Virginia Tech Runs Over Turnover-Prone Boston College 40-14

Hendon Hooker Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech’s Hendon Hooker plows into the end zone to put the Hokies up 10-7 in the second quarter. (Virginia Tech Athletics)

Teams across college football are shifting toward pass-heavy, air raid attacks. It’s commonplace to see quarterbacks light up the scoreboard for over 400 yards passing.

However, Virginia Tech is doing it in a completely different way. The Hokies (3-1) used the rushing attack of Hendon Hooker and Khalil Herbert to flatten Boston College (3-2), 40-14. The Eagles helped Tech’s cause by turning it over five times, but that doesn’t take away from what the Virginia Tech rushing attack accomplished.

“Once we got it rolling, you never know what’s going to happen,” Hooker said. “We have such a special offense. You never know when that one play is going to break open for a huge gain or a touchdown.”

Hooker finished the game with a career-high 164 yards on the ground while Herbert added 143 yards with his legs. It was the first time since 2010 that Virginia Tech had its quarterback and running back both rush for over 100 yards, when Tyrod Taylor and Darren Evans did it against NC State.

In Hooker’s first start of the season, the redshirt junior was simply sensational. His 164 rushing yards were the most by a Virginia Tech quarterback since Michael Vick’s 210-yard performance against Boston College in 2000.

“He’s just a dynamic playmaker,” Herbert said. “O-line does a good job of opening holes for either one of us. Some pull reads opened up and he was able to make plays with the feet.”

Hooker was efficient passing, going 11-of-15 for 111 yards through the air, including a 29-yard touchdown pass to Herbert. The Greensboro native was a huge threat in the red zone, lowering his shoulder en route to a 7-yard touchdown in the first quarter and following his blocking on a read option for a 5-yard score to extend the lead to 24-14 in the third quarter. Hooker put the nail in the coffin late in the game with a highlight reel spin move on the 17-yard touchdown for his third score of the game on the ground. 

“You’ve got them down, you got to put them down,” center Brock Hoffman said of the last touchdown. “You’ve got to finish them.”

Herbert also surpassed 100 yards rushing for the fourth consecutive game. The last Hokies running back to do so was David Wilson in 2011. Raheem Blackshear got going in the action late with a 28-yard touchdown. The threat of those two in the RPO opened up the offense and allowed Hooker more space to operate for his big game on the ground.

“It makes the offense so much more dangerous to have [Herbert] and to have Raheem Blackshear as well who scored a touchdown tonight and is very explosive,” Hooker said. “I was very excited to see him be back to his regular self. It definitely helps the offense out in a big way.”

Raheem Blackshear Virginia Tech
Raheem Blackshear scores on a 28 yard run in the forth quarter to put the Hokies up 33-14. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP, Pool)

Virginia Tech ended the game with 350 yards rushing on 41 carries, good for 8.5 yards per carry. In all three of the Hokies’ wins, the offense has collected over 300 yards rushing. With the Vice Squad paving the way, Virginia Tech is now averaging 312.0 yards on the ground per game and it is due in part to the motivating tactics of offensive line coach Vance Vice and Fuente.

“They talked about how physical this defense was and how they were pretty basic in what they do, but they were going to play harder than us,” Hoffman said. “That’s what they kept saying. ‘They’re going to play harder, they’re going to play harder,’ and ‘they’re more physical.’ It kind of pissed us off throughout the week and by the time we were ready to step out there, we were ready to make them not seem like they were physical. We were ready to be the physical people.”

The Hokies’ defense used a bend but don’t break mentality throughout the course of the game. Despite giving up 435 yards of offense to the Eagles and 345 yards passing to Phil Jurkovec, the defense surrendered just 14 points. 

The Eagles marched right down the field on the first two drives of the game, but the Hokies forced and recovered two fumbles. Early in the second quarter, Devin Taylor, who started at the free safety position, intercepted Phil Jurkovec for the Hokies third takeaway in four drives. 

“I felt fortunate to be in that situation [with a halftime lead] because of those two turnovers,” Fuente said. “Those were big plays as we were trying to gain our footing defensively.”

Brion Murray Virginia Tech
Brion Murray intercepts a tipped pass intended for Hunter Long 80 of Boston College in the forth quarter of the Hokies’ 40-14 win. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP, Pool)

Virginia Tech’s defense continued to find the football in the second half. Another fumble recovery in the third quarter and an interception late in the fourth quarter by Brion Murray totaled five turnovers for Justin Hamilton’s unit. The last time Virginia Tech’s defense turned the opponent over five times was in last year’s win over Miami. It was Hamilton’s first official win as defensive coordinator after missing the first two weeks and losing last week in his debut.

