Virginia Tech Football: Ranking the Top 5 Plays of the Hokies' Regular Season

The Virginia Tech Hokies finished the 2015 college football season with a 6-6 record. Fortunately for the Hokies, it was enough to go bowling for a 23rd consecutive season and send legendary head coach Frank Beamer into retirement on a positive note. 

It was announced on Sunday, per Ava Wallace of the Washington Post, that the Hokies would be participating in the Camping World Independence Bowl. The irony of this appearance is Tech's bowl streak under Beamer began at the Independence Bowl back in 1993.

There were lots of highs and lows for Tech this season, from the loss of quarterback Michael Brewer in the season opener versus Ohio State to the disappointing loss to East Carolina for a second straight year. 

So, how'd the Hokies reach this point?

Here's a look at Virginia Tech's top five plays from the recently completed 2015 regular season. 

The stage was set for a miracle: Beamer's last home game in Lane Stadium against the Coastal Division's top team. The Hokies were down 14 points with less than five minutes remaining before Bucky Hodges' touchdown catch trimmed the lead to seven points.

Then, Tech's defense forced a turnover, and suddenly, the Hokies were in business. 

Moments later, quarterback Michael Brewer found All-ACC receiver Isaiah Ford in the end zone to tie the game and send it into overtime.

The Hokies didn't win the game, but Lane Stadium hasn't seen that type of excitement and emotion in years. That's why it was one of the top moments—if not the top moment—of Virginia Tech's 2015 season.

Virginia Tech kicker Joey Slye was solid all season. Beamer loves him, citing his toughness and willingness to tackle on special teams, per Mike Barber of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. 

“He’s perfect, as far as I’m concerned,” Beamer said. “He’s my linebacker-kicker. How many kickers want to go down there and make a tackle? Well, Joey is kind of leading the charge. I think he likes tackling better than he does kicking, and that’s not bad.”

It's good to know your head coach loves you, and Slye's kicking is the biggest reason why. Slye connected on 75 percent of his attempts, including 12 from beyond 40 yards. 

None were bigger than his 41-yarder against Virginia to give the Hokies the lead. Those points were enough to win the game and defeat the Cavaliers for the 12th straight time. 

While the points from Slye's kick may have decided the game, it was safety Chuck Clark's interception with just over a minute remaining that sealed the win at Virginia.

In the video above, you can see relief and joy on Beamer's face as his son, Shane, and longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster embrace him. 

Not only did this play send the Hokies to a 23rd consecutive bowl, it ensured yet another victory over Tech's beleaguered rival.

Just looking at Beamer's face, you'd have to believe this was the top moment of the Hokies' 2015 season. That type of raw emotion rarely exists in college football in this day and age. 

In the first game after Beamer announced his retirement, the Hokies traveled to Atlanta to face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on a Thursday night.

If you've followed Virginia Tech's program closely over the years, you'd know playing on Thursday nights—and winning—helped build the program and make the Hokies relevant on the national scene. 

So, on this Thursday night, the Hokies fought back from a two-touchdown deficit to take a 23-21 lead late in the fourth quarter. The Yellow Jackets were driving with under a minute remaining, facing a 3rd-and-20, when Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas was sacked by Ken Ekanem for a seven-yard loss. 

Facing a 4th-and-27 was too much for GT's triple-option offense, as a final desperation pass fell incomplete, and the Hokies moved one step closer to bowl eligibility. 

Ekanem's sack was the unquestioned play of the game and a major reason Virginia Tech won. 

In a four-overtime loss to Duke on October 24, sophomore tight end Bucky Hodges' 23-yard touchdown reception capped off a terrific Virginia Tech drive that would help send the game into the first overtime.

While the Hokies didn't win the game, it would go down as one of the more exciting games in college football this season and in Lane Stadium history.

The drive was, arguably, the best of the season for Virginia Tech. The Hokies, down eight points, began at their own 17-yard line and completed the drive in just under six minutes. Considering the game was on the line, the drive was even more impressive.

Lane Stadium erupted when Hodges caught the touchdown, and it proved to be one of the most exciting moments of Tech's 2015 regular season.