Senior tailback Cedric Humes suffered a fractured right arm in the second quarter of Virginia Tech’s 41-14 victory over the Marshall Thundering Herd on Saturday. Humes had surgery on Sunday morning to have a plate inserted in the arm, but reports were mixed as to how long he would be out.
Humes suffered the injury while making a cut block on a defender in pass protection. He had run for 58 yards and one touchdown on ten carries up to that point. Because Mike Imoh was already out with an injury, r-freshman Branden Ore stepped in for the injured seniors and carried the ball 19 times for 146 yards and a touchdown.
Billy Hite remarked after the game that it would be possible to have Humes back in time for the Maryland game on Thursday night, October 20. Mike Goforth, Tech’s head trainer, said Humes would likely miss four to six weeks. If Goforth’s prognosis proves to be correct, then the earliest point at which he could return would be the Miami game on Saturday, November 5.
This isn’t the first time that the Hokies have had injury issues with the Humes/Imoh combination. In spring practice of 2004, Humes suffered a broken bone in his leg. He never missed a game with the injury, but was never quite 100% until the end of the season. Mike Imoh sprained his ankle in the Maryland game in 2004 and was limited for the remainder of the season. Imoh has also been limited this season with a sprained ankle that he suffered in the Duke game.
Vick Ranked Third in Passing Efficiency
Virginia Tech junior quarterback Marcus Vick dropped one spot to third in passing efficiency ratings following the Hokies’ victory over Marshall. Vick went 11-16 for 163 yards, with one touchdown and one interception for the game. The interception was just Vick’s second on the season, and the second turnover overall on the year for the Hokies.
Michigan State quarterback Drew Stanton remains at the top of the rankings following a bye week for the Spartans. Brian Brohm of Louisville jumped to second after Louisville’s 69-14 victory over North Carolina on Saturday. Vick stands at third, just 3.5 points behind Brohm, and 1.2 points ahead of Phil Horvath of Northern Illinois.
Hokie Defense Still Highly Ranked
The Virginia Tech defense got off to a shaky start against the Thundering Herd on Saturday, but improved as the game went along and recorded another solid outing. After six games, the Hokies rank near the top of the ACC, and the nation, in every major defensive category.
In the most important statistic, scoring defense, Virginia Tech ranks first nationally, surrendering just nine points per game. The Hokies, the Auburn Tigers and the Connecticut Huskies are the only teams in the country that are giving up less than ten points per game.
The Hokies rank second in the country and first in the ACC in total defense, allowing just 235.5 yards per game. Connecticut has the lead nationally, surrendering 227.8 yards per game. Virginia Tech leads Miami by a thin margin in the ACC. The Hurricanes are giving up just 236.6 yards per game.
The Virginia Tech rushing defense isn’t quite as good as many would expect, but they still put up good numbers, ranking 21st nationally and third in the ACC. The Hokies give up 102.5 yards per game on the ground. The Tech defense trails only Boston College and Georgia Tech in this category in the ACC.
Perhaps the most impressive statistic for the Hokies is pass defense. The Virginia Tech secondary lost three starters following the 2004 season, two of which went on to the NFL. Vincent Fuller was replaced at free safety by converted tailback Justin Hamilton, while former whip linebacker Aaron Rouse slid back to rover. The Hokies were supposed to struggle somewhat against the pass in 2005. That hasn’t been the case.
Virginia Tech left the Marshall game ranking fifth in the nation in pass efficiency defense with a rating of 90.7. As good as that rating is, it ranks only third in the ACC. Miami is ranked fourth nationally with NC State coming in at third.
In passing defense, which is total yards given up through the air, Virginia Tech ranks second nationally and first in the ACC. Connecticut, yet again, is slightly in front of the Hokies. VT gives up 133 yards per game through the air, and the Huskies allow just 129.8.
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