Hooker leads Va. Tech to a bounce-back league victory over Louisville

Quarterback Hendon Hooker scored three firsthalf touchdowns and was a perfect passer to lead Virginia Tech to a bounceback 42-35 win over Louisville on Saturday at Cardinal Stadium.

Hooker’s three rushing touchdowns gave the Hokies a 21-0 lead, and Virginia Tech (4-2 overall and ACC) never trailed.

Louisville (2-5, 1-5 ACC) rolled up 548 total yards and burned the Hokies for some big plays, including a 90-yard touchdown run and 82-yard TD pass. But Virginia Tech’s Devin Taylor, Divine Deablo and Chamarri Conner had interceptions of Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham, and the Hokies were turnover-free. In the second half, they scored two touchdowns and two field goals on their first four possessions.

A week after throwing three interceptions — more than he had all of last season — in a loss to Wake Forest, Hooker rebounded to complete all 10 of his passes Saturday for 183 yards. He also rushed for 68 yards on 18 attempts.

Virginia Tech’s Khalil Herbert rushed for 147 yards on 21 carries after being held to a season-low 64 yards on 14 attempts last week against Wake Forest. Herbert’s 24-yard

touchdown run with 3:23 left completed a five-play, 48-yard drive and gave the Hokies a 42-28 lead. Hooker stayed perfect when he completed a 2-point conversion toss to Tre Turner.

As good as Hooker was, there were hiccups on defense: Virginia Tech surrendered a 90-yard touchdown run by Javian Hawkins on the final play of the first half — when Louisville looked content to run out the clock. And after the Hokies took a 31-14 lead, Cunningham burned Virginia Tech’s secondary for an 82-yard touchdown pass to Dez Fitzpatrick.

Cunningham found a wide-open Hawkins for a 16-yard TD on fourth-and-5 with a minute left, forcing Virginia Tech to recover its third onside kick to prevail. The Hokies then ran out the clock — Tech’s only possession of the second half without a score.

Cunningham completed 23 of 35 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns, while Hawkins finished with 129 rushing yards.

Before the game, Virginia Tech announced that 10 players were unavailable because of coronavirus, injury or other issues.

The Hokies host Liberty (6-0) next Saturday at noon.

JAMIE RHODES/ACC MEDIA Virginia Tech quarterback Hendon Hooker, left, offensive lineman Brock Hoffman and running back Jalen Holston celebrate Hooker’s touchdown run during the first half Saturday at Cardinal Stadium.

JAMIE RHODES / ACC MEDIA Virginia Tech running back Khalil Herbert finds a lane in Saturday’s first half against Louisville at Cardinal Stadium. He ran for 147 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.