Virginia Tech Football: Rapid reaction from loss to No. 5 Florida State

Walking into a rowdy environment against the fifth-ranked team in the country Saturday afternoon in Florida State, the Virginia Tech football team looked like a deer in the headlights team in the first quarter. The Seminoles flexed their muscles and raced out to a 22-0 lead, but to their credit, Virginia Tech did not back down and went toe to toe with FSU.

In the end, Florida State had too much speed on both sides of the ball for the Hokies, but Tech did rally to make it a one-possession game in the third quarter before falling 39-17 at Doak Campbell Stadium. Here is some rapid reaction from the Hokies loss to the Seminoles.

Rapid reaction from Virginia Tech’s loss to FSU Saturday

Brent Pry’s team got an up-close look at one of the top teams in the country and did not back down are being bullied in the opening 15 minutes. One week after getting the running game going, offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen was able to mix things up with quarterback Kyron Drones and running back Bhayshul Tuten.

The Hokies running game, along with timely screens and throwing the ball downfield kept the Seminoles off balance from the second quarter on. Tuten finished with two touchdowns on a 5-yard run in the second quarter and he returned the second-half kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to, 22-17, 13 seconds into the third quarter.

Florida State responded on their second play on their next drive with a 62-yard touchdown run to regain a two-possession lead and they never looked back.

There are never good things to take away from a loss, however, there was plenty to build on for Pry and his staff moving forward. Virginia Tech showed no quit in a game where it would have been easy to against a legitimate National Championship team on the road and coming off of a bye week. Tuten continued to show that he was turning a corner and Drones had another solid game, especially with his legs. He brings a different look to an offense that was looking for it.

Defensively, the big play continued to haunt the Hokies, but it’s something that you’re not going to stop against the Seminoles, it’s just that you have to limit them and they did not limit them enough in Tallahassee. On the other side, the Hokies had their fair share of big play opportunities and were able to connect on them.

In the end, a loss is a loss, but considering how the game started and what the Hokies were up against in a team with more speed and skilled players all over the field, they head back to Blacksburg to get ready to play Wake Forest next weekend before they hit their bye week.