Interesting little factoid came across Twitter this morning. According to a Tweet from buckeyefansonly, the BC defense has allowed the second fewest 100-yard rushers in the FBS since 2005.
Fewest 100-yd rushers allowed (FBS Since 2005) 1 #OhioState 7, 2 #BostonCollege 8 #Bama 8, 4 #BoiseState 10, 5 #PennState 11 #Buckeyes
That’s true, and that total is even smaller if you exclude Paul Johnson's triple option offenses (Georgia Tech, Navy) from those totals. That's a pretty impressive run when you think about the lineup of All-American running backs the Eagles have faced over the last five seasons.
The problem is that in each of BC’s last three meetings with the Hokies, the BC D has allowed a Hokie player to eclipse the 100-yard mark. Only in the 2008 regular season game against the Hokies, when the BC D surrendered 110 yards on the ground to QB Tyrod Taylor, did the Eagles come away with the win. The last time Ryan Williams and Darren Evans went up against the BC D, the Hokies running backs had the last laugh.
Year | Opponent | Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | Result | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Virginia Tech | Ryan Williams | 18 | 159 | 8.8 | 1 | 31 | Loss | |
2008 | Georgia Tech | Jonathan Dwyer | 18 | 108 | 6.0 | 1 | 43 | Loss | |
2008 | Virginia Tech | Darren Evans | 31 | 114 | 3.7 | 1 | 30 | Loss | ACC Championship |
2008 | Virginia Tech | Tyrod Taylor | 15 | 110 | 7.3 | 0 | 31 | Win | |
2007 | Maryland | Lance Ball | 32 | 109 | 3.4 | 1 | 15 | Loss | |
2007 | Michigan St. | Javon Ringer | 21 | 101 | 4.8 | 0 | 19 | Win | Champs Sports |
2006 | Navy | Shun White | 7 | 116 | 16.6 | 0 | 53 | Win | Meineke Car Care |
2005 | Maryland | Lance Ball | 28 | 135 | 4.8 | 1 | 65 | Win |
The question is will the Hokies have a 100-yard rusher this weekend, something the trio of Virginia Tech running backs -- Ryan Williams, Darren Evans and David Wilson -- has yet to accomplish this year. Certainly the status of All-ACC running back Ryan Williams will factor into whether Virginia Tech will have success on the ground on Saturday. So will the relative inexperience of the Virginia Tech offensive line. Tech returns just 49 offensive line starts from a season ago, which ranks seventh best in the ACC. (Florida State leads the way with 142 starts while BC comes in second with 103).
If the BC run defense performs like they did against Kent State, it may be a long day for the Hokies running backs.
What do you think? Will BC give up 100+ yards to a Hokies back this weekend?