(Updated: Minor editing in 4th and 5th graphs.)
Virginia Tech 45, Western Carolina 3: Trey Edmunds scored a pair of rushing touchdowns and Chris Mangus added another as the Hokies rolled over the visiting Catamounts.
Edmunds, a redshirt freshman, notched his first career multi-touchdown game for Virginia Tech (1-1), while Mangus set a career long with a 76-yard scamper for a score early in the third quarter. Quarterback Logan Thomas withstood a pair of first-half interceptions, connecting on a 19-yard scoring strike to D.J. Coles that sent the Hokies into halftime with a 21-0 lead.
Western Carolina (0-2) was victimized by three interceptions from Eddie Sullivan, who completed just 4-of-14 attempts. The Catamounts have now lost 12 straight games and 16 in a row away from home.
Virginia Tech safety Detrick Bonner stepped in front of a pass late in the first quarter and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring. Bonner plucked away another attempt by Sullivan with 4:29 remaining in the first half, highlighting another solid day for the Hokies defense.
After limiting defending national champion Alabama to 206 total yards a week ago, Virginia Tech kept the defensive momentum going, allowing the Catamounts just 162 yards on the day and thwarting 11-of-13 conversion attempts on third down. Only Richard Sigmon’s 28-yard field goal in the third quarter kept the Hokies from a shutout.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Hokies improved to 24-3 all-time in home openers under head coach Frank Beamer. … Sophomore RB J.C. Coleman returned from a pair of sprained ankles for Virginia Tech, carrying the ball seven times for 38 yards after sitting out the Alabama game. … Redshirt freshman RB Joel Caleb added to the Hokies’ ground assault with his first career touchdown with 2:02 to play.
