Hokies set to face Delaware in 2017 home opener

The Hokies and the Blue Hens will face off for the first time ever on Saturday at Lane Stadium

September 5, 2017

BLACKSBURG – After bringing the Black Diamond Trophy back to Blacksburg with a win over West Virginia on Sunday, No. 18 Virginia Tech will go through a quick turnaround to face Delaware in the 2017 home opener on Saturday, Sept. 9, at Lane Stadium. The game is set to kick off at 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network EXTRA via WatchESPN (link located under EXTRAS).

HOKIES HOST DELAWARE IN HOME OPENER

• Virginia Tech makes its 2017 debut at Lane Stadium when the Hokies host Delaware (1-0) on Saturday.

• The Hokies are coming off a 31-24 win vs. No. 22 West Virginia at FedExField (9/3), while the Blue Hens opened the year with a 22-3 victory vs. Delaware State (8/31).

• Saturday’s game will mark the first ever meeting between Virginia Tech and Delaware.

• The 2017 season marks the 125th anniversary of football at Virginia Tech (first season - 1892) and Tech’s 53rd campaign in Lane Stadium.

DRAMATIC DEBUT FOR QB JOSH JACKSON

• Last week, QB Josh Jackson became the first redshirt freshman to start the season opener as Tech’s signal caller since Mike Vick did it vs. James Madison (9/4/99).

• Jackson enjoyed a sensational debut with the Hokies, becoming the first signal caller to pass for 200-plus yards and produce a 100-yard rushing performance since QB Logan Thomas had 224 passing yards and 101 rushing yards vs. Duke (10/26/13).

• Jackson went 15-for-26 (57.7%) for 235 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, while rushing for 101 yards with a one touchdown vs. West Virginia (9/3), including a key 46-yard run.

• He collected 101 rushing yards, the most for a Virginia Tech QB in his first-career game since 1987.

• Jackson is the son of longtime college coach Fred Jackson, whose career included a stint at Michigan (1992-2014). The elder Jackson has served as head coach at Ypsilanti High School since 2015.

• The younger Jackson wears No. 17 to honor his father. His older brother, Jeremy, played wide receiver at Michigan.

VIRGINIA TECH IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY AT LANE SINCE 1996

• Dating back to 1996 when Bud Foster took over the sole reins as Tech’s defensive coordinator, Tech is 51-4 (.927) against non-conference foes at Lane Stadium.

• Over that span, Tech has held 29 of those non-conference foes to 10 points or fewer, including 11 shutouts.

• In those 51 non-conference home victories, the Hokies own a decisive +68 turnover differential (113 takes/71 gives).

• Over the past 21 years, Tech owns the nation’s best mark in third-down defense at 31.4%. In those 51 home non-conference wins, the Hokies have allowed a mere 26.4 percent conversion rate on third down (201 of 760).

• Tech’s average margin of victory in those 51 wins is 39.2 to 9.8 points per game.

• The Hokies are a perfect 38-0 at Lane Stadium against non-con foes since 1996 when scoring 30 points or more.

• Dating back to 2011, Delaware is 1-23 when scoring 17 points or less and 18-3 when scoring 30 points or more.

• Tech owns a +63.0 edge in sack differential in those 51 victories (142.0 to 79.0).

• The Hokies have registered six punt return TDs in those 51 wins. CB Greg Stroman registered an 87-yard punt return TD to open the scoring in a 54-17 win vs. ECU (9/24/16).

VIRGINIA TECH-DELAWARE CONNECTIONS

• Delaware defensive coordinator Chris Cosh is a 1984 Virginia Tech graduate and was a three-time letterwinner at linebacker from 1977-79 for head coaches Jimmy Sharpe and Bill Dooley.

• Cosh cut his teeth in the coaching ranks when he served under Dooley as a student assistant in 1983, the first coaching stop in his 32-year career.

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