Virginia Tech Football: Rapid reaction from Hokies domination of Syracuse

Coming out of the bye week, the Virginia Tech football team was looking to keep the momentum they had before the break with dominating wins over Pittsburgh and Wake Forest at Lane Stadium, and yes, sandwiched in between a loss at ACC powerhouse Florida State.

The Hokies hosted Syracuse, who entered the game off their by week too, and the Orange dropped their last three ACC games going into the break. It was expected to be a back-and-forth battle, but Virginia Tech took away the drama with a dominating first half that saw them lead 30-3 at halftime on their way to a 38-10 win.

It wasn’t a jaw-dropping night from quarterback Kyron Drones, but he managed the offense and the Hokies scored on all but one first-half drive. They ran throw, around, and by the Syracuse defense, while Drones did complete some big plays downfield to open up the running game. Drones connected with Da’Qaun Felton for a 62-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter, his second of the game.

Not to be outdone, running back Malachi Thomas got into the offense early with a 16-yard halfback option touchdown pass to Felton for his first touchdown reception of the evening.

Bhayshul Tuten got into the act right before the half, scoring on a 3-yard run.

Defensively, the Hokies picked up where they left off before the bye week by chasing Syracuse quarterback Garrett Sharder all night, sacking him seven times, and allowing just 62 yards in the first half. Another stellar effort from Chris Marve’s group.

Here is some rapid reaction after the Hokies improved to 4-4 on the season with four games remaining.

Rapid Virginia Tech reaction from dominating win over Syracuse

• What a first half and night for offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen. You have to admit that things have been much better the last month and the offense looks comfortable.
• Talk about consistency on offense. Virginia Tech scored on their first six possessions of the game and led 30-3. Three first-half field goals looked automatic for John Love. He hit two more in the second half.

• Tucker Holloway entered the game averaging 15.7 yards a punt return and in the first quarter, he had a 56-yard return deep into Orange territory that led to a field goal. What a valuable piece to the special teams he is.
• Trailing by 27 points at the break, Syracuse got a stop on Virginia Tech’s first drive of the second half, the Orange had some momentum, as little as it was. A first down completion for a big chunk play was called back for an ineligible player downfield, the Hokies picked up their fifth sack of the night and it turned into a safety when Sharder fumbled the ball out of the end zone.
• The Hokies avoided big injuries to Tuten and Dae’Qaun Wright in the second quarter who both left but returned. Wright was the surprising one to return after he was carted off blocking downfield and getting rolled up on.
• The second half offensively was more about establishing the running game, and ticking the clock down. The Hokies rushed for 318 yards, with 118 gained by Tuten himself. Again, Tech appears to have avoided a long-term injury with the North Carolina A&T transfer.

Virginia Tech now gets an eight-day break before their second toughest road challenge of the season in the ACC next weekend at Louisville.