No. 21 Virginia Tech Rides Timely Defense, Josh Jackson to 31-24 Win Over No. 22 West Virginia

Virginia Tech football
Josh Jackson (17) put together an impressive performance in his career debut, leading Virginia Tech to a 31-24 win over West Virginia. (Photo by Ivan Morozov)

Landover, MD — The best football teams win because in certain situations, one side of the ball picks up another when they’re down. On Sunday night vs. No. 21 West Virginia, No. 22 Virginia Tech experienced that first-hand.

After a strong defensive showing in the first half, Virginia Tech’s offense found a rhythm in the second half and helped cement a 31-24 win over the Mountaineers at FedExField.

“I’m awfully proud of our guys,” said Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente. “I thought it was a well-played football game, for both teams. There was back and forth. Yards were hard to come by early in the game, and then it seemed like there was a spell there in the second half where both teams were moving the ball pretty well… I thought a bunch of people across the board contributed to this victory.”

Virginia Tech quarterback Josh Jackson led the way offensively, throwing for 235 yards and rushing for another 101 yards. Jackson found the endzone twice, once through the air and one on the ground.

“Well, he was pretty good,” Fuente said. “I thought he did a really good job. He has been good. He’s been a guy that’s done what we’ve asked him to do on a consistent basis, and he played pretty well tonight, on a big stage against a tough, hard-nosed football team.”

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Jackson led an offense that struggled at different times. With the game tied at 24-24 in the fourth quarter, Jackson busted a quarterback keeper for 46 yards, setting up a Travon McMillian touchdown run.

“We had some anticipation that when they blitz, that they’re going to go straight up, like the first touchdown,” Jackson said. “Like the end, or it could’ve been the nickel, ran straight up the field, and we had some anticipation of that.”

“Impressive,” Deshawn McClease said of Jackson. “I felt like he was pretty slept on, like people tried to downplay his running ability. As you can see, he’s a pretty good runner.”

When it came down to it, Virginia Tech had to rely on its defense once more. West Virginia and quarterback Will Grier drove down to the Hokies’ 15-yard-line, but failed to get it in the endzone.

“Just trying to find a way to get a stop,” Fuente said. “We tried to use our timeouts to give our guys a break. I thought, I felt defensively, we expended so much energy in the first half, keeping us in the game that… it was just my feeling that we played a lot of football by the middle of the third quarter.”

While Virginia Tech’s defense came up big at the end of the game, the Hokies were gashed several times by Grier and the Moutaineers. Grier threw for 371 yards and three touchdowns, while running for another 52 yards. Grier did throw an early interception, but played incredibly well.

Virginia Tech football
Will Grier (7) was a thorn in Virginia Tech’s side all game long. (Photo by Ivan Morozov)

“They were hitting us early with some quick throws and then, they came out in the second half and threw a little bit more vertical throws and made a couple of nice throws an catches,” said defensive coordinator Bud Foster. “That is going to be part of the game. At the end of the day, we made enough stops to get the ball back to our offense and we did enough things as a football team to win the game, that’s the bottom line.”

“You could tell he was an experienced guy,” said Terrell Edmunds. “He was out there controlling the game and the receivers, they made some big-time catches. We also made some big-time stops, but that’s the good thing about playing against another good team. We had some big plays on our side of the ball, they might have some big plays, but you’ve got to just fight it out through the whole game.”

Virginia Tech and West Virginia both played a relatively clean game, especially for a season-opener. West Virginia turned it over one time, and the Hokies committed just five penalties for 34 yards.

“Well, it’s certainly what we’re talking about,” Fuente said on turnovers. “We made a big deal, not just about that, but about all the details that go into early games. Really, quite honestly, you didn’t see it from either team. I know we missed a couple field goals, but you didn’t see it.”

Those field goals would’ve made a big difference for Virginia Tech. Joey Slye, who is usually reliable inside 40 yards, missed kicks from 38 yards and 32 yards. The second miss would’ve given Virginia Tech a 10-point lead with less than two minutes left to play, but the Hokies responded nonetheless. The defense rallied, and was there to pick up Slye.

