Huddle up! Here’s a look back at this weekend on the gridiron, with three key takeaways from the state’s football scene.
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Chase Young injury dampens a big win for Washington.
It’s been that kind of a season for the Washington Football Team, where even when something positive happens, it’s overshadowed by a negative.
Washington not only snapped a four-game losing streak, but did it against the defending Super Bowl champions and Tom Brady, beating Tampa Bay 29-19.
But the win came at a cost, as defensive end Chase Young suffered a season-ending injury.
The NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, Young suffered a torn ACL in his right knee, an injury sustained in the second quarter against Tampa.
Now, it will about whether he can come back at full strength in time for training camp next summer.
Young wasn’t having the year he hoped for, with 1 1/2 sacks, but his injury is still a big blow for any hopes Washington had of making a comeback in the standings during the second half of the year.
Burmeister returns, helps get Hokies back on track.
Virginia Tech quarterback Braxton Burmeister is still battling an upper body injury suffered against Boston College on Nov. 6, but his mere presence might have saved Virginia Tech’s bowl chances on Saturday.
Burmeister returned to action and played well against Duke, throwing for 215 yards and three touchdowns in Virginia Tech’s 48-17 win.
The win helped Virginia Tech improve to 5-5 in what was a must-win for its chances of qualifying for a bowl, given the last two games of the season are at Miami and at Virginia.
No Armstrong, no chance for the Cavaliers against Notre Dame.
Trying to compete with Notre Dame was likely going to be a tall task for Virginia, even with Brennan Armstrong, the nation’s leading passer.
But with Armstrong not playing due to a rib injury suffered against BYU on Oct. 30, the Cavaliers couldn’t keep up with Notre Dame in a 28-3 loss.
However, there was probably a reason why the Cavaliers wanted to play it safe with Armstrong, even if it meant him not playing against Notre Dame.
The biggest game of the season is on the horizon when Virginia travels to Pitt, which is one game ahead of Virginia in the ACC Coastal standings.
If Virginia wins, it will control its own destiny for a spot in the ACC Championship game.
If Armstrong can play in that game, it will be a great quarterback battle between him and Pitt’s Kenny Pickett, who one of the top quarterback prospects for next year’s NFL Draft.