will host Louisville next Saturday.