“I think our guys have a good understanding of there are going to be ups and downs in the ballgame,” Fuente said. We talk about it all the time, handling the ebbs and flows. If the offense scores immediately, it’s the talk about whatever happens out there, we’ve got to be ready to go again. The same thing defensively.”

The offenses struggled to start, which was no surprise. Virginia Tech held a 3-0 lead into the second quarter, until West Virginia found their rhythm. Running back Justin Crawford broke loose for 42 yards, leading to an 11-yard touchdown pass from Grier.

“We knew what kind of quarterback Will is,” Foster said. “I mean, he is a competitor, he has a live arm, his athletic. He showed all of those things tonight.”

Two drives later, Virginia Tech responded. Jackson found Cam Phillips for a 28-yard completion, and Jackson finished the drive with a 5-yard keeper, giving the Hokies a 10-7 lead heading into halftime.

“More than proud, I was awfully happy for him,” Fuente said of Jackson. “He’s worked awfully hard, and he found a way to be really efficient tonight.”

West Virginia tied the game on their first possession of the second half, but Virginia Tech’s offense was just finding it’s rhythm. Jackson found a wide-open Chris Cunningham for 39 yards, and Deshawn McClease capped off the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run, giving Tech a 17-10 lead with 9:51 left in the third. McClease finished the game with 51 yards on eight carries in his first game action in roughly a year.

Virginia Tech football
Deshawn McClease’s (33) touchdown run in the third quarter helped ignite the Virginia Tech offense. (Photo by Ivan Morozov)

“Coach just told us to trust our training, just to relax and play Virginia Tech football,” McClease said. “Everything pretty much worked out.”

The back-and-forth began late in the third quarter. West Virginia engineered a 8-play, 79-yard drive to tie the game at 17, only to be answered by a 44-yard kick return by James Clark. Jackson made short work of the possession, throwing a 32-yard pass to Phillips for the score.

“He said before the game, ‘I’ve got your back.’ When I was in doubt, and they were coming at me, I was throwing to Cam,” Jackson said. “I know he’ll go up and get it. If he doesn’t it’s probably going to be a penalty.”

Grier tied the game again in the fourth quarter, thanks to a 60-yard touchdown pass to Gary Jennings Jr. Two drives later, Jackson scampered for those 46 yards, giving the Hokies the lead for good.

“It was another read play, and we’ve been running that play for a long time,” Fuente said. “Sometimes you hit some big ones on the outside. Sometimes that quarterback just runs through there and hits air. He certainly did.”

Virginia Tech’s win over West Virginia keeps the Black Diamond Trophy in Blacksburg, and improves Justin Fuente’s record in season-openers to 4-2 in his career. Under Fuente, the Hokies are 4-1 in games decided by seven points or less.

The Hokies will continue their 2017 campaign vs. Delaware on Saturday, Sept. 9. Delaware might not be as good as West Virginia, but if the Hokies keep picking up their teammates when they are down, Tech should be competitive against everyone.

“It was definitely a big win. They won 10 games last year, we won 10 games,” said Trevon Hill. “Definitely a big win, but it’s the first game. I mean, hopefully, we’ve got 14 more to go.”

— hokiesports.com box score —

27 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. Hey Will, someone may have already mentioned this, but this game makes two perfect score pics for you in a row! Your prognostication hat seems to be working quite well!

  2. Overall, my impression of this game was that Coach Fuente knows how to coach in every respect. He can recruit, he can prepare a team, and he can get the most out of the team. Slye’ misses were rough, but the team did not miss a beat. The offense had a slow start but they took care of the ball and didn’t ph it. When the D-line couldn’t get pressure, they schemed around it and Coach Fuente adjusted the offense at the half to help. The timeouts on the last ‘eer drive let the D catch its breath and was genius. If this coach starts getting 4-5 star recruits regularly, I don’t see a limit. I guess if I were a player, I’d have to say that I ought into his system. They won’t win every game, but I feel we’ll be positioned as well as they can every game. What a great feeling! Go Hokies!

