NORFOLK (WAVY) – Matt Schaub, Matt Ryan, Phillip Rivers and Russell Wilson have all faced a Virginia Tech defense. Three of those NFL quarterbacks are likely headed for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Ryan was named the league MVP two seasons ago, and Wilson is a Super Bowl champion.
None of these names did what 5-foot-10 former walk-on Blake LaRussa did to Bud Foster’s defense on Saturday evening.
“It’s wild to me,” said LaRussa, who threw for 495 yards, four touchdowns, and rushed for another in ODU’s historic 49-35 upset win over 13th-ranked Virginia Tech.
LaRussa’s passing total is the second most a Foster-coached Hokie defense has ever allowed, while the team’s 630 total yards is the most ever allowed by Foster since he’s been in Blacksburg.
“You always want to see good things happen to good people. Well, a great thing happened to a great person,” said head coach Bobby Wilder about his quarterback at his weekly press conference.
LaRussa’s career at ODU, much of which is still to be played out, has come full circle. Under-sized and under-recruited out of Bishop Sullivan Catholic School, LaRussa won the starting job during Fall camp last year, but was benched for Steven Williams heading into last September’s game at Virginia Tech.
It’s only fitting he earned it back with a performance for the ages against the Hokies. “I don’t think we’re dragging from this past weekend, I think we’re taking the confidence we had from that…but now, going into this weekend, we’re using that confidence,” said LaRussa, who will lead the Monarchs into East Carolina on Saturday.