|
Brenden Motley and Virginia Tech made quick work of Furman in Motley’s first career start, routing the FCS school, 42-3, to get the Hokies in the win column. Here’s how it went down: Player of the game: Travon McMillian's stat line is hard to overlook, as he rushed for 98 yards on just six carries, thanks in large part to a 63-yard run. McMillian added two catches for 11 yards as well, as he was one of eight different Hokies to haul in receptions Saturday. Unsung hero: You have to give credit to Motley, who was thrown to the wolves against Ohio State and did not exactly have Virginia Tech fans optimistic for the rest of the season. But the redshirt junior did his part Saturday, completing 16 of 24 passes for 233 yards with two touchdowns, while rushing it four times for 38 yards with one more touchdown. A tip of the cap here goes to sophomore Isaiah Ford as well, as Ford had five catches for 77 yards, accounting for both of Motley’s touchdown passes, too. What the win means for Virginia Tech: It’s a win on a short week, for one, giving the Hokies something to feel good about after a second half gone wrong Monday against the defending national champions. Moving forward? Trips to Purdue and East Carolina await, and while no one will mistake the Boilermakers for the Buckeyes, they will provide a much stiffer test for Motley in his first road start. (So, too, will ECU, as we all saw last season in Blacksburg.) What the loss means for Furman: The Paladins put up a great effort last weekend against soon-to-be Sun Belt member Coastal Carolina, losing 38-35, but they found themselves in the middle of a different test Saturday against a Virginia Tech team coming off a prime-time loss. Things might not get a whole lot easier next Saturday at American Athletic Conference member UCF, but Furman will enter Southern Conference play against VMI in two weeks knowing it has certainly been tested in its nonconference slate.
|
