Virginia Tech Football: 5 plays that defined the 2023 season

After starting 1-3 to begin the 2023 season, the Virginia Tech football team turned things around in ACC play by going 5-3 to become bowl-eligible. In their five wins, the Hokies were dominant in beating Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, Syracuse, Boston College, and Virginia. In their losses to Florida State and Louisville, the Hokies did not play well, while they dug themselves a hole against North Carolina State before not being able to complete a second-half comeback.

With each season, there are defining plays that can make or break a game or a season. Here are five plays that defined the 2023 Virginia Tech football season.

5. Grant Wells injury vs. Purdue

First and foremost, you never want to see a player get injured. Wells was poised to have a bounce-back season for the Hokies, but that was dashed in the first half of Week 2 against Purdue. He suffered an ankle injury, but head coach Brent Pry stuck with his senior for most of the second half, before putting in Baylor transfer Kyron Drones for the final drive. He moved the Hokies into Boilermakers territory, however, they turned the ball over on downs in the 24-17 loss. Little did anyone know what was to come with Drones at quarterback over the next three-plus months.

His first two starts on the road at Rutgers and Marshall were more of getting comfortable and getting offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen and Pry used to the sophomore and his skill set. Over the final eight weeks, Drones became a dual-threat under center and his passing game came along and the Hokies’ offense got better and better. Now with a full offseason coming up in Blacksburg and with most of his skilled position players coming back, he has an opportunity to take the next step in 2024.

4. Jaylin Lane Touchdown vs. Wake Forest

If the Hokies were going to become bowl-eligible, they needed to win their home conference games. They were able to beat Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, and Syracuse in Lane Stadium, but came up short against NC State. There were plays in all games that were big, but there might not have been a bigger answer all season than the one the Hokies got against Wake Forest.

Leading 10-0 in the second quarter, the Demon Deacons got a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Demond Clairborne. On the very next Virginia Tech possession, actually, the very next play for the Hokies from scrimmage, Drones connected with Jaylin Lane over the middle, and the Middle Tennessee State transfer raced 75 yards for a touchdown to regain a 10-point lead late in the first half. That ended up being a play in the game that gave the Hokies a cushion, but it wasn’t the only defining play in that game.

3. Fake Punt Against Wake Forest

Yes, the Lane touchdown was a huge play and kept the Hokies in the lead of a game that they basically needed to win after losing at Florida State the week before. A home loss to the Demon Deacons would have been devastating to Virginia Tech’s bowl hopes. You get the feeling that Pry also felt that way in the second half. 

Leading 17-10 in the third quarter and facing a fourth down at midfield, Pry called for a fake punt and Cole Nelson took the direct snap and went 18 yards for a first down. The Hokies finished the drive with a John Love 26-yard field goal with 49 seconds left in the quarter for a 20-10 lead on their way to a 30-13 victory. That call showed that Pry had confidence in his team to pull off the play and make a statement in a game that they needed in terms of having a chance to become bowl-eligible.

2. Onside kick at Boston College

When Virginia Tech traveled to Chestnut Hill, Mass. to play Boston College, the Hokies were winless on the road in their previous four opportunities against Rutgers, Marshall, Florida State, and Louisville. In fact, the Hokies were coming off a 34-3 loss against the Cardinals in what was a showdown for a berth in the ACC Championship game against FSU. The Hokies were dominated by Louisville and were looking at needing to win at least one game away from Blacksburg to get to six wins. Against the Eagles, the Hokies were leading 10-7 near the end of the first quarter and Pry knew that he needed to change something after BC went down the field on their second possession to score a touchdown.

Dorian Strong picked off BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos twice in the first quarter, which led to the 10 Virginia Tech points. After a Bhayshul Tuten touchdown run gave the Hokies the lead, Pry called for a surprise onside kick and his team executed it to perfection. Jaylen Jones recovered the ball and set the Hokies up near midfield. Early in the second quarter, Drones connected with Stephen Gosnell for a 22-yard touchdown that started a run of three consecutive touchdowns in the quarter that allowed Tech to take a commanding 31-7 lead into halftime on their way to a 48-22 victory to improve to 5-5.

1. Fourth down pass to Stephen Gosnell at Virginia

After losing to NC State at home the weekend before Thanksgiving, it was simple when Virginia Tech traveled to Charlottesville to face Virginia, win or go home. At 5-6, the Hokies needed to beat the 3-8 Cavaliers, and UVA would have loved nothing more than to end their rivals' run at home and send them into a long offseason. The game plan was simple, do what was needed to finish the game with more points on the board than Virginia.

Leading 3-0 in the first quarter, Virginia Tech faced a 4th-and-2 at the Cavaliers’ 44-yard line when Pry went for it. Drones rolled out to his right and in what looked like was going to a run for a first down, he threw the ball deep to Gosnell who was behind the Virginia secondary for a touchdown and a 10-0 lead. That play fired up the Hokies and led them to a 55-17 win to become bowl-eligible. It was the right call and it helped Virginia Tech make an early statement against a Cavaliers team that talked some trash leading into the game and did not back it up.