Virginia Tech got off to a bad start, falling behind NC State 10-0, but then outscored the Wolfpack 28-3 to grab a key ACC win. Motley found a rhythm and Ford, who finished with four catches for 39 yards. He limped between plays in the fourth quarter. J.C. Coleman and Trey Edmunds didn’t register a single carry in the game, as the Hokies relied on McMillian and Sam Rogers (eight carries, 57 yards) to run out of the backfield. He’s got power. Our fans are going to like that guy a lot before he leaves here.
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“I just think we got a little undisciplined in how we were playing”, linebacker Airius Moore said. “I think he’s a guy who can help change a game around”. Dwayne Lawson came in instead, and threw a single pass (incomplete) before giving way to Motley for the rest of the game. Backup quarterback Brenden Motley was more than enough.
Motley otherwise went the distance, and he took a beating, limping noticeably at times. McMillian broke down the left sideline, hurdled a tackler and went 59 yards for a touchdown that gave Tech a 28-13 lead with 6:54 left in the game. He also grinded out 44 yards on the ground, returning to the game following a brief absence at the end of the third quarter when he was sandwiched by three defenders.
Brissett and Jumichael Ramos teamed on an 8-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter for the Wolfpack.
In the last two weeks, Hokie opponents have averaged just 264 yards and 15 points.
“To make in-game adjustments right now is tough, but our kids hung in there and stepped up big when we needed to”, Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster said. We’ll see what happens with Pittsburgh and so forth. The 100 yards of total offense was the fewest since coach Frank Beamer’s first game in 1987. The Hokies had four sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
Virginia Tech also ended Wolfpack quarterback Jacoby Brissett’s streak of attempts without being intercepted at 241.
Another penalty, and N.C. State was flagged six times for 65 yards in the first half, set up Virginia Tech’s third touchdown.
They hooked up one final time on a third-down pass in the waning seconds of the first half. Their defense was impressive, too, after a slow start. The Wolfpack led 10-0 after just 16 minutes, but were outgained 156-2 in the second quarter.
Tech’s offense finally showed up after that. And they did it after rolling to a 10-0 lead against the Hokies.
Motley caught N.C. State in a corner blitz on the first touchdown pass to Ford.
Brissett was 12 of 25 for just 113 yards. This time, Motley hit Ford with a two-yarder.
Motley and Ford connected again on Tech’s next drive. “Obviously their response was good and ours wasn’t in the second quarter”. The Hokies finished with 200 rushing yards.
NC State added a field goal in the third quarter, but the Hokies put the game way midway through the fourth quarter. Adonis Alexander did the honors, picking off a pass with 1:20 remaining.
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N.C. State (4-2, 0-2), which breezed through a soft non-conference schedule, lost for the second straight week to open league play. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m.
