Furman...............0 0 0 7 - 7 Virginia Tech...... 0 3 21 0 - 24 Scoring Summary: 2nd Quarter 00:29 VT - Keys 22 yd FG 3rd Quarter 08:41 VT - Lewis 10 yd pass from Glennon (Keys) 07:16 VT - Lewis 23 yd run (Keys) 06:12 VT - Evans 3 yd run (Keys) 4th Quarter 06:02 FUR - Truss 17 yd pass from Sorrells (Cesari)
Blacksburg, VA – Virginia Tech took advantage of two Furman turnovers to create two short
touchdown drives in the third quarter, then coasted to a 24-7 win. The victory
makes the Hokies 1-1 on the season as they head into next weekend’s big ACC
matchup with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Tech struggled offensively in the first half, and led just 3-0 at halftime. A
successful power running game against a worn out Furman defense put up big
numbers in the third quarter, as the Hokies turned a close game into a
comfortable victory.
Virginia Tech put up 261 yards on the ground, averaging 5.4 yards per carry
in the process. Tyrod Taylor had 14 carries for 112 yards, including a 50 yard
scamper. Darren Evans led the tailbacks with 11 carries for 72 yards and a
touchdown. Kenny Lewis added 50 yards on 13 carries and a score. Lewis also led
the team in receiving, with three catches for 36 yards and a touchdown.
However, the passing game struggled and kept the Tech offense from having an
efficient afternoon. Sean Glennon was 3-of-8 for 42 yards, with a touchdown and
an interception. Tyrod Taylor was 4-of-5 for 26 yards. Taylor was sacked three
times, and Glennon once.
Tech held Furman to just 247 yards of total offense, most of which came in
the second half when the game was out of reach. The Paladins had just 34 yards
on the ground, and averaged just 1.7 yards per carry.
Stephan Virgil continued his streak of good play, with five tackles, two
tackles for loss, an interception and a pass breakup. Orion Martin played very
well up front, with three tackles for loss and a sack. Defensive tackle John
Graves blocked his second kick of the season, though he’s yet to make a
single tackle.
Recap
The first half was very slow for the Hokies, though they nearly scored on
their first drive of the game. Sean Glennon hit Dyrell Roberts for a 13 yard
gain for a first down, then Darren Evans busted up the middle for a 10 yard
gain. Tyrod Taylor entered the game and scrambled for 15 yards, and the Hokies
eventually drove the ball down to the Furman 3.
For the second week in a row, the Hokies elected to go for it on fourth and
one, and for the second week in a row they were stopped. Kenny Lewis was hit in
the backfield for a loss of two yards, and Furman took over on their own five.
Tech’s offense spent most of the rest of the first half self destructing.
Early in the second quarter, facing third and nine from the 50, Sean Glennon
escaped trouble and rolled to his right, and hit Ike Whitaker on a well-thrown
deep ball for a gain of 33. However, the play was called back due to an
ineligible man downfield, and Tech was forced to punt.
Tech’s next drive got off to a great start. Glennon hit Kenny Lewis on a 19
yard screen pass, and then Lewis gained six yards on a run up the middle.
However, fullback Kenny Younger was flagged for a false start on the next play,
negating Lewis’s nice run. On the next play, Glennon’s pass over the middle
hit Greg Boone in the hands, but he couldn’t haul it in. It bounced into the
air and was intercepted by William Middleton.
The Hokies finally put a scoring drive together on their last possession of
the half. The drive began at their own 21, and the Hokies made big plays on the
ground to move smartly down the field. Tyrod Taylor had a 15 yard run, and
Darren Evans had runs of 16 and 19 yards. Dyrell Roberts also made his second
reception of the game, this one for a gain of 11 yards over the middle.
However, the drive stalled inside the five yard line, and Dustin Keys came in
and nailed a 22 yard field goal to give the Hokies a 3-0 lead heading into
halftime.
Tech finally reached the end zone on their first possession of the second
half. Tyrod Taylor made a big play with his feet against the blitz, scrambling
to the right, reversing his field and gaining 50 yards. Taylor came out after
his long run, and then Sean Glennon came in and threw a 10 yard touchdown pass to
Kenny Lewis, who made a great play on the ball. Keys’ extra point made the
score 10-0 with 8:41 remaining in the third quarter.
The Hokies soon began to run away from the feisty Paladins. Furman fumbled on
their ensuing possession, and Kam Chancellor recovered on their 31. Three plays
later, Kenny Lewis busted up the middle untouched for a 23 yard touchdown run,
and the extra point by Keys made the score 17-0 7:16 left in the third.
Furman gave it right back to the Hokies on their next possession, when
Stephan Virgil stepped in front of a Jordan Sorrells pass to grab the
interception. Virgil returned it all the way to the Furman 9. The Hokies handed
the ball off to Darren Evans twice, and he found paydirt from three yards out.
Just like that, Tech was up 24-0 with 6:12 left in the third quarter. The Hokies
had scored three touchdowns in less than three minutes.
At that point, the Hokies began to work their backups into the game. Furman
was able to march down and score a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but it
came mostly against Tech’s backup defense.
Virginia Tech returns to action next Saturday in Lane Stadium, when they host
the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The Jackets are looking impressive early under
new coach Paul Johnson. They are 2-0 thus far, including an impressive 19-16 win
at Boston College today.
Kickoff for the Battle of the Techs is set for 3:30pm, and the game will be
televised by ABC.
STATISTICS
VT FUR
---- ----
First downs 14 13
Rushed-yards 48-261 20-34
Passing yards 68 213
Sacked-yards lost 4-26 1-3
Return yards 30 47
Passes 7-13-1 21-37-1
Punts 6-43 7-42.7
Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1
Penalties-yards 9-60 5-32
Time of possession 33:00 27:00
Att: 66,233
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Virginia Tech, Taylor 14-112,
Evans 11-72, Lewis 13-50, Cheeseman 4-21, Oglesby 4-21
Glennon 2-(-1). FUR, Brown 10-20, Kendall 2-13
Coleman 1-4, LaFrance 2-4, Uhaa 1-1, Sorrells 3-(-7).
PASSING-Virginia Tech, Glennon 3-8-42-1,
Taylor 4-5-26. FUR, Sorrells 21-37-213-1.
RECEIVING-Virginia Tech, Lewis 3-36,
Roberts 2-24, Boone 1-5, Boykin 1-3.
FUR, Mims 7-61, Brownn 4-49, Cunningham 3-25
Truss 2-39, Hendrix 2-21, LaFrance 2-11, Uhaa 1-7.
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