When it comes to the Virginia Tech football team this season, they have been a team that has started fast in most games. They have held the lead at halftime in all seven games, but they sit at just 5-2. One big reason for them not being 7-0 going into Saturday night's game at Clemson has been the rough starts to the second half that James Franklin's team endures at times.
That was evident once again this past Saturday at Lane Stadium against Georgia Tech. Leading 24-3 at halftime, the Hokies allowed 14 points in the first three minutes of the second half and all of a sudden, held just a 24-17 lead over the Yellow Jackets. However, they responded to win 34-24, but Franklin is hoping to work out the second half's troubles this week in practice.
"We've done a good job of starting fast,," Franklin said. "We've got to be better in the third quarter on offense, defense and special teams."
Virginia Tech could have landed some knockout punches against Pittsburgh and California in the two games they lost in the second half, but didn't. With three of the final five games on the road, if the Hokies take a halftime lead into any of those games, they need to figure out how to close those games out.
Women's AP preseason Top 25 poll dropped
One day after the Associated Press men's preseason Top 25 was dropped, the women's was dropped on Tuesday. It shouldn't come as a surprise that there were five ACC schools in it, which will create a difficult winter for Megan Duffy and her team when conference play begins in December.
South Carolina begins the season at No. 1, followed by UConn and USC, before the first ACC school landed at No. 4, which was Duke. Louisville was No. 7, North Carolina was No. 12, Notre Dame was No. 13, and North Carolina State was No. 25. Maryland, which the Hokies lost to in a preseason scrimmage on Monday night in College Park, was No. 20. Virginia Tech received one vote.
Speaking of Monday's scrimmage against the Terrapins, Samyha Suffren led the Hokies with 17 points and five assists. Kate Sears had 15 points and four rebounds, while Leila Wells had 13 points, Jessica Dimaro had 11, and Kaleo Anderson finished with 10. Carleigh Wenzel had eight points and seven rebounds. Tennessee transfers Alyssa Latham and Lauren Hurst did not play in the game.
More Virginia Tech Hokies News
- The Virginia Tech men's soccer team will host Winthrop in a non-conference matchup at Thompson Field on Wednesday night at 6, looking to improve to 7-5-1. After hosting the Eagles, the Hokies will host Clemson this weekend on Sunday.
- Coming off a frustrating loss last week to Virginia at home, 1-0, the Hokies women's soccer team will host Wake Forest on Thursday night at Thompson Field, looking to improve on their 6-4-4 overall record and 2-3-1 ACC record. This would be a big win in terms of résumé-building results for the NCAA Tournament.
- Virginia Tech's volleyball team will have an interesting trip through the Northeast this upcoming weekend. At 5-15 overall and 2-6 in the ACC, the Hokies will visit Boston College on Friday night before visiting Syracuse on Sunday afternoon. The Eagles are 1-7 in conference, and the Orange are 0-8. Two big opportunities for Virginia Tech.
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