Blacksburg, VA – Virginia Tech piled up 28 points in the first half to take a commanding lead. Thanks to Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten, his TD burst of 83 yards followed by a 20-yard pass reception from Kyron Drones seemed to put the game away by halftime. Ask the many Hokie fans who left Lane Stadium with a 28-0 lead after a seasonably cold first half.
What they failed to imagine came in the second half as BC scored 21 consecutive points to start. HC Bill O’Brien’s squad changed its game plan in the second half, albeit too late. They converted to a more potent ground game and took advantage of Hokie turnovers. Their first half passing strategy with one or no backs to protect their quarterback fell quickly to an aggressive Hokie front seven. The VA Tech defense got to QB Thomsas Castellanos often for big losses with significant pressure. DE Antwuan Powell-Ryland sacked the BC quarterback four times.
Hokies make things happen
The Hokies opened up the scoring with their first possession. QB Kyron Drones finished the drive with an 11-yard TD run. Boston College’s next two series resulted in fumbles on their 19 and at Tech’s six. Both turnovers resulted in TDs. Drones scored again from the one this time, and Tuten raced 83 yards unscathed for the second score. Tech finished their first-half annihilation with Tuten’s pass reception.
Boston College Burst
BC Head Coach Bill O’Brien animated his frustrations on his headset talking to his coaching staff in the press box during the first half. Evidently, whatever messages he vocalized along the sideline continued into the locker room at the half.
The BC Eagles forced a punt from the Hokies to start the second half. Next, their offense drove 80 yards with Castellanos connecting with Treshaun Ward from the VT 25 to put finally put “7” up on the scoreboard. Eagle LB Cameron Martinez followed up with an INT to start BC’s next drive at Tech’s 29. Wide-open Jeremiah Franklin scored over the middle with a catch from 11 yards out. On Tech’s next series, the Eagles forced Tuten this time to cough up the football. Again, they knocked on the door at the Hokies’ 18. A few plays later, Kyle Robichaux took it over from the five. Suddenly, BC only trailed, 28-21. As the period ended, the Hokies’ home crowd fired up with an improvised music video of “Shout!” from the movie, “Animal House!” The folks at Horsham Field became energized. So did its football team.
Hokies wake up
The Eagles tried to convert a fourth and one from their 49, but Tech stopped Robichaux for no gain. They took the ball back on downs. Immediately Tuten picked up 18 yards, and Ayden Green sped 25 more to the BC six. Tuten (266 yards, four TDs) hauled it over from there to extend his home team’s lead, 35-21. BC drove to the Tech 19. There, however, Castellanos dropped back and fumbled. Dorian Strong recovered and advanced the ball 12 yards to the Tech 39. Tuten sealed the win right then and there – with a 61-yard scoring jaunt with 8:25 left in the game. Boston College turned the ball over on downs on their final possession. They had no late answers for the Hokies fourth quarter scores.
Bhayshul Tuten of Paulsboro, NJ amassed a school record of 266 rushing yards and scored four TDs. Drones passed for 164 yards and a touchdown on 14 of 18 passes. He scored two first quarter touchdowns following Boston College fumbles. Virginia Tech totaled 533 yards of total offense, their largest output of the season. For BC, they allowed their highest total from any opponent. Tech (4-3, 2-1 ACC) took the win, 42-21. BC fell to 4-3, 1-2 after a 4-1 start.
Next on Week 9 for Hokies and Eagles
On Saturday, Tech hosts the other ACC Tech- Georgia. The Rambling Wrecks fell late to No. 12 Notre Dame last week at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, 31-13. BC returns to Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill to try to right things against Louisville (4-3, 2-2). The Cardinals lost a 42-35 battle at home against No. 6 Miami (F.) (7-0, 3-0).
Week 8 continues for Collegefootballfan.com
After staying overnight about an hour south of Blacksburg, we drove on the following day to see Duke host Florida State to witness an unusual ACC role reversal. Duke comes in at a surprising 5-1, FSU at surprising1-5. They started the in this season’ pre-season Top Ten in most polls. Saw Duke defeat FCS Elon in Durham previously, and we watched the Seminoles lose at home to these BC Eagles.
Looking forward to what direction both teams are heading now. To assure we attend our 700th game on October 26, Navy vs. Notre Dame, we recorded this as our second of four games in Week 8 to get this done. Tech and BC met this week in our 697the game. We saw them play once before in Chestnut Hill at our 589th game played in 2019. BC prevailed in that one, 35-28.
-ed. by Steve Koreivo Member of Football Writers Association of America and author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly. Click on the title to get your copy today and please submit a review. Thanks!