Ponder Makes His Debut As Noles Fall To Hokies 40-21 In Blacksburg

The Noles travelled to Blacksburg to play the Hokies on November 10, 2007 before a crowd of over 66,000. The game was played in mid 40 degree weather with the wind chill bringing it down to 40 degrees.

FSU got on the board first with a Cismesia 41 yard field goal in the first quarter. However the Hokies on the next possession scored a TD on a 31 yard pass play from Tyrod Taylor. The extra point was missed and the Hokies led 6-3. With a little over two minutes left in the first quarter, the Noles added another field goal on a Cismesia 39 yarder to even the score 6-6 at the end of the first quarter.

At the start of the second quarter, the Hokies scored quick on a Tyrod Taylor pass to make the score 13-6 in favor of the Hokies.Weatherford was later taken out of the game with a concussion and Ponder made his first debut at QB for the Noles. The Hokies scored another TD in the second quarter to lead the Noles 20-6 at the half.

With the temperature getting cooler in the second half, the Noles scored first on a Cismesia 50 yarder to make the score 20-9 in favor of the Hokies. On the subsequent Hokie possession, Dekoda Watson intercepted a Tyrod Taylor pass and returned it 40 yards for a TD. The Noles trailed the Hokies 20-15 after a failed two pointer. The Noles scored another TD later in the third quarter on a Ponder to Fagg pass to lead the Hokies 21-20 after another Ponder two point pass play failed. At the end of the third the Noles led the Hokies 21-20 but that would be short lived.

Tyrod Taylor at the beginning of the fourth would pass for a TD and convert a two pointer to lead the Noles 28-21. A later field goal by the Hokies would increase their lead to 31-21. A subsequent interception of Ponder led to a Hokie 25 yard return and Va. Tech led the Noles 38-21. A safety later would increase the score and the Hokies would win 40-21 in their first win over the Noles since 1975.