Trying to keep Virginia Tech's 21-year bowl streak alive has not been easy this season.
After starting 2-0 and notching a 35-21 win against then-No. 8 Ohio State, the Hokies have dropped five of their last regular season games, putting the longest bowl streak in the FBS in jeopardy. Virginia Tech is hoping to get back to its winning ways Saturday, but it will have to topple a hot first-place Duke team Saturday afternoon at Wallace Wade Stadium.
The ACC Coastal division-leading No. 19 Blue Devils are a far cry from the teams head coach Frank Beamer's squad faced in past years, and the Hokies can no longer write Duke off as a win.
"The thing about Duke is you just can't walk out there and expect to beat them," Beamer said. "You've got to go beat them. Not turn the ball over yourself, take care of the football, every play counts."
Virginia Tech received a wake up call last season when the Blue Devils came to Blacksburg, Va., Oct. 26, 2013 and forced Logan Thomas to throw four interceptions en route to a 13-10 upset of the then-No. 16 Hokies. The win was especially gratifying for Duke's older players who had lost a 14-10 battle with Virginia Tech in 2011 and then blew a 20-0 first half lead in 2012, allowing the Hokies to roar back and score 41 unanswered points.
But this season the tables have almost completely turned. The Hokies are normally in the fight for a spot in the ACC Championship game almost every season, but it is Duke that is currently riding the fast track to Charlotte, leaving Virginia Tech fighting for bowl eligibility. With just four wins this season, Beamer must lead his team to victories in two of the team's last three games to avoid missing the postseason for the first time in more than two decades.
Injuries have played a crucial role in Virginia Tech's downturn. Three offensive lineman have been lost since the start of the season, in addition to cornerback Brandon Facyson, All-ACC defensive tackle Luther Maddy, tight end Kalvin Cline and running backs Trey Edmunds and Shai McKenzie. Starting linebacker Chase Williams will be a game-time decision before Saturday's game, Beamer said.
Running back has been a position of major concern after the injuries to Edmunds and McKenzie, pressing true freshman Marshawn Williams into a starting role. The Hampton, Va., native has done a solid job filling in thus far, averaging 3.9 yards per carry and rushing for four touchdowns.
But the loss of Thomas, a mobile and strong quarterback, and experienced rushers has resulted in the Hokies having the 98th-best rushing attack in the FBS at 139 yards per contest.
Despite the injuries, Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said Virginia Tech will be much healthier coming off a bye-week and his team should be prepared for a physical battle.
"Virginia Tech has been open," he said. "I’m sure they have gotten a little healthier. That is one of the issues that they have had to deal with all season. It has been tough on them. I expect to see a healthier team, one that is going to be highly motivated."
The injuries have put added pressure on first-year quarterback Michael Brewer, who played two seasons at Texas Tech before coming to Blacksburg. The junior is completing 61.9 percent of his passes, but has thrown 11 interceptions this season, compared to 13 touchdowns. He will have to cut down on mistakes against a Duke secondary that had two interceptions against Austin Wilson of Syracuse last week.
"[Brewer] is doing better all the time," Beamer said. "Out there yesterday, our passing efficiency in practice is very good. You probably say, well, you should be able to complete them in practice, and you should. You don't always do that. But try to get it to the right guy and get it there on time and so forth, I think we're getting better all the time."
The defense has fared slightly better injury-wise, only losing a pair of starters in Facyson and Maddy to long-term injuries. When asked about Virginia Tech's defensive unit, the words Bud Foster came out of offensive tackle Takoby Cofield's mouth. The defensive coordinator has been known to wreak havoc against opposing teams and although his defense has not met preseason expectations, it is still giving up a mere 22.6 points per game.
"They have the mentality of who they are coached by," Cofield said. "Bud Foster is very aggressive as a play caller and they are a very aggressive front. They try and attack you and play across the line of scrimmage."
The Hokies know in order to be successful, they will have to stop a four-headed Blue Devil rushing attack that is racking up almost 200 yards per contest. In Virginia Tech's last two losses to Miami and Boston College, they allowed a combined 622 rushing yards.
If they can stifle the run, look for sophomore Kendall Fuller to try and jump in front of Boone's passes. In last season's loss he picked off Boone three times and was part of a secondary that did not allow the Duke quarterback to complete a pass in secondary.
Fuller has rarely been thrown at this season, registering only one interception. But he still has the ability to shut down Boone's top target, Jamison Crowder.
Saturday's game is not a must-win for Virginia Tech, which plays Coastal bottom-feeders Wake Forest and Virginia in its final two games, but a win against the No. 19 Blue Devils could be the turning point in what has been a season to forget.
This motivation, along with the Hokies' history as one of the top teams in college football, has Cutcliffe making sure that Saturday's matchup isn't a trap game with a Thursday night battle against North Carolina looming Nov. 20.
"Virginia Tech makes you do everything well," Cutcliffe said. "When you do everything well that puts you at a point where you have a chance [to win]. If you don’t do everything well they will expose it."
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