Virginia Tech Football: 3 positives from loss at Rutgers
By Scott Roche
![Sep 16, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) fakes a hand off as Rutgers Scarlet Knights linebacker Mohamed Toure (1) and defensive lineman Kyonte Hamilton (48) pursue during the second half at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports Sep 16, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) fakes a hand off as Rutgers Scarlet Knights linebacker Mohamed Toure (1) and defensive lineman Kyonte Hamilton (48) pursue during the second half at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/636ddbc9f098406b6b9a9fad1f9151a8b2a6db26f3a6f0821e43e8d670813289.jpg)
In the overall picture, the Virginia Tech football team’s 35-16 loss to Rutgers Saturday in New Jersey was not a totally bad loss. Yes, obviously they would have liked to have walked away a winner, but there was some good to come out of the game.
Final pic.twitter.com/8PCnuY2yD5
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) September 16, 2023
Second-year coach Brent Pry’s team dug themselves too deep of a hole in the opening half despite at several points outplaying the Scarlet Knights. Yes, I said that they did outplay their opponent at times and some of the numbers reflected that.
The Hokies led 2-1 in time of possession, 20 minutes to 10 in the first 30 minutes, but trailed where it counted, 21-3, on the scoreboard. Dropping to 1-2, Virginia Tech dealt with injuries before the game and during the game. To say that they went rather deep into the depth chart would be an understatement.
Now Pry and his coaches pick up and move on to another road game this week, their final non-conference game of 2023 before ACC play begins. They will head to Marshall, who was off this past weekend and is 2-0, with still a ton of questions and very few answers.
With that said, let’s take one more big look back at the loss to Rutgers and point out three positives from the game heading into Week 4.