School Sports activities
The Hokies scored 28 unanswered factors to shut the primary half and cruised to a 48-22 win.
In Boston School’s five-game profitable streak, the Eagles ran the ball relentlessly, dominated time of possession, and wore down opponents with their depth and physicality.
On Saturday afternoon in opposition to Virginia Tech, they did the alternative — watching helplessly because the Hokies walloped them at their very own sport. BC reverted to previous habits and appeared outmatched in each side, taking part in sloppy and inefficient soccer in a head-scratching 48-22 setback at Alumni Stadium.
“We bought humbled in the present day,” Boston School quarterback Thomas Castellanos mentioned. “We have been too fearful about what the long run might appear to be. We bought too complacent.”
The Eagles (6-4, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Convention) turned the soccer over twice, did not get better an onside kick, and allowed 8.3 yards per play and 600 whole yards. Within the first half alone, the Hokies (5-5, 4-2) outgained the Eagles, 340-138, to construct a 31-7 benefit.
Virginia Tech exploded for good points of 70 and 59 yards and scored at will early and infrequently. The Hokies completed 7-of-15 on third down, 2-of-2 on fourth down, and solely punted twice.
This sport felt like final 12 months — when BC sputtered to a 3-9 report — and early this season, when the Eagles began 1-3. It rivaled the loss to Louisville because the lowest level in an total promising season.
“It appeared like a variety of issues snowballed in the present day,” Boston School coach Jeff Hafley mentioned. “We couldn’t regroup and get in a rhythm.”
John Love drilled a 27-yard subject objective for the Hokies to start out the scoring, Alex Broome responded with a 4-yard rating for the Eagles, then Virginia Tech ripped off 28 factors to shut the half convincingly.
Bhayshul Tuten (16 carries, 78 yards, 3 touchdowns) delivered from 7 yards out late within the first quarter, then Stephen Gosnell hauled in a 22-yard landing move from Kyron Drones (12 for 17, 2 TDs; 20 carries, 135 yards)early within the second. Jaylin Lane caught a 5-yard strike, then Tuten — who initially dedicated to BC, then flipped it to VT — discovered the tip zone once more from 4 yards with 1:33 left within the half.
“Gosh, we missed a variety of tackles, which isn’t how we performed these final 5 weeks,” Hafley mentioned. “We’ve bought to try why.”
The Eagles, who entered ninth within the nation with 211.2 speeding yards per sport, struggled to maneuver the ball with out Kye Robichaux. Castellanos (10-for-20, 110 yards, TD, 2 INTs; 11 carries, 46 yards) threw a choose on the primary play from scrimmage, then one other later within the first. He credited the Hokies’ Dorian Sturdy for making an excellent play on the primary one and mentioned the second was a 50/50 ball that Sturdy was capable of safe.
Broome was regular, however the Eagles offense grew to become predictable and inefficient. Virginia Tech took benefit, capitalizing on almost each alternative and overpowering BC with its measurement and energy.
The Eagles protection, taking part in with out star cornerback Elijah Jones, was constantly a step sluggish. Hafley mentioned Jones, who entered tied for second within the nation with 5 interceptions, will “in all probability be out for the rest of the 12 months.”
The second half was extra of the identical. Tuten scored from 4 yards to push the margin to 38-7. The Eagles sliced the deficit to 38-15 late within the third on an 8-yard strike from Castellanos to freshman Jaedn Skeete, plus a 2-point move from Castellanos to Lewis Bond. However the Hokies answered proper again, as Malachi Thomas waltzed into the tip zone from 35 yards. Virginia Tech tacked on a 46-yard subject objective from Love, Xavier Coleman scored from 1-yard out for the Eagles, and that was that.
The BC offense wasn’t sharp, however protection was the larger drawback. The Eagles, who didn’t permit greater than 24 factors throughout the ,profitable streak, appeared dazed and confused the complete method.
“We made a variety of errors,” defensive finish Donovan Ezeiruaku mentioned. “It wasn’t the cleanest.”
The Eagles have clinched a spot in a bowl sport — they usually can nonetheless attain eight wins for the primary time since 2009 — however a path to the ACC championship sport now not exists.
BC doesn’t have a lot time to dwell on its shortcomings, because the Eagles journey to Pittsburgh for a 7 p.m. conflict Thursday. Hafley mentioned BC doesn’t have a alternative however to erase this one in a short time. Castellanos referred to it as wiping the injuries away.
“We don’t have to attend a full seven days once more,” Ezeiruaku mentioned. “It’s a Thursday sport, and it’ll come round rapidly. We’ve bought to throw this one within the trash and press ahead.”
