Story of the Stat Line: Virginia Tech at Old Dominion
Hokies Win in Norfolk for the First Time in Program History
Heading into Norfolk, VA to take on the Old Dominion Monarchs, the Virginia Tech Hokies sat at 0-2 all time at S.B. Ballard Stadium. They earned their first win Saturday, 37-17, improving to 4-2 all-time in the rivalry.
Virginia Tech's offensive engine roared to life, driven by Bhayshul Tuten and Kyron Drones each running for over 100 yards. Tuten amassed for 115 yards on 21 carries and scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach. Drones showcased his dual-threat capabilities that he flashed last season, rushing for 117 yards on just 12 carries, including a 53-yard barreling rip in the third quarter.
In the passing game, Drones' numbers didn't pop off the page, due to the run game being so prominent. He ended his night going 15/26 for 176 yards, as well as one touchdown and one interception. Seven of Drones' 15 completions fell in the hands of Jaylin Lane. who finished with 7 receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown.
On the defensive side for the Hokies, Antwuan Powell-Ryland delivered a memorable performance. On top of forcing and recovering a fumble, he recorded four sacks in a game for the second time in his career, joining NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Smith as the only other Hokie to achieve this feat. In the secondary, Mansoor Delane continued to make his mark with an interception in his second straight week.
The Hokies strong secondary caused Old Dominion to throw for just 6 completions for 50 yards on the game. The Monarch's run game, however, was a prominent problem for the Hokies. Old Dominion ran for 243 yards on 39 carries, scoring both offensive touchdowns on the ground. Former Hokie Bryce Duke was a notable player in the backfield contributing to the strong running game, rushing for 85 yards on just four carries. Starting running back Aaron Young contributed 67 yards on 17 carries.
Looking ahead to Rutgers, the Hokies offensive success brings strong hope Saturday, but their defensive line struggles need to be highlighted with Kyle Monangai coming to town. Both teams will kick off September 21 at 3:30 PM EST on ACC Network.
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The KING of Sacksburg with 4 sacks on the night 🤯 #ThisIsHome | 📺 on ESNP+ | @TwaunPowell h
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