The Boston College and Virginia Tech soccer packages have extra in widespread than their previous affiliation with the Big East and as everlasting crossover rivals within the outdated divisional construction of the ACC.
Over the course of the 2023 season, the Eagles and the Hokies have been on the enterprise finish of season-altering encounters with No. 11 Louisville, one other ACC refugee from the Big East.
BC’s season hit its low level with a 56-28 loss at Louisville on Sept. 23. Since then, BC has gained 5 straight video games and has a successful report within the ACC.
Virginia Tech endured a 34-3 beatdown by the host Cardinals final Saturday, the Hokies’ worst lack of the season. Virginia Tech should win two of the following three towards BC, NC State and Virginia to safe bowl eligibility.
BC (6-3, 3-2) will look to prolonged its win streak and improve its bowl season prospects when it hosts Virginia Tech (4-5, 3-2) on Saturday (midday) at Alumni Stadium.
“We knew we were a good team and we kind of stumbled out trying to find our identity and it took a little longer than we would have liked,” stated BC head coach Jeff Hafley. “We have been beginning to really feel that we may compete with anyone after Florida State, which was determined by a missed additional level.
“Then you don’t play very good at Louisville and that was the hardest moment. But the guys continued to work and believed and never wavered. To win five games in a row you have to be a good football team. Five games in a row doesn’t happen by chance and this team has been consistent for quite awhile and they are getting better.”
There are many components behind the Eagles’ upsurge however the obvious has been the play of quarterback Thomas Castellanos, a sophomore switch from Central Florida.
Castellanos leads the nation in speeding yards by a quarterback with 760 and is tied with Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams of USC for the lead with 10 speeding touchdowns. He is first in FBS amongst quarterbacks with over 1,500 yards passing and 600 yards speeding.
Castellanos can count on to be a person on the run as a result of Virginia Tech has probably the most potent cross rush within the ACC. The Hokies prime the ACC with 31 sacks led by a wrecking ball named Antwaun Powell-Ryland, a 6-3, 244-pound hybrid proper finish who leads the membership with 9 sacks and 12.5 tackles for a loss. The Eagles counter with a cellular quarterback and an offensive line second within the ACC with 10 sacks allowed.
“I think everybody that has played against him (Powell-Ryland) has had their hands full,” stated Hafley. “I’m excited to see the matchup and our guys battle him as a result of he’s a extremely good cross rusher.
“He is really explosive and he can run and he can defend and I think he is a really good football player. He has wrecked a lot of plays so he is definitely a guy we have to keep our eyes on and they have a really good interior D-line.”
The Hokies have a Castellanos-style hybrid twin risk quarterback accountable for the offense. Kyron Drones has accomplished 114-of-195 passes for 1,306 yards and 7 touchdowns with two interceptions. He is second on the group in speeding with 406 yards and 4 scores.
Drones is 6-2, 234 kilos, and has drawn comparisons to former Hokies’ QB Logan Thomas, who ran the present in Blacksburg, Va., from 2009-13.
“He is dynamic player and he looks huge on tape,” stated Hafley. “He is thicker guy with good height and he has a really strong arm that can stretch you vertically.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com