Hooker, Herbert power overwhelming running game as Virginia Tech rolls past Boston College
Never one to show much in the way of frustration, Hendon Hooker spoke of preparing as if he was Virginia Tech’s starting quarterback – even while sitting out the first two games and played mostly in just the second half last weekend at North Carolina.
Healthy and ready to roll Saturday night, Hooker proved why he’s the right man for the job in No. 23 Virginia Tech’s 40-14 win against Boston College. Tech forced five turnovers - three fumble recoveries and two interceptions - and outscored BC 37-7 from the middle of the second quarter to the end of the game.
Running and passing like - or perhaps even better than - the guy who went 6-2 last season as a first-year starter, Hooker combined with relentless running back Khalil Herbert to power a Tech offense that produced 461 yards, including 350 rushing yards.
In his first start this season, Hooker completed his first eight passes and finished 10 of 13 passing for 111 yards and a touchdown. He did most of his damage in his run-pass option game while carrying the ball 18 times for 164 yards and three touchdowns.
Herbert complemented Hooker in the ground game, running 18 times for 143 yards. Herbert is the first Tech player to run for 100 or more yards in four consecutive games since 2011, when David Wilson did it in seven straight games.
Together, Hooker and Herbert gave Tech (3-1, 3-1 ACC) a rare rushing combo.
They became the first two Tech players to gain more than 100 rushing yards in a game since Oct. 2, 2010, when Darren Evans ran for 160 yards and Hampton High graduate Tyrod Taylor had 121 yards in Tech’s win at N.C. State.
Tech eclipsed 300 rushing yards for the third time this season.
After dealing with an undisclosed medical condition that wasn’t specifically related to the coronavirus, required testing and caused him to miss two weeks of practice time, Hooker sat and watched Braxton Burmeister start the first two games.
Finally getting his chance to play for the first time this season last weekend in Tech’s 56-45 loss at North Carolina, Hooker got in for one series in the first half before playing the entire second half and completing 7 of 13 passes for 136 yards.
While Hooker picked up Saturday night where he left in the second half against UNC, Tech’s defense gained momentum after a slow start.
BC (3-2, 2-2) did its fair share to help Tech in the first quarter.
On its first two possessions, BC drove into Tech territory via a ground game that entered the evening averaging just 60.3 yards per game, but produced 43 yards on the opening drives. BC squandered the drives by fumbling the ball away twice, giving Tech possession at its own 26-yard line and then at its own 15.
Tech forced three fumbles in the game. Coming into weekend, Tech hadn’t forced a fumble in its first three games, and it recovered just five fumbles all last season.
Norm Wood, 757-247-4644, nwood@dailypress.com
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