Hokies Enter ACC Play Against Boston College
Virginia Tech (1-1, 0-0 ACC) will kickoff their first ACC game this Saturday at Lane Stadium against the Boston College Eagles (1-1, 0-1 ACC) at 3:30 on ESPNU or on the ACC Network for the Hokies’ viewing area.
Battle of Bristol
This past Saturday the Hokies played on the grandest stage of them all at the Battle at Bristol for the regular season, but they couldn’t seem to live up to the big feel hype or hold onto the ball as they turned it over five times in the 45-24 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers.
“We have got to do a better job of teaching or understanding. We have to do a better job of just recognizing,” Hokies head coach Justin Fuente said. “We are inadequate, to say the least.”
After the first quarter ended, the Hokies were living the high life, but that would die quickly in the second quarter. Mentally, Virginia Tech seemed ready, but when plays got serious, the Vols’ ran away with the game. With all the negatives, there are some positives. The Hokies out-gained the Vols’ 400-330, had five more first downs 21-16, but Virginia Tech couldn’t get it going when they needed to the most.
Looking Forward
If the Hokies can stop the Eagles passing game, then they should walk away with their second win and first conference win of the year. If they struggle against the pass, it won’t just be a long night for the Hokies and their staff, but the fans in attendance at Lane Stadium.
In their first two games, the Hokies allowed Liberty to accumulate a total of 70 yards through the air out of 27 attempts, nine were completed and two were interceptions by the Flames’ quarterback Stephon Masha. Tennessee’s high-powered offense, usually led through the air by Joshua Dobbs was held to only 91 yards, but the Hokies secondary allowed three touchdowns.
Battling Boston College
Boston College quarterback Patrick Towels has 335 yards through the air with two touchdowns. In order for the Hokies to execute defensively and come out victorious, they need to shut Towels down.
In the ACC, the Eagles are ranked 13th offensively with 332 yards per game, while their defense is number one allowing 180 yards per game. The Hokies are 11th in the ACC on offense averaging 345 yards per game, while their defense sits in the top five at third allowing 245 yards per game.
A Familiar Face
The Eagles may be coming on the road to Blacksburg, but they have a familiar face on their staff as the team’s new offensive coordinator. That man is Scot Loeffler, as he is now the new OC and quarterbacks coach for Boston College after leaving the VT staff after three seasons.
Virginia Tech wide receiver Isaiah Ford had nothing but positive things to say about his former offensive coach. “He made me a better player,” Ford said. “He taught me how to be a professional in terms of working on my craft and then all the things off the field as well, as far as taking care of your body and eating well.”
Ford isn’t the only one with fond memories of Loeffler. Long-time defensive coordinator Bud Foster enjoyed his time working with Loeffler. “I enjoyed working with him [Scot] here and we are going to have our hands full with his group,” Foster said. “I have a lot of respect for the guy.”
In the End
As mentioned above, Boston College isn’t the best when they have the ball, however, Bud Foster knows how dangerous Loeffler and the Eagles offense can be. “I expect to see the Boston College offense from the past few years with wrinkles that Loeffler has added,” Foster said. “That will mean multiple shifts and the use of the same personnel in different formations to try to create mismatches.”
Hokies head coach Justin Fuente had one message on Friday evening – “This is our stadium. It’s time for us to get that tradition back.”
After Saturday, the Hokies will move on to face a tough East Carolina opponent who always give the Hokies a great game. Boston College will then return home to face Wagner.
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