“Me personally, I have a really good relationship with coach Ham,” safety Divine Deablo said. “He came up to me and we hugged each other. I told him I love him and let’s keep it going.”

Virginia Tech will certainly look to keep things rolling when it hits the road next Saturday and travels to Wake Forest. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. in Winston-Salem. The game will be televised on RSN (Regional Sports Networks). Check your local listings and look for an affiliate list to be posted in our game preview later this week.

VIRGINIA TECH NEWS AND NOTES

  • Cornerback Jermaine Waller missed tonight’s action after returning for the first time this season last week against UNC. Waller was absent from the first two weeks of the season due to a nagging foot injury, but Fuente confirmed that was not the same issue he was dealing with tonight.“This is not what kept him out for a long time throughout the offseason and fall camp,” Fuente said. “I think he desperately wants to play, but I think he’ll be good to go this week.”
  • Divine Deablo returned to action after missing the previous two games. The redshirt senior was at boundary safety this week while Devin Taylor played at free safety. Deablo made a key impact with five tackles, one tackle for loss, and a forced fumble.“It felt great getting back out there with my teammates,” Deablo said. “I missed them guys and felt bad I couldn’t be out there the previous two weeks. Creating turnovers, that’s what we worked for all week. Just glad we got the ball out.” 
  • Virginia Tech’s wide receivers only caught seven passes in the game, with Kaleb Smith leading the way with three receptions. The lack of depth at the wide receiver position, especially after Tre Turner missed the second half with an injury, led to Virginia Tech using 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) pretty much the entire night.“[Tre] was on the sideline and seemed fine,” Fuente said. “I don’t know anything other than he wasn’t available the rest of the game… We have to develop our depth on the outside. Some of that development has been delayed due to all the missed time and missed practices. Now we’re in the middle of the season, so it’s a little bit difficult as you can imagine. We’re in game plan mode and there’s not a lot of get-better practices.”

— hokiesports.com box score —

Virginia Tech-Boston College Team and Player Stats

28 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. I’d just like to know when we are going to say enough is enough and we let the kids who paid for tickets get to see their Hokies kick butt in person! 1000 max, what an idiot.

  2. Go back and look at 77 Darrishaw’s downfield blocking on Herbert’s screen pass for a TD. The man could be a first-round selection next spring.

  3. Defense much better [not surprisingly as more players back], and running game very good [as aided by good O-line], but, worried about lack of production in passing game to provide a more balanced attack. I question leaving QB in game in 4th when game decided.

    1. Agree about QB – need to keep him from injury and the other 2 QB’s can always use the experience.

      1. I imagine Coach wanted HH to get as much game time as possible after being out of action for so long. Makes sense to me.

  4. Mochas Gracias for great summary. Love seeing the offense impose their will, as that was a great display of offensive power, vision & speed. Biggest concern YTD is Lack of production by our Mike and Defensive tackle production. Outstanding job by the defense in creating turnovers.

    Let’s Go… Hokies!!!
    Beat Wake

  5. Herbert Speed grade when up a whole notch – from B- to A-

    A Defense getting 5 turnovers – dang good. But, I was distressed by there number of 3rd down conversions in the first half. I think they got a bit desperate in the second. Glad Jackovic couldn’t run.

    Glad the O is good. Careful on our depth at WR. Get Well Tre.

  6. VT is doing what “in an entirely different way.” Throwing for 400 yards? Don’t get the opening. Do you mean VT is *winning* in an entirely different way? Enjoyed the article. Especially since &%$#$ Comcast makes sure I can’t see the game.

      1. Is that good for the long term though? I realize you go with the strength of team but if you are a QB or WR do you want to come pass and catch or run and block? Could be a detriment to position recruiting if the offense isn’t more balanced. Perhaps a CC Friday question?

        1. Can not win can they. Run when you can, will open up passing game later on when needed.

  7. Punishing running game, opportunistic defense albeit not dominant. Starting to remind me of the glory years a little.

    1. …and that top picture looks like a fire sale at IHOP, more BC players on the ground then standing.

  8. Juckovec seemed like like all American at the beginning of the game and steadily went down hill in the second half.
    I note almost no tackles by the linebackers – what are they doing out there?

    1. Our LBs seem to be dropping more off the line in pass coverage. Definitely concerned about lack of tackles vs run

  9. The Boston College QB was fortunately a ‘nightmare’. particularly on his long throws ! It seemed like the young man got worse with his passing attempts as the game progressed ?

    How about Florida State !

    Beat Wake Forest – – 4 W 1 L

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