Repeated first-half self-inflected mistakes hound Virginia Tech with a halftime deficit against Rutgers

Through the first three weeks of the season, the Virginia Tech football team has not done itself any favors with slow starts. Last week at Old Dominion, they scored two first-quarter touchdowns, but a sloppy second quarter led to them only having a 14-10 halftime lead.

Against Vanderbilt and Marshall, the Hokies' offense scored a combined six points on a pair of field goals with the only touchdown coming on a Jaylin Lane punt return against the Thundering Hurd. They ended up losing to the Commodores, but beat Marshall and ODU with strong second halves, but just how many times can you play first halves like they have been able to win?

Against Rutgers on Saturday afternoon at Lane Stadium, head coach Brent Pry was hoping for a better start against the best team his club has faced this season. Instead, the third-year coach got more of the same, poor special teams play, self-inflected mistakes, and it all added up to a 16-7 deficit against the Scarlet Knights.

Lane fumbled a Rutgers punt in the first quarter at the Hokies' 30-yard line led to the game's first touchdown. On the Scarlet Knights' second possession, after a big pass play, a personal foul penalty moved the ball inside the Hokies 30 and led to another touchdown. In the second quarter, Virginia Tech forced a fumble at their 3-yard line to stop the visitors from scoring, but their defense took care of that.

In such a fitting way to end the half, on a 3rd-and-8 from their own 5-yard line, Kyron Drones was stepped on by his own offensive lineman and forced to toss the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety and 16-7 lead.

Self-inflected problems is becoming a theme in 2024 for the Hokies.