Embedded Files
Raza Umerani
Staff Writer
September 30, 2023
Virginia Tech moved to 1-0 in ACC play with a win over Pitt. (Virginia Tech Athletics)
BLACKSBURG – On a night that had all the makings of a defensive slugfest, Virginia Tech’s offense exploded to the tune of its highest point total in two seasons under head coach Brent Pry in a performance that felt like an exorcism.
The Hokies (2-3, 1-0 Atlantic Coast) combined a balanced offensive attack with a stingy defensive outing to take down Pitt (1-4, 0-2) 38-21, snapping a three-game losing streak and a nine-game skid against Power Five opposition dating back to 2022.
“Just really happy for everybody in that locker room,” Pry said to reporters after the game. “There's so much sacrifice and investment. There's been a lot of adversity. … [I’m] just really proud of everybody sticking together, staying the course, trusting the process. They get to enjoy a victory tonight.”
The Hokies were paced offensively by quarterback Kyron Drones, who was making his third consecutive start, but his first at home and first in ACC play.
“I wasn't nervous at all,” Drones said. “I just had confidence in myself all week in how I prepare myself. I was just ready to go. Yeah, it was a surreal moment just coming out to that Enter Sandman, all-white, first start, our first conference game. I was just ready to go out there and work.”
Drones worked and then some, racking up a career-high 228 passing yards and three passing touchdowns in addition to 41 yards and two more scores on the ground, becoming the first ACC quarterback to account for five touchdowns in a game this season.
“[He was] phenomenal, man,” wide receiver Jaylin Lane said. “He's a big body guy, people are kind of scared to tackle him so he's gonna use his legs, and also he's got a big cannon of an arm, he knows how to make the right reads.”
Tech also received a major lift from running back Bhayshul Tuten, who put together his best performance in a Hokies uniform with 28 total touches for 146 total yards and a receiving touchdown.
“That was a big point of emphasis in this game,” Drones said. “I just tried to get him the ball and get the running game going. But we're trying to get that established this season. I feel like the way our line was able to handle their defensive line was a real big factor and just Tuten being able to do what he does. I've never seen [just] one person take him down.
“Give him the ball and can do a lot of good things.”
With the importance of the running game being preached all season long, that type of gritty, grinding performance was a long time coming. The Hokies’ 199 rushing yards set a season-high for the team.
“I thought [offensive coordinator] Tyler [Bowen] called a great game,” Pry said. “Committed to the run and it wasn't always pretty. Some of them were no gainers or minus yardage. But we invested there. I thought the run selection was the right selection. I thought the misdirection plays, the shots, the screens really did a nice job. I thought there were some gadgets out there that loosened up defenses and I thought he called a really good game. I thought the guys executed well, particularly Kyron.
“The whole team was hungry. That was the sentiment all week. Anxious to go play well, to play like we're capable. And I think we're closer to that tonight.”
Tech’s defense put together a fine performance, only giving up 38 rushing yards on 24 carries after entering the game as the second-worst run defense in the Power Five. Outside of two huge Pitt offensive plays – both resulting in one-play touchdown drives – the Hokies limited the Panthers to a measly 3.1 yards per play.
While the weather was nothing like it was for Tech’s last home game, the contest still began with two lightning strikes. Drones’ first pass of the game was a gorgeous deep shot up the near sideline to wide receiver Da’Quan Felton for a 54-yard score, which the Panthers instantly responded to with a 75-yard rocket from quarterback Phil Jurkovec to wide receiver Bub Means on the very next play from scrimmage to tie the game with just under five minutes of gametime elapsed.
Following a flurry of punts, the Hokies were able to put together a solid, balanced drive to retake the lead early in the second quarter, marching 55 yards in 11 plays before Drones punched it in with a two-yard scoring scamper. Tech would reach the end zone again just before halftime on a 12-yard catch and run from Tuten, who took a screen and avoided defenders up the sideline to make it 21-7 at the break.
On Pitt’s first drive of the second half, Jurkovec was sandwiched by defensive linemen Mario Kendricks and edge rusher Antwaun Powell-Ryland – a strip sack which the latter fell on top of. Three plays later, Drones took a quarterback draw 10 yards into the end zone, muscling backwards through defenders and passionately reaching paydirt to give Tech its largest lead of the season – 21 points.
