Story of the Statline: Virginia Tech vs Marshall

In a decisive 31-14 victory over the Marshall Thundering Herd, the Virginia Tech Hokies secured their first win of the season, bouncing back from a disappointing loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores in week one. Despite the final score reflecting a solid 17-point margin, the game’s narrative was more intricate. Echoing their performance against Vanderbilt, the Hokies’ offense faced early struggles and was met with boos from the crowd after failing to score on their initial three drives.

Kyron Drones continued to grapple with inconsistency, completing just nine of 16 passes for 42 yards in the first half. Similar struggles against Vanderbilt prevailed as he seemed to be flustered in the pocket anytime slight pressure aroused. With the passing game faltering, the Hokies turned to their running game for relief. Bhayshul Tuten delivered a standout first half performance with 86 rushing yards on 11 carries, a significant improvement from his overall performance last week (nine carries for 34 yards).

The momentum began to shift towards the end of the first quarter when Jaylin Lane electrified the crowd with a 58-yard punt return touchdown. This would be the Hokies' only touchdown in the first half, as they headed into the locker room with a slender 10-7 lead.

In the second half, the Hokies continued to lean heavily on the run game with Tuten, and even getting. He ended the game with 120 yards on the ground, the most he's collected in a regular season game as a Hokie. Junior Malachi Thomas also got involved in the mix, totaling 52 yards on nine carries.

Halfway through the third quarter, something many Hokie fans were waiting to see finally happened, a deep pass thrown. Kyron Drones aired the ball down field, landing in the hands of by Stephen Gosnell for a jaw-dropping 49-yard reception. His catch continued the drive that resulted in a three-yard touchdown run by Drones, pushing the Hokies' lead to 24-14. Drones’ second half was perfect, completing all five passes for 88 yards. He would end his day going just 14 of 21 for 130 yards, however.

For the remainder of the game, Marshall had minimal success offensively. Virginia Tech’s defense was stellar, demonstrating aggressive pressure that stifled nearly anything Marshall did. The Hokies' secondary was particularly impressive, recording 12 team pass deflections, (the most in a single game in Virginia Tech history since 2016), frustrating Marshall quarterback Stone Earle all game long. Earle ended his day completing just 13 of 36 passes for 131 yards, with one touchdown and an interception.

Linebacker Keli Lawson was a defensive standout, deflecting three passes and contributing significantly to the Hokies’ pass defense. Mose Phillips III also played a critical role, leading the Hokies in solo tackles (4), total tackles (5), as well as collecting one of the two defensive sacks in the game. Also strong in the secondary, star cornerback Mansoor Delane collected a crucial interception, further cementing the Hokies' defensive control over the game. The combination of these defensive efforts kept Marshall from gaining momentum and limited their scoring opportunities.

As the Hokies prepare to head to Norfolk to face Old Dominion on September 14 at 6:00 PM EST, they appear to have found their rhythm. With a 14-point advantage in the betting line, the Hokies aim to overcome their first-half challenges and start strong against the Monarchs.