Va. Tech's young receivers catch stride; caution issued about city.(Newport News, Va., Daily Press)

Byline: Norm Wood and Dave Fairbank

NEW ORLEANS _ Virginia Tech is the ACC champ and in the Sugar Bowl for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is its freshman receiver corps.

True freshmen Eddie Royal, Josh Hyman and Josh Morgan have combined for 59 receptions, 1,073 yards and nine touchdowns, as well as demonstrating a knack for big plays.

"There was a learning period, a learning curve _ there's still a learning curve and a learning process for them," offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring said. But to be able to do some of the things that they did and to make some of the plays they made throughout this year, I don't know that we would be here without the plays that they made. I know that much."

Royal's 80-yard catch-and-run against Georgia Tech jump-started the Hokies' fourth-quarter comeback. Morgan scored the winning touchdown on a 51-yard play in that same game.

Hyman hauled in a pair of second-half touchdown passes that helped carry the Hokies over Virginia. Royal ran away from Miami All-America cornerback Antrell Rolle for the deciding touchdown in a victory in the Orange Bowl that propelled Tech to the ACC title and a BCS game.

"After the first couple games, I knew we had something special," Tech quarterback Bryan Randall said. "I always had confidence in their ability, but I knew getting on the same page would be the tough part.