Tag: Virginia Tech Hokies

Carson Beck (4 TDs), No. 13 Miami handle Virginia Tech

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Carson Beck threw for 320 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions to lead No. 13 Miami to a 34-17 win over Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon in Blacksburg, Va.

Beck completed 27 of 32 passes, including 12 to Malachi Toney, who finished with 146 yards and a receiving touchdown. Toney also ran for 16 yards and completed a 15-yard pass.

The Hurricanes (9-2, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their third in a row and kept themselves in the hunt for a potential berth in the College Football Playoff while beating the Hokies (3-8, 2-5) for the fifth consecutive time.

Virginia Tech lost its third in a row and has dropped five of its last six.

The Hokies made it close late after quarterback Kyron Drones exited with an apparent injury with 3:58 left in the fourth. Backup William Watson III converted a fourth-and-11 with a 39-yard pass to Aidan Greene to Miami’s 3-yard line. Watson powered his way into the end zone on the next play to cut the Hurricanes’ lead to 27-17 with 3:21 remaining.

The Hokies then recovered an onside kick at their own 39.

The Hurricanes forced a game-clinching turnover four plays later when Akheem Mesidor stripped Watson, Zechariah Poyser recovered and returned it to Virginia Tech’s 40. Miami sealed the outcome on Beck’s fourth touchdown pass — a 20-yarder to Toney — on fourth down.

Drones completed 12 of 21 passes for 124 yards while Virginia Tech totaled 194 rushing yards against a Miami defense which lost another key starter when Jakobe Thomas left with 10:32 left in the second quarter with an apparent left arm injury and did not return.

Marcellous Hawkins totaled 72 rushing yards on eight carries and Jeffrey Overton had 69 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. Greene led all Virginia Tech pass catchers with five receptions for 95 yards.

The Hurricanes, who led 20-3 at the half, finished with five sacks led by Ahmad Moten, who had two.

Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. returned after missing two games with an injury and caught a 3-yard touchdown pass with 12:50 left in the first quarter.

Girard Pringle Jr. led Miami rushers with 49 yards on 14 carries and also caught a 16-yard touchdown.

–Field Level Media

Oct 11, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) celebrates with running back Malachi Hosley (0) after a touchdown against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the first quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

No. 13 Georgia Tech, Haynes King cruise to victory over Virginia Tech

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ATLANTA — Haynes King completed 20 of 24 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown, adding 60 rushing yards and two scores on the ground on Saturday, helping No. 13 Georgia Tech post a 35-20 victory over visiting Virginia Tech in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Malachi Hosley rushed 11 times for 129 yards and a touchdown for the Yellow Jackets (6-0, 3-0 ACC), who won their sixth straight game to open a season for the first time since 2011.

Kyron Drones completed 13 of 21 passes for 181 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, while rushing for 83 yards and a score for the Hokies (2-5, 1-2), who were outgained 481-367.

Trailing by 14 points at halftime, Virginia Tech pieced together a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive to open the third quarter, finished with Drones’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Ricous Hairston on fourth-and-nine.

Georgia Tech answered in just over three minutes, as Hosley ran in a 15-yard score to give the Yellow Jackets a 28-14 lead. Rodney Shelley then picked off Drones for the game’s only turnover with 6:08 left in the third.

Two drives later, Georgia Tech tacked on with King’s 26-yard rushing score at the 11:54 mark of the fourth.

Drones’ 3-yard push-pass touchdown to Hairston cut the Hokies’ deficit to 35-20 with 4:58 left. The margin stood at 15 after Virginia Tech’s unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt.

Georgia Tech opened the game with a nine-play, 79-yard scoring drive stamped with King’s 2-yard touchdown rush and tacked on two points with a jet pass to Malik Rutherford to give the Yellow Jackets an 8-0 lead with 10:53 left in the first quarter.

After a Virginia Tech punt, King’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Rutherford pushed the lead to 15-0 at the 4:34 mark.

Aidan Birr’s 25-yard field goal extended the margin to 18 with 9:01 left in the first half.

Following their third consecutive punt, the Hokies finally found the end zone on their fourth possession, with Drones’ 32-yard rushing touchdown trimming Georgia Tech’s lead to 18-7 with 3:13 remaining.

Birr’s 30-yard field goal gave the Yellow Jackets a 14-point halftime-edge.

–Jack Batten, Field Level Media

Sep 13, 2025; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) throws a pass during the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

Hokies launch post-Brent Pry era against winless Wofford

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Virginia Tech has opted for an overhaul and plays its first game since firing coach Brent Pry when Wofford visits Saturday afternoon.

