From way downtown! Twice! Virginia Tech, Miami kickers close 1st half with a field goal display
Virginia Tech place kicker John Love (17) kicks a field goal during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Miami, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Credit: AP/Marta Lavandier
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — John Love and Andy Borregales sent Virginia Tech and No. 7 Miami into halftime with a little bit of fireworks Friday night.
They're the kickers — and they connected on career-longs 20 seconds apart to end the first half.
Love made a 57-yarder for Virginia Tech, and Borregales answered with a 56-yarder for Miami on the final play before halftime. The Hokies took a 24-17 lead into the locker room in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.
Love added a 52-yarder in the second half, but Miami wound up rallying for a 38-34 victory.
It was the first FBS game since an Arizona-Washington State matchup on Oct. 28, 2017 — according to SportRadar — where both teams connected on a field goal of at least 56 yards.
There were 14 field goals of 56 yards or more at the FBS level in the entire 2023 season, the NCAA said, and Love and Borregales pushed the number of such kicks in 2024 to 10 already.
