Eagles like chances at Va. Tech
Eye key road victory vs. Hokies
Boston College center Jon Baker will make his third trip to Virginia Tech this weekend with a rare opportunity to experience a victory for the second time in the Hokies’ hostile environment. The 6-foot-3, 290-pounder from Millis will be the point man on the front line when the No. 24 Eagles (6-2, 3-1) engage the Hokies (4-3, 3-1) in an ACC crossover game tomorrow in Blacksburg, Va. Virginia Tech is 18-8 against BC in a series that dates back to the old Big East and is 7-4 at Lane Stadium. The Hokies hold a 10-5 advantage in ACC play. “It’s a great place to play and a tough place to play,” said Baker. “They have a really strong crowd at home so you have to deal with that, but it’s a great experience.” Baker was a freshman backup guard when quarterback Tyler Murphy led BC to a 33-31 upset of the Hokies in 2014. The last time BC scored two wins at Virginia Tech in a five-year period was 2003 and 2007. “That was awesome and as a young guy, you are around the program and you are playing but you don’t really see what it meant to those (older) guys,” said Baker. “Then you see a moment like that and the guys celebrating together, it was really awesome. I remember being in that locker room and on the plane back.” Baker, who had moved to starting center, didn’t enjoy a single celebratory moment when BC traveled to Blacksburg two years ago. The administered a 49-0 beatdown that wasn’t as close as the score indicates. BC’s offense, directed by Patrick Towles, managed 129 total yards and a mere six first downs. The Hokies rolled up 476 yards of total offense with 25 first downs. The Eagles are now topheavy with upperclassmen like Baker who endured that indignity, a lopsided setback that left a lasting impression. “That was tough for sure,” Baker said. “You know that year a lot of us got kicked around and we play in a really good league and a lot of us were young guys getting our experiences. “We’ve been through a lot and we draw on those experiences. When we are in a tough game that’s what we draw on.” BC has improved on both sides of the ball this season. The Eagles are ranked sixth in the ACC in total offense with 436.7 yards per game and fifth in rushing with 226.7 yards per game. Tailback AJ Dillon, the preseason Player of the Year, leads the conference with 133.5 yards per game in six starts. BC is 10th in passing offense (219.2 yards per game), but Brown is tied for second with 15 touchdowns. Baker has not seen that much offensive balance in his tenure. “This is definitely a big change and we kind of look at each other sometimes after the game and say “are we throwing it like that?’ ” Baker said. “It’s kind of a surprise for a lot us, especially when I came in and it was power, power, power.”