The game in Blacksburg, Va., matches two teams with 0-3 records.

Virginia Tech will be under the direction of interim coach Philip Montgomery, who was tabbed Sunday to replace Pry. The coaching change came following Virginia Tech’s second consecutive home loss, a 45-26 knockout by Old Dominion when the Hokies fell behind 31-0.

“It has been an emotional couple of days,” Montgomery said Tuesday. “What a whirlwind it has been. … Our focus really has to be on the players right now. Their world has been rocked a little bit right here.”

With the coaching change comes an immediate opening of the transfer portal for Virginia Tech players, with junior cornerback Dante Lovett opting to put his name in.

Montgomery has been Virginia Tech’s offensive coordinator and he’ll continue to call plays, at least for the short term. He’s a former head coach at Tulsa, where his teams went 43-53 from 2015-22.

It’s the worst three-game start to a season for the Hokies in 38 years. There are nine games left in the regular season.

“We’ve got an opportunity right now to write the ending of what this story is going to be,” Montgomery said. “We’ve got some things we’ve got to fix.”

Montgomery said returning to a comfortable routine was paramount during the preparation phase of the week.

For Wofford, the coaching change at Virginia Tech shouldn’t matter.

“It’s about us,” Wofford coach Shawn Watson said. “Our constant continued improvement is what we’re striving for.”

While Virginia Tech’s losses have been rather lopsided, Wofford’s three defeats have come by a total of six points. The FCS Terriers lost 22-21 on Saturday at Mercer in their Southern Conference opener.

“The biggest thing we have to do as a staff is teach our kids to finish,” Watson said. “We’ve just got to keep working.”

Wofford didn’t take full advantage of four Mercer turnovers.

This will be Virginia Tech’s final nonconference game before entering Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Virginia Tech receiver Donavon Greene, a transfer from Wake Forest who started his college career in 2019, made his first two touchdown receptions of the season (and 14th and 15th of his career) in the Old Dominion game. That accounts for half of the Hokies’ touchdowns in the passing attack this year.

Wofford junior defensive back Eli Campbell picked off two passes last week, pushing his career total to five.

The Hokies won the only previous meeting with Wofford, prevailing 27-7 in 2022 at home.

–Field Level Media

Sep 6, 2025; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores running back Sedrick Alexander (28) runs the ball as Virginia Tech Hokies safety Quentin Reddish (0) defends during the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

Vanderbilt sends Virginia Tech to first 0-2 start since ’10

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Diego Pavia threw two touchdown passes and Sedrick Alexander ran for two scores as Vanderbilt overwhelmed Virginia Tech in the second half of a 44-20 victory Saturday night in Blacksburg, Va.

Pavia finished 12-of-18 passing for 193 yards with one interception and rushed for 61 yards on 11 carries as Vanderbilt (2-0) reeled off 34 straight points in the second half to rally from a 10-point deficit.

Alexander carried 10 times for 73 yards and Makhilyn Young added 95 yards and a touchdown on eight carries for the Commodores, who beat the Hokies for the second straight year.

In the 2024 season opener, Pavia’s 4-yard touchdown run in overtime gave Vanderbilt a 34-27 victory over Virginia Tech.

Kyron Drones threw one touchdown pass and ran for another score for the Hokies (0-2), who have dropped their first two games for the first time in 15 years. In that 2010 season, they went on to win their next 11.

Down 20-10 at the start of the third quarter, Vanderbilt answered with back-to-back 75-yard drives in the third quarter, sandwiched around a Virginia Tech 3-and-out.

Tre Richardson capped the second drive with a spectacular one-handed catch as he was tightly covered. The 26-yard pass from Pavia gave the Commodores their first lead of the game at 23-20 late in the third.

The next time Vanderbilt got the ball, it marched 56 yards, with the final 18 coming on a touchdown burst up the middle from Alexander which made it 30-20.

The Commodores’ domination continued as Young ripped off a 62-yard run straight through the middle of the Hokies’ defense. Two plays later, Alexander scored on a 6-yard dash.

The quick-strike drive demonstrated Vanderbilt’s superiority at the line of scrimmage. In the second half, the Commodores outgained the Hokies 321-21.

The Commodores’ final score came on a 9-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Blaze Berlowitz to Eli Stowers.

Vanderbilt’s first TD came on the first play of the second quarter when Pavia froze Virginia Tech with a play-action fake and threw a 54-yard pass to a wide open Brycen Coleman.

