Virginia Tech Beats Pitt In All Phases In 38-21 Victory

By: David Cunningham | Managing Editor

Kyron Drones and Virginia Tech won their ACC opener on Saturday night vs. Pitt. (Ivan Morozov)

Virginia Tech played its most complete game of the season on Saturday night in its 38-21 victory over Pitt.

The Hokies (2-3, 1-0 ACC) struck early on a 54-yard pass from Kyron Drones to Da’Quan Felton, their third connection of the season. The Panthers (1-4, 0-1 ACC) bounced back on their second drive when Phil Jurkovec found Bub Means on a 75-yard score, but few of their attacks were successful in Lane Stadium.

Tech wasn’t perfect, but it dominated Pitt in almost every phase of the game. It tallied 427 yards of total offense — 228 through the air, 199 on the ground — while the defense held the Panthers to 273 yards and just nine first downs.

Drones had a great outing, accounting for five touchdowns — the sixth Tech player to do so since 2000, joining the likes of Lee Suggs, Bryan Randall, Logan Thomas, Jerod Evans and Josh Jackson. Three of those touchdowns were passing as he spread it around to Felton, Bhayshul Tuten and Jaylin Lane.

Tech took a 14-7 lead after Drones ran it in from the one-yard line at the start of the second quarter, and a 12-yard screen from Tuten made it a two-score game at the break.

The Hokies extended their lead to 28-7 in the third quarter on a 10-yard keeper from Drones, but it was short-lived. Pitt responded on the next play from scrimmage, a 61-yard pass-and-catch from Jurkovec and C’Bo Flemister.

Brent Pry and Virginia Tech snapped a nine-game losing streak against Power 5 opponents. (Ivan Morozov)

Things got dicey less than 30 seconds later when Drones fumbled, which Braylan Lovelace returned four yards to the end zone, cutting Tech’s lead to 28-21. But the Hokies were composed and rallied.

Late in the third quarter, Drones found Lane on second-and-11, and the Middle Tennessee transfer burst up the seam and took it 53 yards for a touchdown.

From there, Tech’s defense came up clutch — it forced another punt, Pitt’s sixth of the night — and the offense proceeded to have a nine-minute drive that ate most of the clock in the fourth quarter. That possession culminated in a 32-yard field goal from John Love.

Tech held Pitt to 38 rushing yards, a large improvement after allowing 200-plus at Rutgers and Marshall the last two weeks.

Up next for the Hokies is a meeting with No. 5 Florida State in Tallahassee on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN).

Box Score: Virginia Tech 38, Pitt 21

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  2. Beating pitt is sooo satisfying!

    I feel Pitt filled the void when VT fell off. They are a team we have to beat.

  3. Nice summary, David! We watched the game with your parents. It was a nice evening and a nice victory, though VT stressed us out in the 3rd Q. I love how Coach settled Drones after his fumble and kept them poised and focused! VT responded to the pressure well!!

  4. How is Kendricks not in the box score when he sacked (at least a 1/2) Jurkevic on the APR fumble recovery…c’mon official scorer!

  5. I think it is time to cut our offensive coordinator some slack. That was a very well called game. The toss sweeps, reverses, screens, etc. were nice wrinkles that kept Pitt off balance, and we were aggressive in the play calling on 4th down. Also, thanks for putting our QB under center on 4th and one.

    1. It was his best effort to date. But one game does not make a good OC.

      Let’s hope it continues

      1. Well-conceived game plan all around. Excellent play cailling by Bowen, great poise by Drones.

  6. I took my grand daughter to her first VT game – along with her best friend. They loved EVERYTHING about the game – from the pre-game flyovers to the band AND jumped and sang Enter Sandman. They cheered at all the right times. And – loved how loud the crowd was. Plus – they didn’t care that VT had only won one game – just like the rest of us who were there. It was a perfect night for football.

    Nice right up.too, David.

    P.S. David, is your sister giving these student kickers lessons?

    3. “Getting back to mediocrity never felt so good!”

      Yeah – we could be cheering losses as Florida – Nebraska – or LSU fans – as their super coaches fall flat again.

  9. Happy for Tuten. May have been 2nd guessing his decision to come here with this offensive line play. Finally had a chance to accumulate some stats and show what he can do.

  10. “Kyron Drones had a great outing, accounting for five touchdowns — the sixth Tech player to do so since 2000, joining the likes of Lee Suggs, Bryan Randall, Logan Thomas, Jerod Evans and Josh Jackson.”

    I thought I heard ACCN say it hadn’t been done in many decades, but I assume you researched it. That was a head-scratcher stat for me when they said it.

    Great win, VT BABY!!!

    2. I think the guys from ACCN said it was the first time an ACC QB had thrown for 3 passes and ran for 2, but I find that hard to believe. Surely Vick did it at least once?

  11. 😤 I don’t care what their record is this year. They’ve won three of the last four matchups.

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