FACTS & STATS: Site: Lane Stadium (66,632) — Blacksburg, Virginia.
Television: ACC Network. Home Record: Western Michigan 1-0, Virginia Tech 1-2.
Away Record: Western Michigan 1-1, Virginia Tech 1-0. Neutral Record: Western
Michigan 0-0, Virginia Tech 0-0. Conference Record: Western Michigan 0-0,
Virginia Tech 0-1. Series Record: Virginia Tech leads, 3-0.
GAME NOTES: The Virginia Tech Hokies seek to end their current slide when they
take the field on Saturday against the Western Michigan at Lane Stadium on
Homecoming weekend..
Since defeating Ohio State in week two, the Hokies have yet to get back into
the win column. Most recently, Virginia Tech lost to Georgia Tech, 27-24.
Harrison Butker’s 24-yard field goal as time expired lifted the Yellow Jackets
in the ACC opener for both teams at Lane Stadium, sending the Hokies to their
second straight setback.
Isaiah Ford led the way for the Hokies with a game-high eight catches for 114
yards. Michael Brewer completed 28-of-39 passes for 297 yards and was
intercepted three times in the loss for Virginia Tech, which lost to East
Carolina the week prior.
Brewer has completed 64.6 percent of his passes this season for 1,045 yards
with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions. He will have to cut down on his
miscues if Virginia Tech is to get back to its winning ways. For the season,
the Hokies have committed 10 turnovers and have committed 40 penalties for 325
yards.
Virginia Tech has been averaging 406 yards on offense, which is a unit that
doesn’t boast a 100-yard-game by a rusher or receiver yet.
On the defensive side, the Hokies hold opponents to just 21.3 points per game
despite yielding nearly 350 yards per game. Chase Williams leads the team with
33 tackles, while Dadi Nicolas paces the squad with 4.5 sacks.
The unit will have to go without starting defensive tackle Luther Maddy, who
had surgery Tuesday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. The senior
from Delray Beach, Florida, is expected to miss 2-4 weeks. Maddy suffered the
tear in the East Carolina game, but played 48 defensive snaps against Georgia
Tech. Nigel Williams will replace him as the starter.
Western Michigan, on the other hand, enters today’s tilt riding a two-game
winning streak.
Last weekend, the Broncos defeated Murray State, 45-14, racking up 605 yards
of total offense. Freshman running back Jarvion Franklin led the way for
Western Michigan with 168 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries.
This marked the third straight game he rushed for three touchdowns and for
over a 100 yards and became the first Bronco since Robert Sanford (1997) to
run for three 100-yard games as a freshman.
Offensively, the Broncos are averaging 39.5 points per game, going for 470
yards per contest. Franklin’s 187 yards per game leads the offense, while
quarterback Zach Terrell has completed 59 percent of his passes for 484 yards
with five TDs and one pick.
The Western Michigan defense has struggled in comparison to the offense. The
unit has allowed an average of 38 points per game, surrendering 407 yards per
game. The secondary is the biggest weakness for the Broncos, as they allow 271
yards per game compared to 135 yards on the ground.
Linebacker Grant Depalma’s 20 total tackles leads the squad, while defensive
lineman Cleveland Smith’s three sacks is best on the team.
This is the fourth all-time meeting in this series, which has been absolutely
dominated by Virginia Tech. The Hokies have outscored the Broncos 124-0 in the
three contests, winning the most recent meeting in 2004 by a score of 63-0.
Additionally, Virginia Tech is 40-7-2 all-time in Homecoming Games played at
Lane Stadium, last losing on the occasion in 1998. So, don’t expect any
surprises in this contest.
Even though the Hokies have struggled, they should cruise in this one. The
offensive output should be tough for Western Michigan to stop, but the Broncos
could be able to put some points on the board behind Franklin’s rushing
ability.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Virginia Tech 42, Western Michigan 24