The touchdown came after Virginia Tech scored on its two possessions in the first quarter to build a 10-0 advantage. Following a field goal halfway through the opening period, Drones hit Ja’Ricous Hairston on a 2-yard scoring toss with six seconds left in the quarter.

–Field Level Media

Jan 3, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers tight end Nick Kallerup (87) is tackled by Virginia Tech Hokies linebacker Caleb Woodson (20) during the first quarter of the Dukes’ Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Minnesota’s defense dominates Virginia Tech in Mayo Bowl

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Darius Taylor rushed for 113 yards and one touchdown and threw for another score as Minnesota pulled away for a 24-10 victory over Virginia Tech in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday night in Charlotte.

Max Brosmer completed 18 of 29 passes for 211 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Minnesota (8-5). Elijah Spencer had six catches for 81 yards and two TDs for the Golden Gophers, who won their eighth consecutive bowl game.

Collin Schlee scored the lone touchdown for Virginia Tech (6-7). William Watson III completed 8 of 12 passes for 81 yards and one interception, and Schlee connected on 2 of 6 passes for 68 yards.

Minnesota outgained Virginia Tech 403-223 in total yards. The Golden Gophers had 23 first downs, compared with nine first downs for the Hokies.

Virginia Tech opened the scoring in the final minute of the first quarter. Schlee took the snap and sprinted left for a 3-yard touchdown to cap an 80-yard drive.

Minnesota scored on a trick play to pull even at 7-7 on the following possession. Brosmer turned and pitched a toss to Taylor, but the running back turned into a passer and lobbed a pass to Spencer in the back of the end zone for a 10-yard score.

Spencer caught his second touchdown pass, this time a 12-yard strike from Brosmer, to give Minnesota a 14-7 lead with 5:13 to go in the first half.

Taylor made it 21-7 with a 28-yard touchdown run with 56 seconds to go before halftime. He broke free down the left sideline for his 10th rushing score of the season.

The Hokies pulled within 21-10 as time expired at the end of the first half. John Love drilled a 60-yard field goal, which marked the second-longest kick in school history.

Dragan Kesich made a 44-yard field goal to increase Minnesota’s lead to 24-10 with 11:59 remaining in the third quarter.

Za’Quan Bryan had a fourth-quarter interception to help the Golden Gophers preserve the victory.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies defensive lineman Antwaun Powell-Ryland (52) sacks Virginia Cavaliers quarterback Tony Muskett (7) during the first quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Virginia Tech defeats rival Virginia to end skid

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Making his first start at quarterback, William “Pop” Watson III threw for 254 yards and a touchdown Saturday night as Virginia Tech stopped in-state rival Virginia 37-17 in Blacksburg to clinch bowl eligibility.

Watson, who replaced the injured Kyron Drones, completed 14 of 21 passes as the Hokies (6-6, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) snapped a three-game losing streak. Bhayshul Tuten added 124 yards on 18 carries, sealing the outcome with a 58-yard touchdown run at the 6:12 mark of the fourth quarter.

Tony Muskett hit 19 of 36 passes for 178 yards and two interceptions while rushing for 62 yards and two scores on 18 carries. His 5-yard touchdown run with 13:12 remaining allowed the Cavaliers to pull within 30-17 after trailing 27-3 in the third quarter. But Virginia (5-7, 3-5) couldn’t complete the comeback and as a result, won’t be eligible for a bowl game.

If Watson were nervous about being Virginia Tech’s third starting quarterback in as many games, he sure didn’t show it early. He led the team on a 90-yard drive to start the game, Tuten rushing the last 6 yards for a 7-0 lead with 9:06 left.

The Hokies grinded out another long drive on their next possession, gobbling nearly seven minutes of clock before John Love booted a 44-yard field goal at the 1:16 mark. The Cavaliers got on the board with 2:46 left in the half on Will Bettridge’s 37-yard field goal but experienced a disastrous last two minutes.

On the first play after the two-minute timeout, Watson found Jaylin Lane for a 66-yard touchdown pass. Muskett fired an interception in the final minute that led to Love’ 31-yard field goal and a 20-3 advantage at the half.

