Virginia Tech 19, Boston College 0: Taylor-Made Victory For Hokies

CHESTNUT HILL - If Weber State and Kent State are comparable to the Buffalo Bills, then Virginia Tech is comparable to the New York Jets.

Boston College faced its first real test of the season on Saturday when it hosted ACC rival Virginia Tech in the conference opener for both team's after opening up the season with two wins against softies Weber State (38-20) and Kent State (26-13).

Unfortunately, it was a test they failed miserably.

The Hokies built on their recent success, as quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed 16-of-21 passes and threw for 237 yards as Virginia Tech blanked Boston College 19-0 at Alumni Stadium.

"We werent able to finish drives and put points on the board," said junior running back Montel Harris (19 carries, 110 yards). "That's what we needed to win."

Prior to Saturday, the last time Boston College was shut out was in 1998 when it lost 17-0 against Virginia Tech, breaking a streak of 148 consecutive games without a shut out.

Boston College (2-1, 0-1 ACC) opened the game with a 13-yard rush by Harris followed by an eight yard pass from quarterback Dave Shinskie (11-for-25, 130 yards, 2 INT) to wide receiver Ifeanyi Momah (2 catches, 29 yards).

However, Virginia Tech (2-2, 1-0 ACC) forced a three-and-out on the next set of downs, forcing a Ryan Quigley punt that traveled 36 yards and pinned the Hokies on their own nine yard line. 

After driving the ball 46 yards on 10 plays, Taylor and company were forced to punt.

This time around, the Eagles were able to drive the ball down the field, going 64 yards on nine plays. Nevertheless, Shinskie killed the drive when he threw an interception to sophomore Jayron Hosley in the endzone.

Then, Taylor went to work.

Taylor led the Hokies on a nine-play, 80-yard drive that spanned over four minutes that ended with Darren Evan's four-yard touchdown scamper to give Virginia Tech a 7-0 lead with 14:55 remaining in the half.

Following a 66-yard punt that pinned Boston College at its own one yard line with 10:45 to play in  the half, Shinskie connected with  freshman wideout Jonathan Coleman for a 22-yard gain (his only catch in the game) that gave the Eagles offense some breathing room.

The Eagles proceeded to march the ball to the Hokies' 30 yard line, kicker Nate Freese missed a 47-yard field goal attempt, turning the ball over with 6:34 left to play in the second quarter.

With less than three minutes to play in the half, the Eagles caught a break when Virginia Tech was slapped with a personal foul for roughing the kicker, giving them a fresh set of downs at their own 46 with under two minutes to play.

Boston College caught another break, as the Hokies were called for pass interference, setting BC up with a first-and-ten at the Hokies' 38 yard line with 1:21 to go.

With under 20 seconds in the half and the Eagles in the redzone, Virginia Tech committed another penalty, a late hit on Shinskie.

A few plays later and with less than 10 ticks left on the clock, Shinskie took off for the endzone but was tackled at the one yard line in bounds without a timeout.

"They had a blitz on and I just saw a hole," Shinskie said. "I probably should have thrown it away, but I saw the endzone and I tried my damndest to get it in."

The Eagles were unable to get to the line of scrimmage, and they wasted a golden scoring opportunity, and Virginia Tech took a 7-0 lead to the locker room.

"I kind of feel for him," Harris said about Shinskie. "I know he's a hard worker. He's going to be ready tomorrow for practice."

Virginia Tech continued to bring the pressure in the third quarter as kicker Chris Hazley connected on three field goals, one from 29 yards out with 11:20 to play, another from 45-yards out with 8:10 left and one more from 29-yards out with 4:13 to go.

Having had enough of Shinskie's short comings, head coach Frank Spaziani put sophomore quarterback Mike Marscovetra (5-of-7, 49 yards) under center in a move that may be a permanent one.

It's a move that Shinskie doesn't agree with.

"I think I should be the starting QB," said Shinskie. "There's a lot of stuff that goes into be a starting quarterback. I think I have that."

Senior linebacker Mark Herzlich made noise in the fourth quarter, picking off Taylor for a 12 gain, setting BC up with a first and ten on their own 43 yard line.

"I felt a lot better (today)," said Herzlich. "I felt good, I felt fast and I didn't feel any lag."

However, Marscovetra couldn't work the ball down the field and the Eagles went three and out yet again.

Hazley tacked on another field goal with 3:48 remaining in the fourth, this time from 32 yards out, giving the Hokies a 19-0 lead that would hold for the remainder of the game.

The Eagles totaled 252 yards in the game with 179 coming through the air and 73 net yards on the ground.

"We moved the ball all first half, both passing and running," Shinskie said. "I've got to give credit to my line, Montel and my receivers. But a drive means nothing if you don't get any points on the board. That was our downfall today as an offense."

As for Virginia Tech, it amassed 342 yards with 237 passing yards and 105 rushing yards.

Boston College looks to rebound from Saturday's disappointing loss when it hosts arch rival Notre Dame next Saturday at Alumni Stadium (8 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC).

NOTES

42,317 attended Saturday's Boston College game against Virginia Tech...The Eagles fall to 5-2 coming off a bye week after joining the ACC in 2005...Quarterback Dave Shinskie threw two interceptions in  Saturday's loss to Virginia Tech. It's the second game that Shinskie has thrown two interceptions this season...Sophomore cornerback Jayron Hosley recorded his first collegiate interception in the first quarter. It came in the end zone to halt an Eagle drive. It led to a three yard touchdown run by Darren Evans...Evans' touchdowns was the first offensive touchdown scored by the Hokies at Alumni Stadium since Lee Suggs scored on a rush in the fourth quarter of the 2002 game.

