[College Sports News]

Brandon Ore's not the only running back that can produce for the Hokies...

And you thought Virginia Tech didn't have much depth at tailback, eh?

When star Branden Ore, the ACC's leading rusher going into the game, went down with an ankle sprain early during Tech's game at Wake Forest this past Saturday, Tech coaches and fans alike held their collective breaths. The one player who couldn't get hurt, was down. The team's only consistent offensive performer was writhing in pain. Ore was done for the night, and that was a problem. Um, no, that was a disaster, right?

Through 10 games, Ore had compiled 92 percent of Tech's rushing yards. And if truth be told, he had compiled 100 percent of Tech's carries of note for the season.

Without Ore, the Hokies turned to one player who had spent the past couple of years trying to hit curve balls in minor league baseball and a second who had recently been counseled to retire.

And don't you know, it turned out just fine.

Kenny Lewis, in his first year back playing football after a minor league baseball career, had 74 yards on 17 carries, and George Bell, whose surgically repaired knee has been gimpy throughout his days in Blacksburg, had 10 bruising carries for 28 yards. That's 102 yards out of Lewis and Bell, which is impressive.

But that's just part of the story. They picked up blitzing linebackers, allowing quarterback Sean Glennon time to throw. As a result, Glennon had his best game of the season, throwing for 252 yards and two touchdowns.

There were no motion penalties or fumbles or big-game jitters out of either Lewis or Bell. In essence, they played like veterans, not two kids who had basically seen garbage time during their tenures in Blacksburg.

Clearly, these two have been through an awful lot. Lewis has spent hundreds of hours riding on minor league buses, eating bush-league burgers and dressing in damp, dingy clubhouses. Bell's spent more time reading MRI printouts and icing his knees than any other player in Tech history.

But the two had a desire to play football for Tech, and now, because of the Ore injury, they have their chance. When Lewis scampered for a key 26-yard run against Wake Forest, he showed a real burst. A guy who impressed the Cincinnati Reds with his ability to get from first-to-third in 10 strides impressed his Hokie teammates with his toughness and speed. Bell was told that if he wanted to be able to walk when he was 30, he should quit playing football now before it was too late.

Bell would hear nothing of it. His dream was to play football and he wasn't going to quit. Lewis, of course, has a similar dream: to follow in his father's footsteps and be a star at Tech.

So both kids battled and persevered and were outstanding last week in the Hokies' 27-6 win at Wake Forest.

And with Ore hobbled with his ankle injury again this week, Lewis and Bell will be key performers for the Hokies in Saturday's regular-season finale against Virginia.

Depth at tailback? Evidently, the Hokies had it all along

Lewis and Bell prove Tech more than one-man show at tailback

[VaTechNut]

Good article thanks, tell the world something anyone watching that game already knew.

what the article failed to mention was the boat load of money Lewis turned down playing baseball to come to Va.Tech to play real ball.