Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech and Boston College will meet for the 33rd time on Thursday, Oct. 17, rekindling a rivalry that traces back to their days in the Big East and includes two memorable ACC Championship clashes. The Hokies hold a 21-11 lead in the all-time series, and Thursday night’s primetime showdown under the lights of a sold-out Lane Stadium promises another exciting matchup. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and airing on ESPN. In this week’s edition of Know the Foe, presented by AAA, take a closer look at what Boston College brings to the table.
The Eagles have jumped out to a 4-2 start under first-year head coach Bill O’Brien, who has surrounded himself with a new staff that includes offensive coordinator Will Lawing. O’Brien and Lawing’s connection stretches back to 2013 at Penn State, where Lawing began as a graduate assistant during O’Brien’s final season leading the Nittany Lions. Just three years later, Virginia Tech’s Brent Pry took over as Penn State’s defensive coordinator under head coach James Franklin, adding another intriguing layer to this Thursday’s matchup.
Boston College returns 17 starters to its lineup this season, led by junior quarterback Thomas Castellanos, who has already tallied 983 passing yards and 12 touchdowns while adding 103 rushing yards. Castellanos operates behind a veteran offensive line—a group that embodies the Eagles' long-standing tradition of producing NFL talent, with 20 of their 64 draft picks over the past 30 years coming from the O-line.
True to form, the Eagles’ offense relies heavily on Power, Counter and Lead concepts, the cornerstones of a gap-style rushing attack. With a more experienced offensive front, it’s no surprise that these schemes remain the core of their ground game. Running back Treshaun Ward leads the way with 285 rushing yards and two touchdowns, adding two more scores through the air. Fellow running back Kye Robichaux complements him with 204 rushing yards, a touchdown on the ground, and one receiving score. However, the Eagles could face challenges finding running lanes against a stout Hokies defense featuring lineman Aeneas Peebles and linebacker Caleb Woodson.
In the passing game, Castellanos has leaned on wide receiver Lewis Bond, who leads the team with 384 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Bond will once again meet a Hokies secondary that limited him to just two catches for 15 yards in last year’s meeting. The offense also features tight end Kamari Morales, a North Carolina transfer who has caught three touchdowns this season.
Virginia Tech claimed victory in the last two matchups against Boston College, including a dominant 48-22 win in Chestnut Hill last November. In that game, Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones showcased his versatility, throwing for 219 yards and two touchdowns while also contributing 135 rushing yards. Running back Bhayshul Tuten fueled the offense with three rushing touchdowns. Both players are poised to maintain their high level of production in this year's matchup, complemented by additional receiving threats in Jaylin Lane, Stephen Gosnell and Da'Quan Felton.
The Hokies’ offense will need to prepare for pressure from Boston College’s defense, led by defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku, who has tallied 25 tackles and nine sacks this season. Defensive back Khari Johnson also adds to the Eagles' secondary with 20 tackles and two interceptions.
Both Virginia Tech and Boston College enter this matchup with 1-1 records in conference play. The Eagles are coming off a 24-14 loss to Virginia last weekend, while the Hokies are riding high after a decisive 31-7 victory over Stanford in California. Virginia Tech will look to extend its’ win streak against Boston College as they clash this Thursday.
Be part of the action and witness this thrilling ACC rivalry at Lane Stadium firsthand. While this game is sold out, fans eager to secure their spot for the Boston College matchup can still explore single-game ticket options on SeatGeek, the official fan-to-fan ticket marketplace for Virginia Tech Athletics.