The Maroon team beat the Orange team 21-14 in Virginia Tech football’s annual spring game on Saturday in Lane Stadium.
Behind quarterback Kyron Drones, the Maroon team got on the board first. After Orange team quarterback Pop Watson threw an interception — a pass tipped by Keyshawn Burgos and caught by Kemari Copeland — P.J. Prioleau’s 31-yard rushing score down the near sideline on a draw play kicked things off.
Drones, who played 18 snaps across four series, completed 6 of 10 passes for 122 yards and threw his first of two touchdowns to tight end Ja’Ricous Hairston from 3 yards out with 3:44 remaining in the first.
Watson fumbled on the next possession, giving the ball back to the Maroon team, and Prioleau caught a pass from Drones and took it 22 yards to the house on the second play of the drive. After one quarter, it was 21-0.
Burgos was the defensive standout for the Maroon team. He had three consecutive “sacks” on Watson, tipped the pass that led to the aforementioned interception and recovered a fumble by Watson on a bobbled exchange. He accounted for three of his squad’s six sacks. Jason Abbey had two of the other three, and he and James Jennette combined for five TFLs.
The Orange team rallied back, however. After running back Tyler Mason fumbled with 8:04 left in the second quarter for the Maroon team, Watson led a nine-play, 45-yard charge that culminated in his 6-yard rushing touchdown.
The lone scoring drive in the second half came from the Orange team. On the second play of the fourth quarter, running back Tralon Mitchell punched it in from two yards out to cap off a six-play, 66-yard drive. Quarterback Ben Locklear set up that opportunity with a 38-yard pass to Chance Fitzgerald.
With top running back options Bhayshul Tuten and Malachi Thomas receiving limited work, others shined. Jeremiah Coney had 11 carries for 81 yards, including a long of 33 yards. Meanwhile, Prioleau had 62 yards on six attempts and Mason had 33 yards on eight rushes.
The backs were featured in the receiving game, too. Seven of the 31 completions went to running backs, including two each to Prioleau (29 yards) and Mitchell (17 yards). While Thomas only had three carries, he had the day’s longest play from scrimmage: a 66-yard screen from Drones in the first quarter.
At halftime, Virginia Tech handed out its spring awards. Both sides of the ball had a winner for each accolade, and there was a special teams MVP. Here is a list:
- Most Improved: CB Mansoor Delane, WR Ayden Greene
- MVP: QB Kyron Drones, DT Aeneas Peebles, LB Jaden Keller (special teams)
- Leadership: DT Josh Fuga, C Kaden Moore
- Ultimate Teammate: CB Miles Ellis, RB P.J. Prioleau
Box Score: Maroon 21, Orange 14
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Not so bold prediction…Prioleau will turn out to be our version of Kevin Concepcion.
Anyone know if the game will be on ACCN as a rerun?
Worst performance wa spring game 1998 with Michael Vick
What was the crowd like? Did the team look crisp or sloppy? Thanks
Can never tell if O or D are good, or are bad, resp., for the “big” plays. Good to see the O&M on the field. Many new names to learn. Thanks