Darren Evans eludes the Maryland defense during the fourth quarter.
It doesn't take a math major to decipher this equation. Thursday night plus Lane Stadium equals Virginia Tech success. That formula held true against the No. 23 Maryland Terrapins. The Hokies (6-3, 3-2 ACC) staved off a third quarter Terps' (6-3, 3-2) run to win 23-13.
There was serious question prior to the game as to who would line up behind center. In the loss to Florida State on Oct. 25, both Tyrod Taylor and Sean Glennon were injured, while third-stringer Cory Holt finished the game.
Glennon was healthy enough to be tapped as the starter on Thursday -- a game-time decision by head coach Frank Beamer.
However, it would be running back Darren Evans who would grab the spotlight.
Evans, a redshirt freshman from Indianapolis, had 32 carries for a school-record 253 yards.
"We said we needed to run the football better," Beamer said. "And when (Darren Evans) got in there he got hot. There were some holes there and when he got in there he ran strong, really strong at the end."
He also produced his ninth touchdown of the season when he dived into the end zone from a yard out.
"Evans broke a lot of tackles, which hurt us throughout the game," Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen said.
Although Evans had the second Hokie score of the contest, Glennon and Greg Boone produced the first.
After a 46-yard field goal attempt by Maryland kicker Obi Egekeze sailed wide right, Glennon led an 11-play, 71-yard drive that culminated in a five-yard toss from to Boone in the back of the end zone.
"It would have taken a broken leg to get me out of that game," Glennon said.
Boone also took snaps at quarterback -- although he didn't attempt a pass -- and took handoffs as a running back.
"We took last week and worked on (Boone at quarterback) a little bit," Beamer said. "I think that can keep developing and I think we have some possibilities there."
Maryland came back with a nine play, 56-yard scoring drive that was capped off by a 41-yard field goal from Egekeze. Maryland quarterback Chris Turner threw for 55 yards on the drive, but was held to 74 yards in the first half.
After the Hokies produced an 80-yard drive, resulting in Evans' score, Tech finished the half with a 35-yard field goal from Dustin Keys.
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Nice work stinespring. Hopefully the different offensive looks that the hokies featured against Maryland will be available against Miami.
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