Conor O'Neal Suspended For Virginia Tech Game

CHESTNUT HILL – Eagles’ starting right tackle Conor O’Neal has been suspended for today’s game against Virginia Tech by head coach Frank Spaziani for an undisclosed violation of team rules, Boston College’s media relations department reported this hour.

Damik Scafe will start in place of O’Neal at right tackle.

Virginia Tech RB Ryan Williams Will Not Play Against B.C. Saturday

The Boston College defense received a bit of good news Thursday afternoon: Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams will not be playing in Saturday's game, according to Jimmy Robertson of Inside Hokie Sports. 

Williams injured his hamstring in last week's game with ECU. 

This means that the Hokies will now rely on junior Darren Evans and sophomore David Wilson to run the ball. 

Evans returned this season after missing all of 2009 with a torn ACL. He's lost two fumbles in his last two games, but appears close to regaining his form from 2008 when he set the ACC freshman rushing record. That record was subsequently broken by Williams in 2009.

Wilson has been the Hokies' most explosive back through the team's first three games. He has 114 yards on 16 carries this season (7.1 ypc). I believe Wilson be the key to the Hokies' success against BC Saturday. The Eagles are tough up the middle, but I think there are yards to be gained outside the tackles. Hopefully Wilson's speed will help the Hokies get some much-needed yards on the ground.

For more on what Williams' injury means for Saturday's ACC opener for both teams, visit Gobbler Country and BC Interruption. 

Virginia Tech RB Ryan Williams' Status For Saturday's B.C. Game Uncertain

Virginia Tech's running back, Ryan Williams, may be out of Saturday's ACC game with Boston College, at least according to his teammate, fellow RB David Wilson.

Williams did not practice today, standing on the sideline in a blue, no-contact jersey. Wilson thinks Darren Evans will start but he expects to also get a good number of carries against the Eagles.

Williams injured his hamstring in the Hokies' win over ECU last weekend.

Virginia Tech At Boston College: Eagles Welcome Hokies To Town As They Open ACC Play

FACTS & STATS: Site: Alumni Stadium (44,500) -- Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Television: ACC. Home Record: VT 1-1, BC 2-0. Away Record: VT 0-0, BC 0-0. Neutral Record: VT 0-1, BC 0-0. Conference Record: VT 0-0, BC 0-0. Series Record: Virginia Tech leads, 12-6.

GAME NOTES: Two teams set to open their ACC slate hook up in Chestnut Hill this weekend, as the Boston College Eagles host the Virginia Tech Hokies at Alumni Stadium.

The Eagles enter the contest with a week of rest behind them and since they joined the ACC in 2005, BC is 5-1 when returning to action following a bye. An extra week of preparation certainly could help BC, which hasn't been all that impressive in its first two games. The Eagles opened the season with a 38-20 victory over Weber State before topping Kent State, 26-13, on September 11th.

As for the Hokies, they are surely happy to see the ACC season arrive considering their prior success in the league. Not to mention they have struggled early on against non-conference foes this season. Following a heart- breaking 33-30 season-opening loss to Boise State, VT fell victim to one of the biggest upsets of the season, a 21-16 setback against James Madison, a FCS program. The Hokies finally found their way into the win column last weekend, pasting East Carolina by a 49-27 score.

Tech leads the head-to-head series with BC, 12-6, and that includes a 48-14 beating in Blacksburg last season.

Tailbacks David Wilson and Darren Evans accounted for 180 yards and three TDs on the ground, as Tech scored the final 28 points in a 49-27 victory over ECU last weekend. The duo saw an increase in their workload after starter Ryan Williams left with a hamstring injury. Williams, who broke VT's single-season rushing record last season (1,655 yards), is listed as questionable for this game. QB Tyrod Taylor actually paces VT's ground attack, which is averaging 205.0 ypg, with 191 yards. He had just 32 yards via the run last weekend, but did a nice job throwing for 199 yards and two TDs on 8-of-16 attempts. Jarrett Boykin has been Taylor's favorite target up to this point and he showed that by catching three balls for 118 yards and a score last weekend. He now has 229 of the team's 509 receiving yards for the season.

Defensively, the Hokies got off to a slow start last weekend but turned things around in the second half. After the intermission, VT allowed just three points and 83 total yards to ECU, while also receiving a 68-yard INT return for a TD by Rashad Carmichael, who finished with two picks. Those represented the first two INTs of the season for VT, which hasn't forced many turnovers, but has done a decent job in limiting opponents to 326.3 total ypg. Bruce Taylor currently paces the defense with 26 tackles and 6.5 TFLs, to go with a sack.

The Eagles were less then impressive in their last game against Kent State, as they managed just 305 yards of total offense. After rushing for 188 yards in a season opening win over Weber State, BC was held to just 87 yards on 40 carries last game. TB Montel Harris even had his run of 100-yard games stopped at six straight, as he finished with 80 yards on 29 carries versus Kent State. That put more pressure on QB Dave Shinskie, who played well in the second half and finished with 214 yards and two TDs on 18-of-27 throws. Johnathan Coleman has been Shinskie's top target early on, reeling in seven balls for 150 yards on the season.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles have made a lot happen and have created eight turnovers thus far. Five of them came against Kent State, including three INTs. BC also limited Kent State to a mere 205 total yards, a nice improvement after allowing 381 yards to Weber State. BC's run defense has been especially strong, giving up just 108 yards on the ground through two games. Luke Kuechly has been a big part of the success against the run, leading the team with 21 tackles and four TFLs.

Tech may be off to a slow start, but there is still high expectations for this club. Expect the Hokies to get their ACC slate with a solid all-around win over the Eagles this weekend.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Virginia Tech 27, Boston College 21

Saturday, September 25th, 12:00 p.m. (et)