No. 16 Tech knocks off BC in ACC road test

Hokies' kicker Joey Slye became the school's all-time scoring leader in the 23-10 win

October 7, 2017

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Virginia Tech quarterback Josh Jackson threw for 322 yards and a touchdown, and the Hokies’ defense held Boston College in check, all in leading No. 16 Virginia Tech to a 23-10 victory over the Eagles in an ACC game played at Alumni Stadium on Saturday evening.

With the win, the Hokies moved to 5-1 overall, 1-1 in the ACC, and they beat Boston College for the eighth time in the past 10 meetings. The Eagles fell to 2-4 overall, 0-3 in league play.

Tech survived an early interception and got on the board midway through the first quarter on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Sean Savoy. The two teams later traded field goals before the Hokies opened some breathing room on Travon McMillian’s 23-yard touchdown run with 6:19 left in the first half to take a 17-3 lead.

The Hokies only added two more Joey Slye field goals for the remainder of the game, but that was all they needed, as Tech’s defense allowed just a fourth-quarter score the remainder of the evening. The Hokies held the Eagles to 320 held them to 2 of 15 on third-down conversions. At one stretch in the second half, BC went three-and-out on five straight possessions.

Jackson led Tech, completing 22 of 33 for 322 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. The Hokies finished with 431 yards of offense.

GAME NOTES

• Virginia Tech kicker Joey Slye became the school’s all-time leading scorer after scoring 11 points against BC. Those 11 gave him 376 for his career, enabling him to pass Shayne Graham’s previous mark of 371. Graham played from 1996-99.

• Tech receiver Cam Phillips suffered a sprained foot early in the game and did not return. He did catch a pass, extending his own school record streak of catching at least one pass to 32 straight games.

• Tech receiver Sean Savoy enjoyed a career evening, picking up the production vacated by Cam Phillips’ absence with a foot injury. Savoy set career highs in receptions and receiving yards with nine catches for 139 yards. His previous highs in both categories came in the Delaware game when he caught four passes for 63 yards.

• Jackson’s 322 yards passing marked his second 300-yard performance of the season. He threw for 372 against East Carolina.

UP NEXT

Virginia Tech is off next Saturday, which marks the halfway point of the season. The Hokies return to the field the following Saturday, Oct. 21, with a home game against North Carolina. Tech has beaten the Tar Heels in three of the past four meetings, including last fall’s 34-3 victory in Chapel Hill.

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