After thrilling win Saturday, Hokies turn attention to Commonwealth Clash

The No. 24 Virginia Tech squad faces a much-improved Virginia team and is looking to extend its streak in the series to 14 straight wins

November 20, 2017

By Jimmy Robertson

BLACKSBURG – Andrew Motuapuaka remembers his first taste of the Virginia Tech-Virginia rivalry. It came in 2014 at Lane Stadium when he, some of his teammates and a few Virginia players engaged in a war of words at midfield shortly before kickoff.

“I remember the ref telling me that if I didn't step back, he was going to kick me out,” Motuapuaka recalled. "So I took some steps back, but I was still talking trash."

In other words, it didn’t take long for Motuapuaka, then a freshman, to understand the meaning of the Commonwealth Clash, and it hasn’t taken long for head coach Justin Fuente, who made his inaugural appearance in the game last season.

Fuente’s debut turned out to be a rousing success, as the Hokies stuffed the Cavaliers 52-10 at Lane Stadium to win their 13th straight in the series. He took steps to make sure his team went into that game with the proper attitude, bringing in former head coach Frank Beamer to deliver some motivational words. Beamer went 20-9 against Virginia, but unfortunately isn’t available this week to help the Hokies.

“Coach is out of town,” Fuente said at Monday’s news conference. “I’ve already figured that out. Coach is not available. I’ll call anyone in if I think it’s going to help.

“I think we have a pretty good understanding of it [the rivalry]. Our focus needs to be on our preparation and the challenge ahead of us. It’s going to be a far different game than it was a year ago. We’re playing a much different football team that’s going to be excited and hungry to play, and we’ve got to match that.”

For sure, this year’s game looks to be much more competitive than last year’s rout. The Hokies come in with an 8-3 record, a No. 24 ranking in The Associated Press poll and bowl eligibility for the 25th straight year, but Virginia also comes into the game with bowl eligibility secured, and the Cavaliers had Coastal Division champion Miami on the ropes last Saturday.

Plus, the Hokies have scuffled along in November. They lost two road games to start the month, and then they needed an incredible goal-line stand against Pittsburgh last Saturday to eek out a 20-14 victory over the Panthers. Without that, they would be heading into this rivalry game on the heels of a three-game losing streak.

“I’m thankful we’re not,” Fuente said. “I try not to think about it.”

Fuente didn’t divulge any potential motivational techniques for the upcoming version of the Commonwealth Clash. Yet the reality is that he doesn’t need any.

This is Tech and UVA. Not much more needs to be stated.

“I have a feeling that this game is the type of game that both sides get up for regardless of what’s happened,” Fuente said. “I don’t think you need any extra motivation for this one. I think everybody understands what it means, and it’s all hands on deck. Whoever you’ve got has to be ready to play at a high level.”

Here are some more notes from Monday’s news conference:

• As he did following the game, Tech quarterback Josh Jackson admitted that he didn’t play particularly well against Pittsburgh – a game in which he completed just 17 of 37 for 218 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. The win took much of the sting out of the performance, but he wants to play better.

“Like I said, not as good as I would have wanted to,” Jackson said of his play. “There were a couple throws I missed, and I wish I would have had back, but we won, which makes me feel a lot better about myself. I would have felt a lot worse if we would have lost the game, but there are definitely some things I could have done better.”

Fuente took the time to step up for his quarterback, saying that the interception was not Jackson’s fault and that the personnel around Jackson needs to play better.

“I still feel the same way I felt when we started, to be honest with you,” Fuente said. “I feel like continuing to focus on the guys around him, as Josh continues to improve and feel more comfortable, is important. Josh has to focus on making the average play on a consistent basis and the big plays will come. We’ve got to have an offensive staff that does a great job getting the guys around him to play well. We’re playing a redshirt freshman quarterback – the guys around him need to step and produce as well.”

• Fuente said that Travon McMillian, who had started the previous two games at tailback, wasn’t 100 percent going into the game against Pittsburgh, which led to him not starting. McMillian carried the ball once, and the staff realized quickly that he just wasn’t going to be able to be effective.

“He didn’t practice much,” Fuente said. “Toward the end of the week, he practiced a little bit more. I basically said, ‘Travon, let’s get you out there and see how you feel.’ He felt okay, but I still didn’t want to push it, so I would anticipate he will be fine [for the Virginia game].”

• McMillian’s injury is just the latest in a series of setbacks at the tailback position for the Hokies. Steven Peoples and Deshawn McClease have missed time as well, and particularly because of that, the Hokies average less than 4 yards per carry.

“It certainly has been a little bit of a revolving door,” Fuente admitted. “I know we’ve talked about I don’t care who is carrying it and all that kind of stuff. If we had a one dominate person, I would leave one dominate person back there. Between the injuries and guys getting beaten up … it has been a good thing that those guys are all invested in what’s going on. They’ve all gotten playing time. They’ve all contributed to it [the rushing output].

“The one that comes to mind is Steven, though. When you go back to the very first game of the year and watch him run the football, he was a force running the ball in his carries. I really anticipated that expanding as it went along, and it just hasn’t because he’s just not been able to play as much. Hopefully moving forward, he’ll get back and be able to contribute.

“On one hand, it’s nice that those guys have all jumped in there and filled in. On the other hand, it has been a little bit of a revolving door due to guys getting beat up.”

• On Monday, Tremaine Edmunds was named a finalist for the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation’s top linebacker. Edmunds leads the team with 93 tackles, including a team-best 11 for a loss, and he also has 3.5 sacks. In addition, his three forced fumbles lead the team.

“We’ve had a couple of guys that have been recognized in the past [for other awards], but I don’t know that we’ve had one considered as highly, and it’d be pretty cool if he could get that thing,” Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster said. “I know he’s in some stiff competition, but he’s that caliber player, so it would be pretty exciting for him and our program. It would make a statement about our program and our defense.”

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