virginia tech wins 42-35 in shootout with louisville

Chris Hirons

November 1, 2020

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Last week, Virginia Tech’s identity was stolen.

The run-first, ground-and-pound team that rarely turned the ball over was on the field that day. It just happened to be the team on the opposing sideline.

This week, the Hokies (4-2) took their identity back by trading punches with an underrated Louisville (2-5) offense, controlling the line of scrimmage, forcing turnovers and getting back to what made the Hokie offense so successful: Running the football.

“The whole day's energy was different,” wide receiver Tré Turner said. “From the first kick to the last kick.”

After throwing three interceptions last week against the Demon Deacons, none of Virginia Tech quarterback Hendon Hooker’s passes touched the ground or wound up in the secondary’s arms as he completed all 10 of his throws for 183 yards in the Hokies’ 42-35 back-and-forth win against Louisville.

In Hooker’s first six quarters of the season —the second half against North Carolina and the full game against Boston College— prior to last week’s gaffe, Hooker started the season 17-for-28 with 247 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. The passing totals were impressive, but he added more with his legs. Hooker accounted for 193 rushing yards and four touchdowns in those first six quarters.

On Saturday evening, most of his damage, like the rest of the season, came running the football. The Greensboro, N.C. native ran the ball 19 times for 68 yards and scored three touchdowns for the Hokies.

“[Hooker] was really efficient in what we need him to be and what he has the potential to be,” head coach Justin Fuente said. “That's what he's done in every game and every play, except for one. He was really good.”

Throughout the week, Fuente stressed that the offense needed to run the ball at a more efficient level than it did last week. On Saturday, the Hokies ran the ball 51 times and racked up 283 yards on the ground.

“If you told me we were only going to throw it 10 times, I would have told you that you were crazy,” Fuente said. “But I probably would have also felt good about it.”

Running back Khalil Herbert was obviously among the beneficiaries in the Virginia Tech rushing attack. The transfer is surprisingly among the leaders in most rushing categories nationwide. Herbert brought the juice to the Hokies offense once again and picked up 147 yards and a touchdown to add to Tech’s winning effort.

The Louisville offense on the other hand, controlled Tech in total yardage even though it didn’t pan out on the scoreboard. Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham posted 350 passing yards and three touchdowns, adding 47 rushing yards to his totals, while escaping multiple sacks.

It's really tough to play against a dual-threat QB,” linebacker Alan Tisdale said. “Man, I don't know what kind of 40-time [Cunningham] runs, but it's gotta be a 4.4. He's fast.”

Cunningham, though, wound up costing his team points on multiple drives. The 22-year-old threw three interceptions, including one on a fourth down play, eight yards away from scoring a touchdown with five minutes left in the third quarter to VT defensive back Chamarri Conner.

“I thought he was going to throw it out of bounds,” Conner said, “but he ended up throwing it right to me.”

Louisville burned the Hokies’ defense on some big plays, including a 90-yard buzzer beating touchdown at the end of the first half in what Fuente called a ‘gut punch,’ and brought the score closer 21-14.

“I'm still formulating what to say, because that was a gut punch," Fuente said. “Aside from that one play, I was proud of our run defense and how we responded offensively.

After taking a 31-14 lead early in the final quarter, it looked like the Louisville offense would lie down and call it quits. However, on the back of an 82-yard touchdown pass from Cunningham, Louisville’s offense found the spark plug it needed, scoring two more touchdowns in the final quarter.

The Hokies final score of the night proved to be the most crucial of the night. Attempting to derail a Louisville comeback, as he’s done all season, Herbert led the Hokies’ drive and picked up a 24-yard touchdown to seal the win for Virginia Tech. A two-point conversion put the Hokies’ offense up by two touchdowns after Hooker completed a fade to Tré Turner.

The Louisville offense, though, continued to battle. With a minute left, Cunningham found running back Javian Hawkins for another touchdown, bringing the Cardinals to within a score, 42-35.

After the touchdown, a failed onside kick recovered by VT tight end James Mitchell sealed the Cardinal fate and brought a sour taste to the mouths of the Louisville faithful.

Virginia Tech takes on No. 25 Liberty next Saturday in Lane Stadium.

“Next. #BeatLiberty,” Turner tweeted after the win.