Former BC commit Bhayshul Tuten set a VaTech rushing record in the Hokies’ 42-21 win yesterday over BC.
Oh, the third quarter last night was fun!
It had been quite some time since Eagles fans had seen their team play exciting, proficient football. After forcing Virginia Tech to punt on their opening possession of the third quarter (something that had been unusual of late for BC), the Eagles got the ball with 11:59 remaining in the quarter. Then, in nine minutes, four seconds, BC scored touchdowns on their next three possessions.
Indeed, that those 21 points only reduced the Virginia Tech lead to 28-21 took a little off the level of satisfaction. Yet the notion of a revitalized BC squad playing for a potential comeback also added to the level of excitement. (Spoiler: VaTech won, 42-21.)
The Eagles even started a drive at the beginning of the final quarter, reaching midfield. On fourth down and less than a yard, BC lined up in the shotgun formation to keep the drive and the comeback alive.
In a lot of similar situations, college and pro teams will line up under center, sometimes even switching the often smaller quarterback for a bigger running back, with perhaps a couple of other backs in the backfield to push that ball carrier those several inches across the line to gain. Not BC. And no first down. Turnover on downs at midfield. Three runs later, the Hokies pushed the margin to 35-21.
The Eagles still kept trying. Seven plays took them to the Hokies 18, but a high snap on a field goal attempt (field goal?) eluded the holder and it was recovered by VaTech. On the next play, freshman running back Bhayshul Tuten, who decommitted from BC to join the Hokies, ran 61 yards to make the final score 42-21.
“We definitely fought back to get ourselves back in the game,” said BC coach Bill O’Brien, “but we dug ourselves such a deep hole. It’s very difficult to come back from a four-score deficit.”
The less said about the first half of the game, the better. Stats tell the story. BC actually had the ball longer and ran more plays, 36 to 30 for VaTech, but the Hokies made bigger plays. They gained 332 yards, averaging just over 11yards per play, and most of them (188) on the ground. BC gained 134 yards total offense.
“I thought I had the team ready to go tonight, but I obviously didn’t,” O’Brien said. “I’ve got to figure out how to get the team ready to go. We’re better than that.”
For the game, the Eagles gained 372 yards and allowed 532 yards to the Hokies.
Perhaps a weird statistic, but in no quarter of the game did both teams score. It was sadly symmetrical that VaTech scored 14 points in the first, second, and fourth quarters, and BC scored 21 points in the third quarter.
BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos was 17 of 26 passing for 205 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, but had two fumbles. He also ran for 58 yards net, second on the team to Turbo Richards’ 64 yards on nine carries.
VaTech’s Tuten set a new Hokies record, rushing for 266 yards on 18 carries.
Highlights (7:01)
The Eagles fell to 4-3, 1-2 in the ACC. Next is Louisville in Chestnut Hill, Friday, 4:30 pm PT.