Watson made it 27-3 with a 5-yard scoring jaunt with 10:05 left in the third quarter, five plays after Muskett was stopped for no gain on 4th-and-1 at the Virginia 45. Muskett scored on a 2-yard run less than five minutes later before Love hit a 28-yard field goal for a 30-11 Virginia Tech cushion.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Maalik Murphy (6) throws the football against the Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Duke shifts focus to Virginia Tech in home finale

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Looking for a strong finishing stretch to the Atlantic Coast Conference campaign, Duke hosts Virginia Tech in its home finale Saturday night in Durham, N.C.

“It’s going to be a special night for everybody,” Blue Devils coach Manny Diaz said. “It’s always an emotional moment with the pregame ceremonies, but you’ve got to be able to snap back and focus on a very good Virginia Tech football team with a lot of talent. We’ve been fortunate to have extra time to prepare for this week.”

The outcome is going to have a huge impact on the pecking order in the middle of the ACC standings.

Duke (7-3, 3-3) has won only two of its last four games, while Virginia Tech (5-5, 3-3) has dropped two in a row and still needs another win to reach bowl eligibility. Both teams were off last weekend.

The Blue Devils are 4-1 this year in Durham. The Hokies are 2-3 in road games, with two of the setbacks in overtime (vs. Vanderbilt and Syracuse) and another in a controversial finish at Miami.

“A good opponent in Duke, at night, at their place, Senior Night,” Hokies coach Brent Pry said. “They’ve got a couple of good wins under their belt and they’ve lost a couple of closes ones. We’ll have our hands full.”

Former Duke standout defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles, who spent four seasons with the Blue Devils, is using his final season of eligibility with Virginia Tech. He has logged three sacks this year.

Duke has a bit of an unusual situation with running back Jaquez Moore, who’s ready to return to action following an injury. But he’ll play in only one of the final two regular-season games so he can qualify for a redshirt season. The Blue Devils finish at Wake Forest on Nov. 30.

Moore has played in three games, most recently in late September against North Carolina.

“We think he’s one of the best players on our roster and we’re excited at the idea that we’ll have a chance to welcome him back next year,” Diaz said.

Duke is 15th in the ACC in rushing offense at 99.6 yards per game. Virginia Tech is next-to-last in the ACC in rushing defense, allowing 158.5 yards per game on the ground.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies linebacker Jaden Keller (24) makes a tackle on Syracuse Orange wide receiver Trebor Pena (2) in the second quarter at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Syracuse rallies from big deficit, tops Virginia Tech in OT

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LeQuint Allen ran for three touchdowns — including the late tying score and the decisive score in overtime — as host Syracuse rallied from an 18-point deficit to stun Virginia Tech 38-31 on Saturday.

Allen rushed 21 times for 121 yards, while Justus Ross-Simmons, who came in without a catch on the season, nabbed two TD receptions for the Orange (6-2, 3-2 ACC). Kyle McCord went 24-of-35 passing for 280 yards with two touchdowns and one interception to help Syracuse become bowl-eligible for the third straight season.

Virginia Tech (5-4, 3-2) watched its three-game winning streak come to an end despite a productive day from Collin Schlee (16-of-24 passing, 206 yards, TD) and three rushing scores, including one by Schlee. The Hokies led by a touchdown late in regulation before allowing Allen’s 1-yard TD run with 29 seconds left.

That set up an overtime session in which Syracuse opened with Allen’s 9-yard scoring run, as he caromed off defenders into the end zone. On the ensuing possession, Marlowe Wax forced a fumble by Schlee, and Fadil Diggs recovered to send the Syracuse sideline into a frenzy.

Virginia Tech jumped out 14-0 behind a pair of first-quarter rushing touchdowns, and the Hokies were still in control midway through the third when Schlee found Ali Jennings for a 12-yard TD pass to make it 21-3.

However, the Orange continued to fight, as McCord hooked up with Ross-Simmons for a 55-yard scoring strike less than two minutes later. After a Hokies punt, McCord found Trebor Pena for 41 yards to set up Allen’s 1-yard TD run.

The next Virginia Tech possession ended when Jeremiah Coney fumbled and Wax recovered at the Hokies 39. Syracuse didn’t need long to cash in, as McCord connected with Ross-Simmons for a 28-yard score to put the hosts in front.

However, Jackson Kennedy’s extra point was blocked, leaving Syracuse ahead 24-21 with 14:22 remaining.

Eight plays later, the visitors regained the lead as Malachi Thomas (14 carries, 73 yards) ran in for a 15-yard score.

The Orange punted on their next trip, setting up another Hokies score, a 27-yard field goal by John Love to make it 31-24 with 5:16 to play.

