Hokie ClubCoale sets career high, second in career receiving yardage: Tech receiver Danny Coale had a great day in the Hokies’ win over BC, catching a career-high eight passes for 118 yards. His previous career high of seven catches came in the Hokies’ loss to Stanford in the Orange Bowl and in wins over Arkansas State and Marshall earlier this season.
The game marked his sixth 100-yard receiving performance as a Hokie.
“Danny’s just a dependable guy,” Tech head coach Frank Beamer said. “He’s smart, dependable, heady … I’m glad he’s on our side.”
Coale also moved into second place on the Tech’s list for career receiving yardage, passing both Antonio Freeman (2,207 from 1991-94) and Ricky Scales (2,272 from 1972-74). He now has 2,319 yards receiving for his career and only trails teammate Jarrett Boykin, who has 2,541 yards.
“I didn’t even know that,” Coale said of moving up to No. 2 in career receiving yardage at Tech. “But hey, as long as we keep winning, I’m happy.”
Wilson tops 1,000 yards: For the third time in four years, a Tech tailback will have rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season.
David Wilson rushed for 134 yards on 17 carries, marking the fifth straight game and the seventh in eight games he has eclipsed the 100-yard mark. A 22-yard carry in the fourth quarter put him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season. He became the 14th back in Tech history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season.
“Someone came and told me I need four yards for 1,000 right before that next series after they [BC] went down and scored,” Wilson said. “The first play that was called was a pass play, and I thought ‘Oh no, I hope it doesn’t go for a touchdown.’ [laughing]. I know, that’s kind of negative of me, but that was in the back of my head. Then the next play, I got the ball and went over 1,000.
“That’s definitely a benchmark. But I’ve got higher goals.”
Thomas extends streak: Tech quarterback Logan Thomas played well for the third straight game, completing 22 of 36 for 268 yards, with a touchdown and no interceptions. The 36 attempts marked a career high, surpassing the 33 attempts in two previous games.
Thomas became the first Tech quarterback under Beamer to throw for at least 260 yards in three consecutive games and the first to complete at least 22 passes or more in three games in a season (Marshall, Miami and BC). He has thrown six touchdown passes and run for five scores in that span.
Thomas, who also rushed for 60 yards on 16 carries and scored a touchdown, also extended his streak without throwing an interception to 118 pass attempts.
“I think he had a couple of throws that he’d like to have back, but the thing I like about Logan is that he never panics,” Tech head coach Frank Beamer said. “He knows what’s going on, he’s in control, he’s a great guy, and I’m glad he’s our quarterback. It’s just plain and simple. Every outing is a learning experience, and he’ll keep getting better.”
Thomas has thrown for 1,744 yards and 10 touchdowns, with only five interceptions this season. He’s also rushed for six touchdowns and needs just three to tie the school record by a quarterback set by Michael Vick in 1999.
Barquell with big play: Tech mike linebacker Barquell Rivers, who has struggled for nearly 18 months to recover from a torn quadriceps tendon, came in during the BC game in place of an injured Bruce Taylor and made one of the biggest plays of the game.
In the third quarter, with BC driving, Rivers blitzed and nailed BC quarterback Chase Rettig as he threw the ball. The pressure forced Rettig to deliver the ball earlier than he wanted, and Tech’s Tariq Edwards intercepted it at the Tech 11, killing the Eagles’ drive.
Rivers was credited with four tackles in the game, two solo and two assists. He had played just 44 snaps coming into the game.
“It feels good,” Rivers said. “It’s a confidence booster because it lets me know that I can still make plays at this level and that I can do anything if I really work hard at it.
“I didn’t think I was even going to get to play this game because they were ahead and it was a close game. I didn’t think I was going to play, but I was on the sideline working the game and going over the checks we were making during the game. So whenever he [Bud Foster] called me, I was ready.”
Edwards with another big interception: For the second straight week, Tech backer Tariq Edwards made another huge interception. A week ago, his interception against Wake Forest right before halftime led to a Tech touchdown, and then against BC, his third-quarter interception stopped a BC drive and also led to a Hokie touchdown. That score enabled the Hokies to take a 20-7 lead.
The interception marked the second of the season for Edwards and the third of his career.
“Barquell’s pressure was very big,” Edwards said of the play. “You have to have pressure on the quarterback most of the time to get a pick. That’s how probably 90 percent of your picks happen. So that was big.”
Injuries keep mounting: Tech’s defense continues to suffer injuries. The Hokies’ defense went into the game with two starters out for the season in Antoine Hopkins (knee) and Jeron Gouveia-Winslow (foot) and another out indefinitely with a hamstring injury (Jayron Hosley). Then three more starters got injured during the BC game.
James Gayle, who suffered an ankle sprain in the Miami game and missed the Wake game, re-injured the ankle on the first series against BC. He never returned. Alonzo Tweedy, making his first career start in place of Gouveia-Winslow, injured his ankle and played sparingly the rest of the way. Then, in the third quarter, Bruce Taylor went out with a foot injury and did not return, thus allowing Rivers to play.
“We’re going to have to have some other guys step up,” Edwards said. “We’ve always had the leadership with guys like Barquell, and I know he’s going to step up. But we’re going to need other guys step up.”
“It’s a concern, but as I’ve told the players, the next guy has got to step up,” Bemaer said. “You’ve got to practice that way and be ready to go. You never know when your number is going to be called, and that’s just the way it is. A lot of people have injuries at this time of the year. I think we’ve had more than our share, but the next guy just has to step up.”