Dalton Keene article

Guys, here's an article I did on Dalton Keene's game saving catch against UVA in 2018.
Hope y'all enjoy it.

One Play

By Mark Reif

Many times after a close college football game, I'll hear the coach mention how the difference between winning and losing came down to a handful of plays. I've also heard it said the game came down to one play in each phase of the game - offense, defense, special teams - and when I reflect back on it, realize this to be true. There are so many tense moments during one play in a college football game; after preparing like professional athletes all year long, it's distilled down to these brief skirmishes over several seconds with little margin for error. What about when a game is so close it comes down to one play? I believe I witnessed that very thing in the fall of 2018 when Virginia Tech took on Virginia at Lane Stadium.

As the 2018 college football season drew to a close, things weren't looking good for the Virginia Tech Hokies. As in most seasons, Tech was competitive and, in my opinion, capable of winning each game they contested. But for whatever reason, after a strong opening win against Florida State, the team faltered over the course of the season. The team had a lot of newcomers on defense, usually a strong suit for the Hokies, which showed as the season went on. With the cerebral nature of college football these days, one defensive player being just a little bit out of place can allow a big gain.

Time and time again, against formidable teams like Miami or Boston College, the Hokies would show great potential, going toe to toe with their opponent and lead the game, then falter in the second half and end up losing. The good part of this was knowing they had the ability to win and the program wasn't crumbling as we watched. But it was frustrating too and made you start to wonder if they'd ever crawl out of the bad position they found themselves in. With a losing record of 4-6 and their bowl streak on the line, they stared down a home contest against their in-state rival, Virginia, late in November.

Though the quality of having heart is talked about occasionally in college football these days, it seems to have been eclipsed by the number of stars recruiting services give a player or how many top schools offer him a scholarship. Observing teams recruit top players gets a little embarrassing at times. The red carpet gets rolled out over and over again, appearing in some cases to go far beyond offering a scholarship and helping a player make a good decision. At times, the world of recruiting is reminiscent of a tabloid covering the celebrities of high school football. In this setting, personality traits appear to take a back seat to physically measurable attributes. But time and time again, especially while watching the Virginia Tech Hokies, I've been reminded of the importance of heart and how in the sport of football it matters so much.

When Dalton Keene arrived from Colorado as a freshman in 2017, he was a bit of an anomaly. In recruiting news, people are usually excited about a highly rated quarterback, running back or receiver, but Dalton was more of a jack of all trades who could perform a variety of duties in the Hokies offense. With a large 6'5" frame and plenty of room to fill out, he would be invaluable as a blocker in pass protection as well as occasionally being thrown the ball for a solid gain. This position is known as an H-back, an unheralded yet highly important part of an offense where each player has to do their part correctly, however unglamorous it may be.

Through his first and second seasons as a Hokie, Dalton would showcase reliability and utility. Oftentimes, the offense would go a long time without throwing him a pass, lulling the defense's senses as to what he was doing, only to have him break free for a first down reception and the occasional touchdown.
One particular play that encapsulates Dalton Keene as a football player took place against Duke in 2018. The Hokies were having a good game that night and the offense was hitting on all cylinders. With VT leading 10-7 and on 1st and 10 from their own 33 yard line, the ball was snapped out of the shotgun to the quarterback, Ryan Willis.

Keene, set back from the line of scrimmage and to outside of the right tackle, briefly blocked the defensive end before breaking away to the flat. Willis let the defenders bring pressure towards him, much like a screen pass, before lofting a short throw over their heads and into the hands of Keene. Making the most of an opportunity with the ball, Keene immediately turned upfield, first juking a defender as if he were a running back, then leaning forward and accelerating like a freight train. He had two defenders in hot pursuit. As one caught up, he looked back and threw a punishing stiff arm and the defender fell to the ground. At full speed now, he continued down the sideline displaying maximum effort, outrunning several other defenders who didn't seem to want a piece of him, and into the end zone. The catch and run was reminiscent of a bull who escaped his pen and into the streets, and everyone wanting to get out of the way.

The Virginia Tech team entrance is arguably the most exhilarating in all of college football. It varies slightly from year to year as far as some of the songs that precede Enter Sandman by Metallica, but always produces an electric excitement before the team takes the field. In 2018, The Outsiders by Eric Church was part of the rotation before the entrance and its defiant, hardworking sound gave me chills as it seemed to embody the grit of the team that year, and what it meant to be a Hokie.

Under an overcast sky in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech faced off against Virginia on November 23, 2018. The Hokies owned the first half, jumping out to a 14-0 lead. At times the offense looked dazzling as star receiver Tre Turner made a one handed grab in the end zone under the lights that made the SportsCenter highlight reel. Things were going well. As halftime began, I had a comfortable yet wary feeling about the rest of the game.

