Virginia Tech 66, Appalachian State 13
Coach Jerry Moore of Appalachian State said that he sure hopes Virginia Tech will go on and have a great season.
He hopes that his team does as well, but knows it will have to improve significantly from today’s 66-13 trouncing at the hands of the Hokies. It was the Mountaineers’ most one-sided loss since they were beaten 72-14 by Chattanooga in 1978.
“I think we can still be a good football team,” Moore said. “It’s hard to say that when you play like we did today.”
ASU did few things well. The defense was shredded by big plays, the offense struggled to establish any semblance of a consistent running game and four turnovers didn’t help.
The Mountaineers didn’t resemble the team that knocked off Michigan four years ago. And they struggled again in the early stages against an FBS opponent. Since leading Michigan at halftime in 2007, the Mountaineers have been outscored 124-7 in the first half of their last four games against FBS opponents.
For Virginia Tech, it solved a turnover problem that haunted it in last season’s upset loss to James Madison. In that game, the Hokies had three turnovers. JMU didn’t have any. Against ASU, the Hokies didn’t turn the ball over and racked up 518 yards.
The Hokies obviously didn’t take the Mountaineers lightly.
But was it easier than expected?
“I wouldn’t say it was easier, but I guess it definitely seemed that way,” quarterback Logan Thomas of Virginia Tech said.
How good were the Hokies?
“They were along the same lines as Florida,” Moore said, recalling ASU’s 48-10 loss to the Gators last season. “Florida has probably got more team speed, but they didn’t have a back any better than (David Wilson). Virginia Tech made a lot of big plays.”
There were few bright spots for the Mountaineers, but Sam Martin’s punting was one of them. Martin averaged 45 yards on his eight punts, and twice pinned the Hokies at their 3-yard line.
A concern for the Mountaineers entering this season is inexperience on the offensive line. Alex Acey, a freshman walk-on, wound up starting at center against Tech as veteran Orry Frye moved to tackle. Redshirt freshmen Kendall Lamm and Kalan Jones also started for the first time.
“You start three freshman linemen against those guys right there… (Virginia Tech) is going to win most of those battles,” Moore said. “We’ve got to get those guys better, and you can’t get them better watching tapes. You’ve got to throw them in the fire. I think that’s where we are.”
Defensively, the Mountaineers, who debuted their new 3-4 alignment, missed tackles and particularly had a hard time wrapping up Wilson, who rushed for 162 yards and three touchdowns.
“I don’t think it was the 3-4 defense (that was the problem),” Moore said. “The way we played, I don’t think it would have mattered what defense we lined up in.”
Two ASU players – long snapper Wilson Fitchett and offensive lineman Jones – wound up sidelined with ankle injuries, and both will be evaluated this week.