Talented youngster

The Virginia Tech football team’s ACC title hopes took a shot after Thursday’s 20-17 loss to North Carolina, but that didn’t stop redshirt freshman running back Ryan Williams from continuing his impressive first season as a Hokie.

The Stonewall Jackson High School product racked up 101 rushing yards on 23 carries, and also caught one pass for two yards.

Williams has been one of the Hokies’ most consistent performers this season. With only four regular-season games remaining, he is Virginia Tech’s leading rusher with 163 carries for 970 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The 5-10, 206-pounder has also caught 10 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown, and his 11 total touchdowns make him the Hokies’ leading scorer followed by wide receiver Jarrett Boykin, who has three.

Williams has a chance to be one of the few freshman in Virginia Tech history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season Thursday when the Hokies take on East Carolina.

Making his way
The Southern Illinois football team improved to 7-1 with a 33-0 rout of Indiana State Saturday, and Culpeper product Stevie Strother has been a big part of the Salukis’ success.

Strother — who scored 28 touchdowns and ran for more than 1,900 yards as a senior at Eastern View — carried the ball six times for 14 yards during the shutout.

Saturday’s totals give Strother 25 carries for 95 yards in his first season on a the field. He also has three catches for 25 yards.

Dynamic defender
Orange County product Brent Trice continued his impressive season at Vanderbilt during the Commodores’ 36-31 loss to Georgia Tech Saturday.

Trice — who plays outside linebacker and safety at Vanderbilt — finished Saturday’s loss with 12 tackles.

After playing in every game as a reserve linebacker and totaling 22 tackles and 2.5 sacks a year ago, the 6-3, 214-pound senior is the Commodores’ third leading tackler this season with 61 stops — including five for a loss — and also has 1.5 sacks.

In the trenches
Former Orange County Hornet Asa Chapman’s college career was in danger after a failed stay at Fork Union Military Academy, but the 6-5, 350-pounder has been re-born at Liberty University.

The sophomore finished Saturday’s 55-19 win over Presbyterian with two tackles and the first forced fumble of his collegiate career.

Former Devils get defensive
Former Culpeper County High School graduates Ricky Strother and Mike Denton have been mainstays on the University of Charleston (W.V.) defense this season, and they both contributed in Saturday’s 14-12 loss to Glenville State.

Strother — a starting cornerback — finished the game with a pass breakup, and Denton — a reserve defensive lineman — finished with a tackle.

Flying like Eagles
Liberty High School graduates Justin Carrington and Aaron Hull have been among the leaders on their respective defenses this season, and both got in on some action Saturday.

Carrington — a reserve linebacker at Indiana University — had a front row seat for Iowa’s 42-24 come-from-behind victory and totaled three tackles in the loss.

Hull — a starting defensive lineman at Kent State — finished the Golden Flashes’ 26-14 victory over Western Michigan with a tackle.

Local starters

Ryan Williams (RB)
— Virginia Tech

Stevie Strother (RB) — Southern Illinois

Ricky Strother (CB)
— University of Charleston (WV)

Brent Trice (LB)
— Vanderbilt

Justin Carrington (LB) — Indiana

Aaron Hull (DL)
— Kent State