The wary feeling proved to be well founded as UVA began the second half strong, scoring a touchdown, then continuing on to score three more before taking the lead from the Hokies in the fourth quarter. Tech had their moments on offense too but the team wasn't rolling like they'd been in the first half. At that point, it was 28-24 UVA with nearly seven minutes left, so not all hope was lost. But when the Hokies gave up an interception which was followed by a Virginia field goal to make it 31-24 with less than three minutes to go, I was preparing for the long drive home.

It's a very special thing to walk out of Lane Stadium in a state of disbelief after an unexpected Hokies win. Similar to the Virginia game I was watching, back in 2017 it seemed as though all hope was lost when Pitt lined up at the Hokies' one and a half yard line with a first down and barely any time left. All the panthers needed to do was score a quick, easy touchdown on a running play to seal the game. But amazingly, the Hokies held their ground, stymying the Pitt offense on four straight plays. I left the stadium that day with half of my psyche not believing what just happened and the other half joyous at the exhilarating win.

There was 2:41 left on the game clock. The Hokies lined up on their 25 yard line after receiving the kickoff for a touchback. In all likelihood, this would be their last possession of the game. Things didn't look good. Some tall defensive ends on Virginia had been batting down Virginia Tech passes all night and sure enough, one did so on the first play from scrimmage. It was the third straight Hokies pass that had been knocked to the ground. Second down looked hopeless too. Initially unable to find a receiver and facing pressure, Ryan Willis rolled to his right before throwing it away along the home sideline. After each play, frustration and dejection showed as the Hokies players walked to the huddle.

Lining up for third down with not much more than hope and the necessity to carry out the play, the team sprung from the line of scrimmage. Looking back now, one has to admire the Virginia Tech players for sticking to it and giving their all despite such dim circumstances. Dalton Keene was split out far to the right near the home sideline and leapt out of his stance, his long legs powering into a sprint. Ryan Willis took the snap out of the shotgun, initially getting tangled up in a few pass rushers before rolling to the left and looking far downfield. Backpedaling towards the visitors' sideline, he surveyed his options before winding up and heaving the ball with his back foot on the 25 yard line. It sailed high through the night air of Blacksburg toward Dalton Keene and a Virginia defender.

Dalton Keene was angling towards the Virginia sideline with the defender just catching up to him. As the ball arrived, Keene stretched out his long arms to catch it in a scooping motion while the defender simultaneously reached for it, trying to make an interception. They both appeared to have an equal chance at gaining possession. As they each struggled for the ball, the desire and tenacity of Dalton Keene shown as he wrangled for it as though every Hokie heart in Lane Stadium depended on it. Clutching the ball towards his torso, he and the defender tumbled to the ground. The defender's hands and arms tried to take it away but Keene wouldn't budge and held it securely until the whistle blew.

Keene got up and trotted away like a lion after a successful hunt. The crowd roared and the team had new life. Now there was a chance. I still didn't think they'd win but the possibility existed and the night had once again come alive inside Lane Stadium. In a succession of plays that were as fast-paced as they were breathtaking, Virginia Tech scored a touchdown to tie the game as my father and I looked on and cheered in amazement.

Finally, after going into overtime, the game was decided in thrilling fashion when Virginia Tech recovered a fumble after a muffed handoff due to pressure from star linebacker Rayshard Ashby. As players struggled for the ball on the ground, a Virginia Tech player, Khalil Ladler, took off his helmet and ran for the large VT logo in the center of the field before anyone knew what was happening. Once Emmanuel Belmar emerged from the scrum with the ball, Lane Stadium erupted into a deafening chorus as people high-fived and hugged. Enter Sandman was played over the PA system and the crowd jumped with joy. Though I can't be sure, I believe The Outsiders was played and seemed a perfect anthem for such a tough victory.

My father and I just smiled and enjoyed the emotional high, our beloved team having grabbed a victory in the most dramatic way possible. I had a fellow fan snap a picture of us with the backdrop of the field in the background, which I've framed and anytime I see it, remember what a special night that was. Though it's nice when your team dominates an opponent from the get go, grinding out a win against all odds is so much more special.

Dalton Keene, with his abundant heart, grit and dependability showcased in a single play helped the Hokies secure a dramatic win at home against Virginia. The entire team deserves credit but without that singular effort at that moment in time, I doubt the Hokies would have won. With all of the focus in college football anymore on flash and star ratings for recruits, along with wildly expensive facilities which has led to an arms race of sorts, that night it came down to the most simple elements of the game: effort, focus and never giving up. These days when I play The Outsiders, I crack a half smile and remember that night and what an amazing feeling it was to be at Lane Stadium, cheering on the Hokies.