Virginia Tech freshman running back Ryan Williams
run for a 57-yard first quarter touchdown vs. Marshall.
Blacksburg, VA -- The Virginia Tech Hokies bounced back from their season-opening loss to Alabama with a 52-10 trouncing of Marshall.
The Hokies much-maligned offense pounded out 605 yards and had two running backs rush for more than 100 yards each. It was the biggest offensive output for Frank Beamer's team since Sept. 1, 2001, when Tech piled up 606 yards against Connecticut. The unexpected yardage total is the sixth most in Virginia Tech's history and the 52 points were the most the team has scored since hanging the same number on Virginia in 2005.
The Hokies were led by a pair of freshman running backs; Ryan Williams and David Wilson. Williams, who was the ACC's Rookie of the Week, rushed for 164 yards on 16 carries and scored three touchdowns. The redshirt tailback now has five TDs in his first two games. Wilson, a true freshman, rushed by 165 yards on 12 carries and scored one touchdown.
The freshman pair became the first backfield duo to post 100-yard rushing games since Cedric Humes and Brandon Ore accomplished the rare feat against North Carolina in 2005. Their combined 329 yards are the most by a pair of running backs since 2002 when Lee Suggs and Kevin Jones clobbered Rutgers for the same number of yards.
Williams and Wilson weren't the only freshmen to reach the end zone. Freshman return man Jayron Hosley returned second quarter punt 64 yards for a touchdown giving the Hokies a 21-0 lead.
Junior starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor had a much better game this week for the Hokies - granted it was against a lesser opponent, but he played well. Taylor was 9/16 passing with a pair of TD passes. He threw one interception. Backup Ju-Ju Clayton was 0-3, but led two scoring drives in the fourth quarter.
The Hokies needed a breakout offensive game after managing just 155 yards against Alabama in week one.
“Last week was the first game and we were shaky at times,” Williams said, referring to the offense’s 155-yard output against Alabama. “I don’t think a lot of guys played as fast as we needed to. This week, we had to prove to ourselves that we were that team and that we could put up points. It was important for us to go out and do that in today’s game.”
The Hokies (1-1, 0-0) are at home against next week for another out-of-conference game against No. 22 Nebraska, which won big today against Arkansas State, 38-9. Kick-off is set for 3:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ABC regional and ESPN2.
Read more about Virginia Tech's 52-10 win over Marshall and see the box score from the game.
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