Beamer Ball has Virginia Tech ahead of Clemson at halftime

After losing last weekend in frustrating fashion at Syracuse, 38-31, in overtime after holding a 21-3 third-quarter lead, one question facing the Virginia Tech football team is how they would respond. Through 30 minutes against Clemson at Lane Stadium, it wasn't the best half of football, but the Hokies have a halftime lead over the Tigers.

The first half was as about a mismatch in the numbers as you could have for a team that has the lead at the break. They have not had a ton of snaps compared to Clemson, but they have used a special teams touchdown in the second quarter to score the lone Tech touchdown.

Clemson lined up for a field goal attempt, but it was blocked by Keyshawn Burgos and returned 77 yards for a touchdown by Quentin Redish for a 7-0 lead. Virginia Tech had two other chances to add to the lead, but a missed connection with a wide-open Ayden Greene in the flat by Kyron Drones and then a missed field goal by John Love left points off the board.

Virginia Tech's defense has played really well against Cade Klubnik and the Tigers' offense. Before the Hokies special teams touchdown, the Tigers ran 16 plays in Hokies territory without any points and Tech ran just nine offensive plays total.

Drones and running back Bhayshul Tuten are back this week on the offensive side of the ball, while Mansoor Delane, injured last week at Syracuse, also is in the lineup in the secondary. Clemson gets the ball to begin the second half and it feels like despite not having the ball as much as the Tigers did, leaving points off the board could be huge come the second half when the game is decided.