      1. You must have been a Catholic school marm teaching English in your other life! We make a remarkable win to start the season and all you can do is slap someone on the knuckles with your ruler for a few meaningless errors. Sheesh!

        1. I JUST NOTICED THAT YOU WERE SLAPPING YOUR OWN KNUCKES. I tried to delete my reply but it wouldn’t work.My apologies. On these boards we understand most people’s little flubs like that. We all do it, except for B’Street. No need to apologize for them. My 88 – year-old brain just flubbed reading comprehension!

  3. Is anybody else worried about or D??? almost 600 yards is not something we’re used to see out of a Bud foster defense, I hope it’s just an anomaly.

    1. It looked like a “contain” strategy rather than a “pressure” on Grier due to his experience and skill level; very few blitzes occasionally only rushing three! Probably because we weren’t trailing in the score. Look at the Syracuse game last year (589 yds given up), a sharp qb with good receivers who is also mobile! So no, I’m not worried about the defense (except against Clemson). If our receivers gel, we won’t be behind very much, and Jackson looks like an upgrade from Jerod. Once the game slows down for him, watch out!

      1. I pick winning defense over great defense in a losing effort but this was not a contain strategy. What exactly was contained? Not the running game or the passing game. That was one of the worst defensive games I have ever seen VT play (LSU 48-7 was worse). Just have to get better, it’s all fundamentals because our players look talented and they played hard and tough and competed. Just need to play smarter. Go Hokies!

    2. WVU is a BIG12 Offense, they are going to put up major yards through the air. The only thing that really matters is points and I think their season average for scoring is going to be way higher than 24.

    3. Yes, The D-line in a big time game will get worn down. The play by the defensive ends was not ACC championship level. Backers and secondary are pretty good, but playing a good offensive team will be a challenge this year. Clemson and Miami will wear this D out. Got to love them, all the same.

      Settle is a beast and the Edmonds are great. Floyd is solid – will do great against the lesser teams. It will be interesting if the D line can hold up against Ga Tech. Hopefully we’ll have some youngsters contributing then.

      Go Hokies

  4. Great to see coach Beamer grinning and holding the Black Diamond trophy after the game. Joey Slye delivered on EVERY kick off. Despite the missed field goals, that was a key part of the victory. Hang in there Joey! Great team effort. Don’t look past the next three games. Especially ECU in Greenville!

  5. Was at the game. Electric atmosphere. Fans well behaved in lots & in stadium. In my view the cool-headed, outstanding play by our green QB was the difference. Nice team effort. On the down side: 2 missed FG’s; little pass rush; and bonehead play calling on the series early after Cam came down with the ball on the 1-foot line. We can clean those things up. Hope Peoples is OK. Go Hokies!

    1. Great game. I think we would have gotten to Grier more often if there had not been so much offensive holding by WVa. I think they were flagged four times, but I saw numerous plays in which our defensive linemen were literally tackled.

  6. Great team effort. Keeping that Black Diamond Trophy is huge! Sly had an off night. It won’t happen again. Plenty to work on but gutty performance.

  7. Who would have imagined that we could give up 592 yards of total offense … and still win? Tech showed a lot of grit against a darn good football team. I think that we were very fortunate to have pulled this one out. West Virginia should do very well this year.

    1. when you can’t walk off the field…..he had a few runs that were blunt force trauma in motion and that was great to see. Keep working hard Mr People’s!

    2. It looked awful and he looked really hurt…I fear the dreaded ACL from the way he was hit from the side!

    3. Looks like deep leg muscle bruise. I would hold him out of the next game and give Holston some carries.

      1. It could be more than that. I was out a month when I had a deep muscle bruise to the outside of my bicep and it literally bruised all the way through to the inside. They told me not to push it cuz it created calcium deposits in the muscle tissue, and it could shred my muscle. That was 30 yrs ago, so maybe it will be a week or two.

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