Week 6: Western Kentucky at Virginia Tech

Maybe Virginia Tech can excel on offense after all. The Hokies, who have disappointed their fans all season with an inability to get yardage in big chunks and put up big point totals, racked up a season-high 377 yards in their 35-30 win at Nebraska last week.

This week offers Virginia Tech a chance to build on that performance and generate some more momentum. Western Kentucky, in Year 2 of a two-year transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision, enters this contest fresh off a 41-3 whipping at Kentucky. The Hilltoppers gained just 157 yards of total offense in that game, with quarterbacks David Wolke and K.J. Black completing 6 of 14 passes for just 15 yards.

The sledding will be tough again this week against a Virginia Tech team that has won four consecutive games since its season-opening loss to East Carolina. The Hokies still have unimpressive offensive numbers — they rank 108th nationally in total yards (292.8 per game) and 112th nationally in passing yards (113.4 per game) — but they are showing improvement with sophomore Tyrod Taylor at the controls.

Taylor, who is fourth in the ACC in rushing (77.0 yards per game), ran for 87 yards against the Cornhuskers last week. More impressively, he completed 9 of 15 passes for a season-high 171 yards and no interceptions. He will take aim at a Western Kentucky team that has been outscored 113-23 in three games against FBS competition this season.

Notes/Things to Watch:

This game is the first meeting between the schools, but Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer has competed against Western Kentucky before. Beamer was 3-2-1 against the Hilltoppers during his stint as head coach at Murray State.

The game is homecoming at Virginia Tech. The Hokies are 57-19-4 in homecoming games, including nine consecutive victories.

Virginia Tech has won 29 consecutive nonconference home games.

If the Hilltoppers don’t play a great game against Virginia Tech, it won’t be because they were in awe of their surroundings. Western Kentucky already has made trips to Alabama, Kentucky and Indiana this season.

Virginia Tech redshirt freshman Darren Evans has a nice streak going to start his career. Evans, who averages 67.2 rushing yards per game, has scored at least one touchdown in all five games this season.

Key Player (Hilltoppers) — Bobby Rainey, RB

Rainey was his team’s lone bright spot against Kentucky, rushing for 99 yards on nine carries and racking up 155 yards on returns. The 5-9, 205-pound freshman returned a kickoff 74 yards against the Wildcats and will need to make similar big plays to keep the Hilltoppers competitive against Virginia Tech.

Key Player (Hokies) — Dorian Porch, S

Porch is now a starter because starting strong safety Davon Morgan is out for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Nebraska. This game provides Porch, a junior, an acclimation period before the Hokies jump back into conference play.

Virginia Tech by 28