Virginia tech cleans up loose ends in 27-7 beatdown of wofford

By Jack Brizendine

Staff Writer

September 17, 2022

BLACKSBURG — Improvement. That’s what head coach Brent Pry wanted to see from his entire team going into Saturday’s contest against Wofford.

His squad delivered.

Playing arguably its best game on both sides of the ball this season, Virginia Tech (2-1) took down the Terriers (0-3) in dominant fashion, 27-7.

“I thought we were able to move the ball and stay on schedule, and that was certainly a point of contention,” Pry said after the game.

Playing an FCS squad at home certainly didn’t hurt the offense, which has struggled to match the results of Tech’s defense this year.

“We converted better on third down (7-for-13),” Pry, who’s team converted on less than 30% of third downs in its first two games, said. “We had some long, extended drives. We just weren’t as good in the red zone as maybe you want.

“We kicked the ball well, but I like to score touchdowns.”

Pry got his wish at the beginning of the second quarter. Following two consecutive drives deep into Wofford territory that ended in field goals, running back Jalen Holston powered over the goal line to extend the Hokies’ lead to 13 points.

Holston’s score capped off a 12-play, 82-yard drive for the VT offense. The Hokies followed it up with a touchdown pass to Jadan Blue on the next drive with just 25 seconds left in the first half.

Mid-game adjustments provided instantaneous results for Tech’s offense, but a lot of the improvement displayed by players on Saturday was the result of much longer processes.

Redshirt-freshman receiver Christian Moss tied tight end Nick Gallo for first in receptions (five) against Wofford and finished with the third most receiving yards (50) despite not registering a catch in the Hokies’ first two games.

“I feel like since I didn’t get a chance last year, I’ve just been so hungry,” Moss said. “[Today was] really like my coming out party.”

True freshman running back Bryce Duke flashed against the Terriers as well, hauling in a 27-yard pass on a wheel route for his first collegiate touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

“It was so surreal, something I’ve always dreamed of as a kid growing up, just being able to score in Lane [Stadium],” Duke said of his first touchdown. “[After] early enrolling here, I’ve just been grinding throughout the winter, throughout the summer, and I’m just blessed to have this opportunity.”

The progress was evident on offense, but for a defense that was largely dominant in the first two contests of the year, finding room for improvement was hard to do.

Wofford came into Saturday without having scored a single point in the first two weeks of its season, and narrowly extended the streak to three games — until a 47-yard catch by Terriers’ wideout Landon Parker set up a rushing touchdown from running back Nathan Walker in the middle of the fourth quarter.

“I’d be lying if I said [giving up the shutout] didn’t [bother me],” Pry admitted. “We talk in the locker room, the standard is the standard. When you go in that game you’re representing everybody, you gotta preserve the shutout when you have a chance to do that.”

The Wofford game afforded Virginia Tech one final tune-up before West Virginia on Thursday night. Despite the short week of practice and preparation for the Mountaineers, Pry feels confident his team will rise to the occasion.

“We’re on,” Pry said.