Montgomery Reflects on S.C. Loss and Looks Ahead to Virginia Tech
ECU head coach Scottie Montgomery addressed the press on Monday on last week's loss at South Carolina and talked about the upcoming game with Virginia Tech.
Montgomery gave a hats off to the South Carolina team and talked about the Nayland Game Maxims that says the team that makes the fewest mistakes usually wins.
He talked about giving up an 89 yard opening kickoff followed by a horse collar tackle that quickly got the Gamecocks out ahead in the contest but gave his team credit for the overall effort put forth in the contest.
"The kids played extremely hard to the echo of the whistle," Montgomery said.
"The defense was led by Demetri McGill who played a physical game and on offense by Zay Jones. Twenty-two catches, he is a phenomenal talent and a fantastic person."
Montgomery cited the numerous trips in the red zone and the turnovers as critical in the loss to the Gamecocks and talked about Virginia Tech having a good offense and a Bud Foster led defense.
"No one has challenged us over the years like Bud Foster," said Montgomery," They can cover and it's much more physical than just a chess match with them."
He also said Virginia Tech has a good offense under first year Hokie head coach Justin Fuente and put an abundance of emphasis on quarterback Jerod Evans, 6-7, 245 tight end Bucky Hodges who had four receptions against Boston College last Saturday. His 1,159 yards ranks 20th in program history and first among tight ends. 230 pound fullback Sam Rogers who has caught a touchdown pass out of the backfield the past two weeks.
Evans leads the ACC with ten touchdown passes and ranks third in the league in pass efficiency and completion percentage so far this season. He went 16 for 28 for 253 yards and five touchdown passes to go along with 48 yards on the ground in Tech's win over Boston College.
"Our team is hungry and the film sessions do the most to show the mistakes. This week's game is important because it's the next one. There is no whoas me with this team."
When asked about the play at the one yard line that ended up in an interception in the South Carolina end zone, Montgomery said it was a run-pass option and with the way the Gamecocks packed it in the middle, it would have resulted in a loss if Nelson had opted to run it.
The decision to onside kick with 2:29 to play gave ECU two opportunities to get the football back instead of just one according to Montgomery.
This week's game at Virginia Tech gives the Pirates a chance to win their seventh straight ACC game when the two teams match up in Lane Stadium this Saturday in Blacksburg at 12:30 on Raycom ACC Network television.
PirateIllustrated.com was there to bring you the Scottie Montgomery Monday Press Conference from Ward Building on the campus of East Carolina University. Catch it in it's entirety in the link below.
