Virginia Tech Football: Hokies defense continues to torment opposing QBs

Friday night, the Syracuse football team hosted Boston College eight days after the Orange lost, 38-10, to Virginia Tech on Oct. 26 in Blacksburg. Head coach Dino Babers ruled out starting quarterback Garrett Shrader a couple of hours before kickoff and he became the third quarterback this season to be a victim of a relentless Hokies defense.

Shrader misses the game against BC after suffering an injury vs. Virginia Tech

Shrader became the third quarterback this season to miss a game the following week after playing Virginia Tech’s defense. Seriously, he was the third ACC QB to be forced to sideline after a relentless effort from Chris Marve’s defense.

After the Hokies beat Pittsburgh on Sept. 30, 38-21, Panther quarterback Phil Jurkovec was sacked four times and had a key fumble that led to a Virginia Tech touchdown in the third quarter. After the game, Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi benched the sixth-year transfer from Boston College. Things were so bad that Jurkovec ended up taking snaps in practice at tight end during Pitt’s bye week.

On Oct. 14, the Hokies rolled to a 30-13 win over Wake Forest, Virginia Tech’s defense knocked out Demon Deacons quarterback Mitch Griffis in the second quarter and the signal caller then missed Wake’s next game against Pittsburgh at home.

Last week against Syracuse, Shrader was under pressure all night by Marve’s defense and was sacked eight times. The Hokies held the Orange to zero rushing yards in the game, but the pressure got to the QB who took a pounding on his body. Antwaun Powell-Ryland led the charge for Tech with two sacks.

The defense was not playing well through the first month of the season. They failed to create turnovers, get off the field on third down, and allowed too many big plays. Since ACC play began, aside from Jordan Travis at Florida State, the defense has been relentless and getting their pressure and hits on opposing QBs, which is a good sight to see. The common dominator in all three of those games? They were all at home, now they have to translate the pressure to the road beginning today at Louisville.