The last 32 days for the Virginia Tech football team have been nothing short of sensational. First, the Hokies became bowl-eligible with a 55-17 win at Virginia on Thanksgiving Weekend. Then several announcements followed and several Hokies committed to coming back in 2024.
Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Josh Fuga, Dorian Strong, Mansoor Delane, Stephen Gosnell, Jaylin Lane, Kyron Drones, Bhayshul Tuten, Da'Quan Felton, and Ali Jennings all announced that they're coming back and will have a full offseason under their belt following a full season under their belt in Blacksburg. The Hokies also got four big additions from the transfer portal and brought in a slew of new recruits, including four Top 15 from the state of Virginia.
During a busy month of news, the win over the Cavaliers meant that they get an extra month together with practice and a game before the full attention turns to 2024. That game came Wednesday in the Military Bowl against Tulane University in Annapolis, Maryland at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Virginia Tech closed out the season in style with a dominating win over Tulane to close out 2023 and give them some big momentum heading into 2024. Here are three takeaways from the win over the Green Wave and their first since 2016.
Virginia Tech gashed Tulane's run defense
Going into the game, the big question was if the Hokies were going to be able to run the ball against a stout Tulane defensive line. Quarterback Kyron Drones and running back Bhayshul Tuten were able to run the ball and run it very effectively behind an offensive line that dominated as the game went along.
As a team, Virginia Tech rushed for 362 yards on 50 carries and three touchdowns. Drones finished with 176 on the ground on 20 rushes and a touchdown, that was reviewed and the call stood in the first quarter. The Hokies were lucky that there was no definitive angle of the goal line. In the fourth quarter, the Baylor transfer ripped off a 51-yard run to the Green Wave 9-yard line and one play later Tuten scored around the left end. His rushing yards are the second most by a Hokies' QB since Michael Vick's 210 at Boston College in 2000.
TO THE ENDZONE 🤩#ThisIsHome | @KyronDrones pic.twitter.com/PhGWllN6c5
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) December 27, 2023
Speaking of Tuten, the North Carolina A&T transfer ran for 136 yards on 18 carries and a pair of touchdowns. His longest run of the game was for 41 yards and what makes what the Tech duo did was that Drones averaged 8.8 yards a carry and Tuten 7.6. Teams are going to have a tough time containing them next season if they stay healthy.
Virginia Tech's defense was tough
Tulane scored 20 points, but both of their touchdowns were set up by Virginia Tech fumbles. In fact, the first touchdown of the game was scored when Drones dropped the ball dropping back on third down in the first quarter and Tulane's Tyler Grubbs had a scoop and score.
The Hokies tame the Greenwave, 41-20 at the Military Bowl! 🦃@HokiesFB | #ACCFootball pic.twitter.com/Wha53EPX5P
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) December 27, 2023
The other Green Wave touchdown in the third quarter came after the Hokies fumble the ball on a pass play and Tulane's quarterback Kai Horton avoided a sack, turned and ran the opposite way for a touchdown to tie the game 17-17. That was the extent of the Tulane touchdowns as they had to settle for a pair of field goals.
Virginia Tech's Pheladrius Payne forced a fumble at the Hokies goal line in the second quarter that Antwaun Powell-Ryland recovered and then in the fourth quarter, Mansoor Delane recovered a fumble near midfield after a big hit on a pass completion. A very good group over the final two months, they once again were up to the challenge in bad weather against a good offense that had plenty of talent despite several opt-outs.
Virginia Tech dominated Tulane in most stats
One look at the final numbers of stats, it was clear what the Hokies wanted to do and did do against a Green Wave team that was good despite being shorthanded in a lot of areas. They held a seven-minute advantage in time of possession, they rushed for 362 yards, compared to 133 for Tulane.
It doesn't stop there.
Virginia Tech racked up 453 total yards of offense to 252 for the Green Wave, they ran 71 plays to 54 for their opponent and held a 25-15 advantage in first downs. Eighteen of the 25 first downs Tech picked up came on the ground, which is no surprise. The only noticeable stat Tulane held an advantage in was in passing yards, 119-91.
Virginia Tech, which ends the season 7-6, got a lot of contributions from different players on both sides of the ball and even on special teams. The only bad news coming out of the game was an injury to Gosnell, but he has a long time to recover from his injury ahead of 2024.