WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

Notes, Quotes

The Sports Xchange

November 27, 2018 at 9:30 pm.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

–QB Ryan Willis, a junior transfer from Kansas, moved into the starting lineup in late September when QB Josh Jackson suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Willis was only 14 of 33 for 199 yards, with two interceptions and one touchdown, last week against Virginia, but he kept a play alive to connect with TE Dalton Keene for a 45-yard completion on third-and-10 late in the game. “It means everything,” Willis said of the win. “That was for the seniors. I wasn’t going to let them go out on a bad note.”

–LB Dax Hollifield, a freshman, saw more time in November due to an injury to starter Dylan Rivers. He had 10 tackles vs. Boston College on Nov. 3, had a sack against Pitt on Nov. 10, came up with three tackles for loss, including a sack, vs. Miami on Nov. 17 and last week had six tackles, a pass break-up and a fumble recovery vs. Virginia.

–WR Tre Turner, a freshman, made a one-handed TD grab against Virginia to open the scoring and then blocked a punt that the Hokies recovered and returned for a touchdown. He also had a 43-yard rush. “Obviously, he has talent, and he can run and those sorts of things, but he’s a highly intelligent competitor,” said coach Justin Fuente. “He was a one-man band there for a little bit.” Turner has caught four passes in each of the past three games.

SERIES HISTORY: Virginia Tech leads Marshall 10-2 and has won eight in a row in the series, including 29-21 in triple-overtime in the last meeting on Sept. 21, 2013. The schools are separated by 190 miles.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “Dax is continuing to get better and play that hard. Y’all are probably getting tired of me saying this, but the thing that he does do is pour his heart and soul into whatever he takes on.” — Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente on freshman LB Dax Hollifield.

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