hokies lean on hooker, defense in win over boston college

Jackson Didlake

October 18, 2020

BLACKSBURG — In a season where the Virginia Tech run game has been the hot topic, the Hokies’ rushed for a season-high 350 yards in a 40-14 victory over Boston College.

Hendon Hooker was the story going into the contest, making his first start of the season after coming in for Braxton Burmeister in last week’s loss to North Carolina.

“It’s a blessing to be out there playing the game I love,” Hooker said.

Hooker led the way for the Hokies both through the air and on the ground in a dominant performance. He finished 11 of 15 for 111 yards and a score through the air. Additionally, he went for over 100 yards rushing for the first time in his collegiate career with 164 yards and three touchdowns.

Khalil Herbert continued his trend by going for over 100 yards, with 143, for the fourth consecutive game to start the season. His lone score of the game came through the air on a 29-yard reception, his only catch of the day good to make him the Hokies’ leading receiver in the win. Raheem Blackshear added 33 yards and a touchdown.

“I’m definitely happy with the way we are blocking and running the ball on offense,” said offensive lineman Brock Hoffman.

On the other side of the ball, turnovers were the focus of the Hokies’ defense. Both Devin Taylor and Brion Murphy picked off Eagles’ quarterback Phil Jurkovec. Chamarri Conner and Divine Deablo each forced a fumble, accounting for two more of the five total turnovers Virginia Tech forced.

Jurkovec finished the day 28 of 51 for 345 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Jaelen Gill found plenty of success through the air with 104 yards and a score. Jehlani Galloway added 69 yards, Zay Flowers had 57 yards and Hunter Long had 53 yards and a touchdown. David Bailey was the Eagles’ leading rusher with 41 yards.

The content was a tale of two halves, led by the Hokies “creating turnovers on defense” and “rushing the ball on offense,” according to Hokies head coach Justin Fuente.

Tech scored the lone points in a quiet first quarter after Brian Johnson connected on a 41-yard field goal.

Jurkovec found Gill to put the Eagles on top 7-3 early in the second quarter. The Virginia Tech running game began to find paydirt later in the period. Hooker found the end zone on a 7-yard run and Herbert followed it up with a 29-yard rush to give the Hokies a 17-7 lead heading into halftime after a Taylor interception.

Long powered through a line of Hokies early in the second half on a 20-yard pass from Jurkovec to put the Eagles within striking distance down 17-14. The game was far from out of question, but Virginia Tech buckled down and went on to have its way with the Eagles.

“I thought the defense settled down and played well in the second half,” Fuente said.

The Hokies continued to move the ball on the ground and capped off a 79-yard, six-play drive with a five-yard Hooker rush to extend the lead to 10. Virginia Tech then added three more before the end of the quarter on a 27-yard Johnson field goal.

The Hokies defense remained lock down in the fourth as Blackshear found the end zone on a 28-yard rush and Hooker on a 17-yard run to cap off an impressive victory to improve to 3-1 and drop Boston College to 3-2.

For the third time in four weeks, the Hokies have seemed to have the most juice on the field.

“The team with the most juice and the team that wants it the most will win,” Hoffman said.

The Hokies will face Wake Forest on Saturday with a chance to start the season 4-1.