Countdown to Kickoff - Virginia Tech - Boston College Athletics

After getting back on the winning track the Eagles are now in search of their first ACC win of their year as they welcome 16th-ranked Virginia Tech to town for an evening affair under the bright lights of Alumni Stadium.

In defeating Central Michigan, 28-8, last week, the Eagles (2-3, 0-2 ACC) got their run game rolling in full motion with a season-high 224 team yards on the ground.

AJ Dillon (120 rushing yards) became the first true freshman to rush for over 100 yards in a game since redshirt junior Jon Hilliman rushed for 148 yards versus Penn State in 2014.

"It feels great," Dillon said. "A hundred yards is kind of a staple for a running back going into a game. You know you had a good game if you got to that point…our O-line has been working very hard."

After starting out 4-0, the Hokies (4-1, 0-1) got hooked with the first loss of the season against No. 2 Clemson, 31-17, last week.

Quickly shaking off their lone loss of the season, Virginia Tech is hungry to get back on track as they also look for their first win in-conference.

"It certainly wasn't time for a player's only meeting and circling of the wagons," Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente said. "It's early in the year and I think our guys are excited about the challenge in front of us…As we turn the page to Boston College we've got a tremendous challenge, we've got to go on the road. Our first road conference game."

This will be the 26^th time that the former Big East rivals will go head-to-head, with Virginia Tech leading the series, 17-8.

ESPN2 has the television broadcast of the prime-time showdown, with Mike Corey (play-by-play), Ahmad Brooks (color) and Roddy Jones (sideline) on the call.

Once again, the BC IMG Sports Network will provide the radio broadcast locally on WEEI 93.7 FM and nationally on Sirius channel 134 and XM channel 193, as Jon Meterparel calls the plays, accompanied by Pete Cronan (color) and Scott Mutryn (sideline).

What they're saying

"They have a lot of defense and they play very aggressively. And you have to be able to learn how to fit everything in the run game and you have to be able to maintain your physicality and play fast and you have to be able to challenge those DB's and have an understanding of how they are trying to defend you." – BC head coach Steve Addazio

"I know that they have some really good guys on the linebacker core. Primarily that's what you mostly look at as a running back in protecting. I'm going to keep studying that and try to figure out the best way to attack each scenario, blocking schemes, things like that. I feel like we have a good game plan." – BC running back AJ Dillon

"They're just a really good team, well coached. We're just trying to develop, attacking the week and attacking the details of their defense and trying to be the best team we can be this week." – BC offensive lineman Chris Lindstrom

"Well their size is the first thing. They are a big, strong, physical football team. They get in many bigger personal groups, multiple tight ends, under the center, try to run at you then play action over the top, do a good job of their naked and bootlegs. Very sound on special teams. Their punt returner has been fantastic. Statistically, I don't know where he's at but he really had a good game against Clemson and a good game last week. Defensively, it's a lot of man coverage. They don't back up very much. They get down there in your face and play press man and mix a little zone in. Overall it's a big physical well coached football team." – Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente

"That's one thing they have been able to do, win the battle of the time element of the game, and (BC offensive coordinator) Scot (Loeffler) was able to do that when he was here. So, you make it a defensive game and a close game, take it in the fourth quarter and see what happens. I know they are playing really well on defense, but what I see is what he has been accustom to, playing hard nose tough football, running the football and take some shots off the play action. They look like BC to me - big, physical, and tough and some really good football players." – Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster

Countdown to kickoff

10…Junior kicker Colton Lichtenberg is a cool 10-for-10 on PATs for the Eagles this season.

9…The Eagles rank ninth in the ACC with a 21.2-yard average on kick returns, but sit second in the conference in punt returns with an 18.1 yards-per-return average.

8…Punter Mike Knoll has booted eight punts of 50-or-more yards this season. The Eagles senior has also pinned 20 of his punts within the oppositions 20-yard line.

7…Boston College has lost seven times to the Hokies at Alumni Stadium, in 10 tries.

6…Anthony Brown's six TD passes are sixth most in the ACC.

5…Only two players in the country have a FBS-best five interceptions on the season, and Eagles safety Lukas Denis is one of them.

4…The Eagles enter the weekend with the nation's fourth best team passing efficiency defense (90.64 through five games), having allowed just 770 yards through the air thus far. Virginia Tech's 281.6 passing yards per game average ranks 31^st in the country.

3…Over the last eleven years the Eagles have cut down a ranked Hokies team on three different occasions – 2006 (VT ranked 22^nd), 2007 (8^th) and 2008 (17^th).

2…With 206 career receptions, Virginia Tech WR Cam Phillips is second nationally among active receivers.

1…Allowing on average just one sack per game, Boston College ranks first in the ACC in that category.

Countdown to Kickoff - Virginia Tech

Players Mentioned

Anthony Brown

Lukas Denis

AJ Dillon

Jon Hilliman

Mike Knoll

Colton Lichtenberg

Chris Lindstrom

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