Then things got a bit wonky. The first play of the ensuing Pitt drive was a 61-yard catch and run for a touchdown by running back C’Bo Flemister, who took a checkdown and bounced off defenders all the way up the sideline to get the Panthers back in the game. Two plays later, Drones lost his grip on the ball while trying to throw the ball away, which Panthers linebacker Bryan Lovelace scooped up and returned for a score to make it a seven-point game again in the blink of an eye.
“Coach Pry just came up to me and said, 'it's not on you, just focus on the next drive, focus on the next play, leave that in the past and just keep going,’” Drones said. “And a lot of other players just came up to me. The fumble really hurt me just because I was throwing it out of bounds and it just slipped out of my hand.”
The skipper’s words of wisdom helped the young quarterback keep his confidence up and his head in the game.
“He was the same as he was on the first play of the game,” Lane said. “He doesn't let the tide of the game affect his mentality or his emotions. So he just came into the huddle and said, 'alright, we just gotta go score on this drive.'”
That’s exactly what Drones did. Tech was able to handle the sudden adversity with swiftness, as it got back in the endzone two possessions later – a 53-yard catch and sprint for Lane, who was left in an ocean of space and let his speed do the rest.
“KD threw it to me and my eyes got big and I hit the jets,” Lane said. “The biggest thing on my mind was 'I can't get caught,' cause my teammates were gonna be on me. So I got in the end zone, got back to the sideline and they were saying, 'oh yeah, J Lane you fast,' stuff like that. So it felt really good.”
Drones was able to hang in the pocket, absorbing a big hit as he let it go.
“I just give the playmakers the ball and just see what they can do,” Drones said. “I didn't really see him break out of it. I just got hit while I threw it. I heard the crowd roaring and I looked up seeing him keep going. I was like, 'please score.'”
The two long passing touchdowns of 54 and 53 yards marked the two longest offensive plays from scrimmage for the Hokies this season.
“It makes us very dangerous because we always talk about explosive plays breaking [out] throwing short, running long, stuff like that,” Lane said. “That's kind of what we want to be known as. So hopefully we can just keep this going.
“Throughout the whole offseason we talked about being a big play offense. I kind of felt like it came to fruition a little bit tonight. We just put our foot on the gas, gotta keep this going throughout the rest of ACC play.”
The touchdown was the first for Lane since Tech’s Week 2 marathon against Purdue – a game where he suffered a hamstring injury that has kept him limited in recent weeks.
“Definitely felt way better tonight,” Lane said. “Moving a lot better. Feel back to 100%. So great to get back out there. … Hammies are real frustrating. I tried to get back last week but it kind of bothered me a little bit. But, being back today felt great. Big shout out to the fans as well. Having that Lane crowd behind you helps you push through a lot of things.”
After Pitt made it a seven-point game, Tech’s defense gave up just 37 yards on the Panthers’ final 17 plays.
“I feel like we showed a lot of maturity because there wasn't any panic,” Lane said. “A two possession game in the third quarter is not a big lead in football regardless, so we knew we had to put our foot on their neck and that just made us push the pedal a little more.”
The Hokies would put the game away on a methodical 14-play, 77-yard fourth quarter field goal drive which took nearly nine minutes off the clock and made it 38-21. Some more defensive stops put the finishing touches on the team’s first ACC win in over a year.
“We've battled each and every week and fought back in games,” Pry said. “So we've been there. This is a group that understands that. We talked a lot this week about just making our plays and [staying] in the moment, making sure that we do the job. It doesn't have to be a magic show. Just do your job and plays will come. I think they did that tonight. Handling adversity, it sure is tough when you got to go through it, and you learn how to handle it.
“But I think we're a better team for some of the tough losses and tough situations, and I think it showed up tonight.”
Tech travels to Tallahassee for a top-five clash with Florida State (4-0) on Saturday (3:30 p.m., ABC), while Pitt heads into a bye week ahead of a home contest against Louisville (5-0).
“Obviously it means a lot just to be 1-0 this week,” Pry said. “It's good to get a win. To me, the talking point is [a win] over a good program that's won an ACC championship and done good things and played great defense and has pride in running the ball and being physical. And I thought we matched all of those things tonight and then some. They're banged up, but we're banged up, too. I thought we did a great job responding and preparing. There's gonna be things on that film tomorrow that we're looking at saying, 'we gotta get better here, let's go be the best team we could be this weekend.'
“And if we do that, we'll have another opportunity.”
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