Hokies collapse again in 28-27 loss against Georgia Tech

By Jack Brizendine

Staff Writer

November 5, 2022

BLACKSBURG — Midway through the second quarter, Virginia Tech quarterback Grant Wells scrambled out of the pocket and absorbed a hit so hard from Georgia Tech’s Charlie Thomas his mouthpiece went flying across Worsham field.

Designed runs for Wells were efficient all day for the Hokies, but Thomas’ shot was a poetic representation of the last two weeks — just when things start to look up for Brent Pry’s squad, it gets popped in the mouth.

This week’s meltdown came against a Georgia Tech (4-5, 3-3 ACC) team featuring a backup freshman quarterback and interim head coach, as Virginia Tech (2-6, 1-5) crumbled in the fourth quarter, falling 28-27. The defeat removes the Hokies from bowl eligibility for the first time since 1992.

“I know everybody’s disappointed,” Tech head coach Brent Pry conceded following the game. “I’m disappointed for our players. I’m disappointed for our fans. I’m disappointed for our lettermen, and our coaching staff. It starts with me. I’ve got to own it.

“Every week, we’re just finding a way not to play well enough to win the game. We did some really good things today, and we did some things you absolutely cannot do and win a game.”

VT demonstrated the characteristics of a winning program on Saturday, playing complimentary football and scoring in all three phases of the game.

True freshman wideout Tucker Holloway ran back a punt 90 yards to give the Hokies a seven point cushion going into halftime. Redshirt-freshman linebacker Keli Lawson snagged a score for the defense a quarter later, tipping a pass to himself and sprinting into the endzone for a pick six.

While the defense and special teams were able to put points up on the board, the offense struggled to finish drives for the second consecutive week. The Hokies scored two touchdowns on 13 drives against Georgia Tech, in addition to turning the ball over four times — including a game-ending fumble from Wells on the Hokies’ last drive of the day.

“The margin for error is really small,” Pry said. “You just can’t do those things and expect to win the game. We did not deserve to win the game.”

Three of Virginia Tech’s final four drives ended via turnover, with all four combining for a little over five and a half minutes of possession time.

Keshawn King’s fumble at the Georgia Tech 10-yard line came first, taking away an opportunity for the Hokies to potentially go up three scores and put the game away early in the fourth quarter.

Instead, the Yellow Jackets took over on offense and swiftly moved the ball 90 yards down the field in only five plays, scoring a touchdown in less than two minutes to cut the VT lead to five.

“Obviously [against] NC State that was the message, being able to close them out,” Pry said. “It’s hard to believe we were actually closer to doing that this week than last. You’re in field goal range to go up two scores or potentially punch it in and be up three scores and we turn the ball over. Then we don’t come out there the same way defensively and they convert and get the ball down the field.

“The momentum and being able to step up in the face of it. Sudden change we talk about. We gotta win it right back.”

The Hokies will have an opportunity to end the negative momentum they’ve dealt with on their now six-game losing streak against Duke at noon next Saturday.