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Highlights | Box Score

Blacksburg, VA – Redshirt freshman running back Darren Evans set a new Virginia Tech single game rushing record and led the Hokies to an impressive 23-13 win over the No. 23 ranked Maryland Terrapins Thursday night. Evans piled up 253 yards on 32 carries and scored a touchdown. The 253 yards breaks Mike Imoh’s record of 243 yards set in 2004 against North Carolina.

The Hokies turned in their best offensive performance of the season, racking up 400 yards – 273 rushing, 127 passing. Evans had all but 20 of Tech’s rushing yards. Credit the Virginia Tech offensive line for some great up-front blocking and creating cavernous holes allowing Evans to pick up big chunks of yards. Also, give credit to Bryan Stinespring, Tech’s offensive coordinator, for calling a good game and throwing in some unexpected wrinkles that kept Maryland on their heels all game.

Tech’s offense did most of its damage in the first half posting two touchdowns and a field goal en route to a 17-3 halftime lead. Tech still managed some impressive and time consuming drives in the second half, but only put up two field goals. Glennon finished with a respectable 14 of 20 for 127 yards and one TD.

This game was not what Virginia Tech fans are used to. There were reverses, double reverses, wildcat formation with Greg Boone in at QB, dogs and cats living together. Frank Beamer was interviewed by the lovely Erin Andrews before the game and when asked who was starting, Beams said Sean Glennon was starting because he was further along than Tyrod. When asked who was backing up Glennon if his ankle wouldn’t let him go, Beams said, “Cory Holt.” Talk about some gamesmanship! Did we see Holt? Nope! We saw Greg BOOOOOOOONE and the fans loved it! It was different and Maryland didn’t know what think and it was clear that it threw the Terps defense off, which led to Tech just gashing their front seven.

Hokies Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster had always had a pretty simple approach to defense – stop the run and force the other team to beat him with the pass. Tonight, Bud’s D did just that, holding Maryland to -12 yards … MINUS 12 YARDS. Tech’s record for fewest rushing yards allowed is -28 to Tampa in 1967. This was one of the most dominating rushing defensive performances in school history.

Bud made Maryland beat them with the pass and Maryland tried, but Tech’s secondary, despite giving up some big plays on the Terps’ first drive, locked it down and played big the rest of the way. No interceptions, but for a change, the Hokies didn’t need the turnovers. The offense, with the revitalized running game, was able to give the defense plenty of rest, keeping them fresh throughout the game.

My players of the game are Darren Evans on offense (no-brainer) and on defense, Cody Grimm, who had his best game as a Hokie coming up with some huge hits, big stops and seemingly being in on every tackle. Speaking of huge hits, this game was full of them. Kam Chancellor, Grimm, Macho Harris and even Darren Evans and Greg Boone put some serious hits on some Terps in this game. Make sure to check out the highlights once they’re up – there was at least six “OHHHHH!” hits in this game, including one that left a Maryland player on the field for several minutes trying to clear the cobbwebs.

Bottom line, this was Darren Evans’ coming out party and it would appear that he has arrived in a big way. His 253 yards gave the Hokies their first 100+ yard rushing performance by RB this season. The last time Tech went an entire season without a 100 yard single game rushing performance was 1972.

We’ll break the game down a little more after we get some sleep and post the highlights, but until then, savor this win – it was our best of the season and a signal of better things to come in the final three games.

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