–Field Level Media

Oct 17, 2024; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back Bhayshul Tuten (33) runs the ball against Boston College Eagles cornerback Bryquice Brown (19) during the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech aim to run past Georgia Tech

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Two teams vying for a key Atlantic Coast Conference victory will meet Saturday afternoon when Virginia Tech hosts Georgia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.

The Hokies (4-3, 2-1) are seeking their first three-game winning streak since 2019.

Bhayshul Tuten set a school record with 266 rushing yards to go with three rushing touchdowns and a receiving score in Virginia Tech’s 42-21 victory over Boston College last week.

For the season, Tuten’s 871 rushing yards rank sixth in the nation, and second in the ACC only to North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton (901).

Virginia Tech hopes to see its offensive momentum continue Saturday as it prepares for Georgia Tech (5-3, 3-2), which has won four in a row in Blacksburg.

“We appreciate our fans’ support; we’ll need it again this weekend,” Hokies coach Brent Pry said. “Quality opponent, in conference, an awesome opportunity for our football program against a very good football team. (Georgia Tech) has been competitive each game, and I know we’ll have a good football team coming in here.”

The last time the Yellow Jackets and Hokies met was on Nov. 5, 2022, a 28-27 win by Georgia Tech. In that game, Georgia Tech quarterback Zach Pyron led an 11-point, fourth-quarter rally.

Nearly two years later, it might be Pyron who is preparing to face the Hokies again in Lane Stadium.

After backing up starter Haynes King since the beginning of 2023, Pyron was thrown back into the starting role last Saturday in a 31-13 loss against then-No. 12 Notre Dame. King sustained a shoulder injury in an Oct. 12 win at North Carolina.

However, coach Brent Key is making it clear that the Yellow Jackets haven’t come to a QB decision yet.

“Haynes is still day-to-day,” Key said. “There was some report that someone had come out with that said he’s not playing. There’s only one person in the entire stratosphere universe that makes that call, and that’s myself. There’s been zero call made on that. Are we preparing the other guy to play? Yes. Are we ruling him out? No.”

For the season, King has thrown for 1,568 yards and eight touchdowns, with one interception. He’s added 353 rushing yards and six scores on the ground.

Pyron is 25-for-43 for 333 yards, with two touchdown passes and two interceptions. He’s added 105 rushing yards and four scores.

–Field Level Media

Sep 27, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back Bhayshul Tuten (33) takes a handoff from quarterback Kyron Drones (1) against the Miami Hurricanes during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Virginia Tech seeks bounce-back effort in clash vs. Stanford

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Virginia Tech will make its first-ever trip to California for an Atlantic Coast Conference football game when the Hokies visit Stanford on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams will seek to rebound from a loss to an ACC powerhouse. The emotional bounce-back figures to be tougher for one team than the other.

Virginia Tech (2-3, 0-1) appeared to have upset then-No. 7 Miami on the road last week before a last-second touchdown pass was overturned. It allowed the Hurricanes to hold on for a 38-34 win and prompted Hokies coach Brent Pry to call ACC headquarters.

While dissatisfied with what he heard, Pry insisted Tuesday that this week is all about Stanford.

“We aggressively turned the page Sunday evening,” Pry said. “We addressed the matter with our players, with our staff, with our media, with our player parents, with our own wives … everybody. To play with the intensity we played with Friday night (Sept. 27), we have to pour everything into Stanford.”

The Cardinal (2-2, 1-1) will make their ACC home debut, having recorded a 26-24 win over Syracuse on Sept. 20 and a 40-14 loss to then-No. 17 Clemson last Saturday in consecutive conference road outings.

Stanford saw its starting quarterback, Ashton Daniels, leave the Clemson game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. Cardinal coach Troy Taylor announced Tuesday that Daniels was no sure thing to face the Hokies. Taylor also said that Daniels, if healthy, will have to take better care of the football.

Daniels threw three interceptions as part of an uneven performance against the Tigers. He did well on the ground, rushing 11 times for 87 yards.

“The thing about playing quarterback is you can play great 95 percent of the time,” Taylor said, “but because you handle the ball every play, if 5 percent of those reps are not good, then you probably walk away feeling you didn’t play very well.”

Per Taylor, Justin Lamson would step in for Daniels if the starter is unable to play against Virginia Tech.

The game will feature two of the top backs statistically in the ACC.

Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 141 yards in last week’s conference opener against Miami, while Stanford’s Micah Ford has the ACC’s highest total among players who have competed in two conference games with 169 yards.

–Field Level Media