After coming off a blowout loss to the SMU last week in Dallas, there were a lot of eyes on the Virginia Tech football team as they hosted a lowly Stanford team, which was entering the game flying cross-country losers of 15 straight games away from Northern California.
Stanford came in and punched the Hokies in the mouth, and for the second straight week, there was no punch back. The Cardinal embarrassed James Franklin's club, 40-22, to improve to 5-5 and move within a win of becoming bowl-eligible. Here are two winners and three losers after Virginia Tech fell to 6-4, with a trip to South Florida next week to face a loaded Miami squad.
Winner: Jeffrey Overton Jr.
For the second straight week, the Hokies' only bright spot was running back Jeffrey Overton Jr. He had 19 carries for 107 yards and a tough touchdown run in the second quarter. Feeding him is something the Hokies need to continue to do, but running behind that offensive line is something that is going to get someone hurt. It happened with Marcellous Hawkins Jr. in the first half.
Loser: James Franklin
For the second straight week, Virginia Tech showed up unprepared, and there was no emotion. They got punched in the mouth on both sides of the ball against a team that isn't very good. It's one thing to lose that way at SMU, but to Stanford. Virginia Tech is bowl-eligible, but Franklin couldn't care less, and now he has to prepare for Miami next week in South Florida. If last week and this week were bad, what's next week going to look like? In the fourth quarter, and still down by two scores, Franklin needed to call a timeout, only to have the Cardinal score a touchdown run untouched. Not good.
Winner: Davion Brown
We're trying hard here to find someone other than Overton Jr. True freshman wide receiver Davion Brown had a 69-yard third-quarter touchdown reception and finished with 81 yards receiving on two catches. Again, we're trying really hard to find some positives, and they're just not there. Anywhere.
Loser: Brent Pry
Another week, another week with no adjustments and no answers. This time, it was against Stanford, which has some good skill players, but allowing 37 points to Davis Warren is not something you want to be doing at home. Give Stanford credit for the way they ran the ball and the offensive line outplayed the Virginia Tech defensive line, but Warren torching the Tech secondary wasn't on many people's bingo cards.
Loser: Virginia Tech's offensive line
Another game, another bad night for the offensive line, this time against a bad, but prepared Stanford defensive line. The Cardinal did a nice job of getting through blocks, forcing three turnovers and almost a fourth, when Ethan Grunkemeyer fumbled but recovered it. This season can't get over fast enough for position coach Matt Moore. There is a major offseason overhaul needed with this unit, to say the least.
The win over Clemson three weeks ago feels like a long time ago for the Hokies. It's going to be another long week in Blacksburg.
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