BLACKSBURG — Thousands of Virginia Tech fans exited Lane Stadium at halftime of Friday’s game against Cal. They had seen this movie before.

Or so they believed.

Yes, the Hokies had yielded 20 consecutive points and trailed by 10. And yes, their penchant for damaging penalties and special-teams gaffes had re-emerged.

But something flipped at intermission, and what subsequently transpired was a stirring and flawed testament to resilience egged on by a shirtless band of presumably well-lubricated knotheads braving mid-30s temperatures in the north end zone.

Tech 42, Cal 34. Double-overtime.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our football team and our coaching staff,” interim head coach Philip Montgomery said.

Such sentiment usually rings hollow, win or lose. But Montgomery’s words, delivered

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