Virginia Tech Football: 3 takeaways from dominating win over Pittsburgh

Virginia Tech played a complete first-half

Last week against Marshall, the Hokies put together a 75-yard game-opening touchdown drive with 62 yards coming on the ground. After that, mistakes and questionable playcalling allowed the Thundering Hurd to take over. Saturday night was different.

For the second straight game, Virginia Tech scored on their first possession with a 54-yard touchdown pass from Drones to Da’Quan Felton, but after the Panthers answered on the first play on their next possession, the Hokies finished the final 25 minutes of the quarter strong. In fact, it was their best 30 minutes of the season, without a doubt.

Offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen called a terrific first half, mixing things up running the ball with Bhayshul Tuten and Drones, while also going deep into his playbook by calling a flea-flicker. Late in the first half, and Virginia Tech facing a 4th-and-2 at the Panthers 28, Drones rolled to his right and connected with Stephen Gosnell for 16 yards and a first down that set up Tech’s third touchdown of the half, which gave them a 21-7 halftime lead and the 21 points is the most points scored by them in a half in the Brent Pry era.

Defensively, the Virginia Tech defense bent a couple of times but never broke. They forced a 4th-and-3 at the Hokies 33-yard line, which forced a 51-yard field goal attempt that Pittsburgh missed. All of the momentum in the first half was with the Hokies and that’s the first time you could say that this season.