The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Team Report – Virginia Tech – INSIDE SLANT
Virginia Tech Hokies junior quarterback Logan Thomas isn’t one for fiery speeches, or any speeches for that matter, but he saw the need to get up in front of the team after practice last week to remind it to stay positive in trying moments.
He was speaking from recent experience, after a couple of tough losses to Cincinnati and North Carolina, and he was certain his team wasn’t through with facing adversity.
He was right. The Hokies fell behind by 20 points against Duke in the first quarter Saturday, but they kept their cool and rallied for a 41-20 victory in the biggest comeback ever under coach Frank Beamer.
“We just had to keep plugging along,” Thomas said. “I just wanted to say it just to let them know, ‘Hey, no matter what happens, I’m still going to play my tail off. I’m still going to lay it on the like for y’all, and I expect y’all to do it for me because we are Virginia Tech. That’s how we play. We play hard every single game, every single play, and we’ve just got to stick together.”
Thomas admitted it was hard for him to stay in good spirits against the Blue Devils, especially after his swing pass intended for tailback Tony Gregory was picked off and run back for a touchdown by safety Jordon Byas.
But Thomas led the comeback with 256 passing yards and two touchdown passes to Marcus Davis. Tech’s rally from 20 points down surpassed its 17-point comeback against N.C. State in 2010.
“Once we got up, we started pounding it,” Davis said. “You could tell that they really didn’t want to play with us anymore.”
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NCAAF Team Report – Virginia Tech – NOTES, QUOTES
WHAT’S AHEAD: Now that the Hokies are starting to put everything together, they face their biggest challenge to date when they visit No. 14 Clemson on Saturday. Tech lost both matchups with the Tigers last season, but it feels it has something to build on from its performance against the Blue Devils.
–Hokies head coach Frank Beamer now has 255 victories to tie him for seventh place with former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne on the all-time Football Bowl Subdivision wins list.
–The Hokies recorded their 200th win at Lane Stadium on Saturday and are 200-69-6 there all-time. Since the start of the 1996 season, Tech is 108-18 at its home stadium.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Tech defensive line coach Charley Wiles said last week he wanted his players to “pitch a fit” and make more plays. They obliged against the Blue Devils with a season-high five sacks. The Hokies only had eight sacks in their first six games, but broke through with their highest total since recording five at Georgia Tech last November. DT Luther Maddy led the way with two sacks, and James Gayle, Dadi Nicolas and Tyrel Wilson each had one sack apiece.
LOOKING GOOD: Virginia Tech has been known over the years for its rushing prowess, but through the first six games this season, the Hokies’ rushing attack was inconsistent to say the least. Tech went the first six games without a 100-yard rusher before freshman J.C. Coleman broke through with 183 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries against the Blue Devils. Coleman rushed for the most yards ever by a true freshman under Beamer and is tied for the ninth most in a game by any player under Beamer. Moreover, Coleman’s 86-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was the fifth-longest run from scrimmage and the ninth-longest play from scrimmage in Tech history.
STILL NEEDS WORK: Virginia Tech’s defense continues to give up big plays in the passing game. Duke struck for a 62-yard touchdown completion in the first quarter and also had completions of 39 and 24 yards in jumping out to a 20-0 lead. The Hokies are looking for more consistency in their secondary to prevent such big plays.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “A lot of people would panic. A lot of people would start pointing fingers, but our guys hung in there.” — Tech coach Frank Beamer.
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NCAAF Team Report – Virginia Tech – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER NOTES:
–QB Logan Thomas led the way for the Hokies with 256 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 50 yards on 11 carries, opening things up for the rest of Virginia Tech’s rushing attack.
–WR Marcus Davis caught five passes for a career-high 144 yards and two touchdowns. He had receptions of 40, 42 and 47 yards to help spark the Hokies offense.
–K Cody Journell has made nine straight field goals and converted 19 of his last 20 opportunities.
ROSTER REPORT
–C Andrew Miller, the Hokies’ most experienced offensive lineman, is out for the season with a fractured left fibula. Senior Michael Via, who has started at left guard and right guard this season, will likely take over at center.
–Caleb Farris, Tech’s usual backup center, is expected to be out at least another week with a severe ankle sprain.
–WR Kevin Asante started at kick returner in place of Demitri Knowles, who saw limited action against Duke.
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