Oct 20, 2016; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Miami Hurricanes running back Mark Walton (1) is tackled by Virginia Tech Hokies linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (49) during the first quarter at Lane Stadium. Photo Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
The Lane Stadium home field advantage has returned in a major way this season for the No. 25 Virginia Tech football team.
Now the Hokies, who are undefeated at home after a 37-16 win over visiting Miami on Thursday night, have to figure out how to consistently win on the road.
They’ll face their biggest road test against Pittsburgh at Heinz Field, a venue that hasn’t been kind to Tech in the past.
This is a critical ACC Coastal Division clash for Tech and Pitt, both of which are tied atop the standings, along with North Carolina, with one conference loss apiece.
The Hokies already have a head-to-head win over the Tar Heels, so adding a victory against the Panthers is imperative if they want to make it to the Dec. 3 ACC championship game in Orlando.
It won’t be easy. The Hokies, who re-entered the Associated Press poll this week, have lost six of their last seven meetings with the Panthers, including all four meetings at Heinz Field.
Tech’s last road win against Pitt came in 1999 at Pitt Stadium.
The 0-4 record at Heinz Field “doesn’t mean anything,” Hokies running back Travon McMillian said. “This is a totally different team that we’ve had in the past.”
The Hokies are 4-0 at home this season after going a combined 5-8 at Lane Stadium the previous two seasons.
But winning away from home has been a problem. Tech’s lone road win came in hurricane conditions at North Carolina in front of a crowd that was almost as much pro-Hokies as it was in favor of the Tar Heels.
The Hokies other games away from home resulted in losses — against Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway and against three-touchdown underdog Syracuse at the Carrier Dome.
“The way we came out against Syracuse, I think that changed the mindset of what we know we need to be,” Tech quarterback Jerod Evans said.
Heinz Field has been a house of horrors for the Hokies in the past, for reasons that aren’t completely clear.
The stadium, which hosts much more raucous crowds for Steelers games, is often half full for the Panthers. And while Pitt has had some good teams in recent years, the Hokies have been favored in at least the last three matchups in the Steel City.
Road losses usually come down to a lack of energy, the result of being on the road and being away from the home fans. That was perhaps a culprit in the Hokies’ loss at Syracuse.
Evans said he’s convinced the team learned from that experience and will be ready to go against the Panthers.
“I know the guys will bring exactly what we need that we didn’t bring in the Syracuse game,” Evans said.
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Jerod Evans might be the best quarterback in the ACC not named Lamar Jackson. Jackson, a Heisman Trophy favorite at Louisville, has put up gaudy numbers through the first seven games of the season, but Evans has been impressive in his own right, completing 63 percent of his passes for 1,605 yards, 19 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He also ranks second on the team with 417 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
–WR Cam Phillips matched a career high with seven receptions against the Hurricanes. As opponents put more focus on stopping leading receiver Isaiah Ford, Phillips has had more opportunities to make plays. In the last two games, he has 10 catches for 147 yards.
–LB Tremaine Edmunds is closing in on LB Andrew Motuapuaka for the team lead in tackles. Edmunds, who has 54 tackles and a team-leading 11 tackles for loss, has 26 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss in the last two games.
–DT Woody Baron — With starting DE Ken Ekanem (upper extremity injury) and DT Nigel Williams (ankle) out with injury, Baron found the right occasion to have a career day. He had 2.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss, both career highs. The Hokies finished with eight sacks and 12 tackles for loss as a team.
