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Game Recap: Hokies Stomp Miami To Gain Control of Coastal Division

By Mike McDaniel

Oct 20, 2016; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back Travon McMillian (34) runs the ball against Miami Hurricanes defensive back Rayshawn Jenkins (26) during the first quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2016; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back Travon McMillian (34) runs the ball against Miami Hurricanes defensive back Rayshawn Jenkins (26) during the first quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Hokies steamroll the Hurricanes for a statement win in Blacksburg to position themselves atop the Coastal Division

No Ken Ekanem. No Nigel Williams.

No problem.

Despite being without two of their top contributors on the defensive line on Thursday night due to injury, Bud Foster’s vaunted defense recorded eight sacks in a dominant 37-16 victory over the Miami Hurricanes, which has positioned Virginia Tech atop the Coastal Division with five regular season games left to play.

Among the key contributors on the defensive side of the ball were defensive tackle Woody Baron (2.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss), defensive end Vinny Mihota (2.0 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss), and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (1.0 sack, 2.0 tackles for loss, 10.0 total tackles).

Against the pass, linebacker Andrew Motuapuaka and defensive back Terrell Edmunds made their collective presence felt, as Motuapuaka had two passes defended, while Edmunds had an interception off one of the tipped passes by Motuapuaka, as well as seven total tackles in the victory.

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As a unit, the Hokies defense allowed a mere 42 yards rushing on the ground to the Hurricanes’ stable of backs, exposing Brad Kaaya to more hits in the passing game as his team became one dimensional. Kaaya, to his credit, played well, completing 23 of 38 passes for 323 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite the gaudy numbers by Kaaya, the impact felt was minimal due to how the Virginia Tech defense shut down the Hurricanes offense as a whole from the outset of the game. Even when Kaaya completed a handful of long passes to Ahmmon Richards and Stacy Coley, it never truly felt like the Hurricanes were all that close.

Perhaps that is because the Virginia Tech offense was firing on all cylinders from the middle of the second quarter onward, compiling a season high in both total yards (523), as well as rushing yards (251). Sophomore running back Travon McMillian finished the game with 18 carries for a season-high 136 yards for the Hokies, a welcomed sight to a much-maligned running attack entering the action on Thursday night.

In addition to a rushing attack that looked much improved against Miami’s defense, the Hokies were able to rebound from a rough performance through the air in last Saturday’s loss to Syracuse. Junior quarterback Jerod Evans finished with 259 yards passing and a pair of scoring strikes to Bucky Hodges, who enjoyed his most productive game of the season with seven receptions for 66 yards and two scores. Evans also added a 34-yard touchdown run with 2:45 to play, which decided the margin of 37-16.

As for the rest of the receiving corps in this one, the other key contributors in the passing game include Cam Phillips who hauled in seven catches for 64 yards, and of course, everyone’s favorite fullback, Sam Rogers.

Now of course, we have to single Sam Rogers out. Not only did he rumble for a long 52 yard gain on his first catch in the second quarter, but he tacked on another 18-yard reception before completing his highlight reel with a 13-yard touchdown pass to the other fullback, Steven Peoples, on a half back pass with four minutes to play in the third quarter.

The trickeration looked remarkably similar to the play that Dino Babers called to burn the Hokies defense with a long touchdown in last Saturday’s loss to the Orange. It really is a copycat business, and Justin Fuente reflected that with the gutsy trick play call that led to the touchdown for Steven Peoples.

Overall, the performance for the Hokies was extremely encouraging and resilient, given the brtual loss at the hands of Syracuse just five days prior. Justin Fuente’s bunch has taken control of the Coastal Division at this point, but have little time to rest on their laurels with a road game against Pittsburgh at Heinz Field awaiting them next Thursday night.

It will be the third game in 12 days for the Hokies, which will be a trying test of both their focus and their depth on the roster. There is plenty of time to preview that match-up in the coming days, but for now, Tech fans will celebrate the victory and the strong performance turned in by their team to jump start the second half of the season.