Hokies know 'what good football looks like' entering open week
STANFORD, Calif. — Virginia Tech couldn't have asked for a better time to reach the first of its two open weeks this season. A roster littered with players dealing with nagging injuries will have extra time to recover and potentially be ready to go on Oct. 17 at home against Boston College.
More importantly, the open week comes as the Hokies have found their footing. They are beginning to deliver the types of performances many expected to see throughout the opening six weeks. The team is beginning to realize its potential. Tech followed up one of its most complete performances in a heartbreaking loss at then-No. 7 Miami with a dominating victory Saturday afternoon at Stanford.
The 31-7 win over the Cardinal served as the ideal elixir to get over the taste of the loss to the Hurricanes and head into the open week with momentum.
"I feel like it comes at no better time. We now are not confused on what good football looks like for the Hokies, and that's huge for us," defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles said. "We've seen what good football can do for us as a team. ... It's coming at no better time than going into our third game in ACC play."
The Hokies (3-3, 1-1 ACC) have put together two consecutive complete performances against league competition. They turned initial defensive stands (lost fumble by Miami and missed field goal by Stanford) into touchdowns on the subsequent offensive possessions for early 7-0 advantages.
It marked the second time in Brent Pry's tenure that Tech scored on its first offensive possession in back-to-back games (Marshall and Pittsburgh last season).
"Going into next week, though, I think we'll build off this," Star linebacker Kaleb Spencer said. "There's still stuff out there we should've done better, but we'll clean that stuff up next week and be ready for Boston College."
Tech wasn't able to hold off Miami's offensive firepower two Fridays ago. The Hokies made sure Stanford never had an opportunity to get back into Saturday's contest.
The Cardinal had four drives into Tech territory. Those trips ended with a missed field goal, lost fumble, punt and their lone touchdown.
"We've been working tremendously hard. I think today ending up in the win column, holding them to seven points, as a coach, it's really good to see the kids just see the fruits of their labor," defensive coordinator Chris Marve said. "That's what it's all about, because they have worked, they have played extremely hard. You cut on the tape, these kids, they're flying around, they're playing hard for their brothers, they're trying to do what we're coaching them to do. So for them today to put it all together and have an outfit like this on the West Coast, really proud of them."
Tech's defense has been particularly active since the second half of the nonconference finale against Rutgers. The Hokies have recorded six of their nine takeaways and 11 of their 21 sacks over the last three weeks.
Tech is tied for second in sacks and tied for 26th in takeaways in the national standings.
"That's who we need to be," Pry said. "We have to be an aggressive defense that can cause some mayhem. That's too important with the style of defense we want to play."
The offense delivered complementary play against Miami and Stanford. Tech tallied multiple rushing and passing touchdowns in both contests.
The victory over the Cardinal featured an efficient performance from quarterback Kyron Drones. He threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-19 passing and added a 1-yard rushing touchdown.
It was his first time throwing for more than 200 yards since a career-high 322-yard performance in the opener at Vanderbilt.
"I've really been focused on being me. In the beginning, I felt like I was trying to be somebody I wasn't. Just trying to go out there and force plays," Drones said. "Now I'm just letting the game come to me. That's what I've been doing the last two weeks, just letting the ball rip, seeing what I see, and then not overthinking it. Just going out there and just playing."
Tech's four nonconference contests were defined by slow starts and uneven play.
The Hokies scored three first-half offensive touchdowns in those games; faced halftime deficits in losses to Vanderbilt and Rutgers; and held halftime leads of three and four points in wins over Marshall and Old Dominion, respectively.
The last two contests have shown what Tech is capable of when it starts fast. The offense is able to deliver a balanced offensive attack behind Drones and Bhayshul Tuten, and the defense is able to be aggressive with its play calls.
"I think we're definitely at a high. We're going to still continue to work each and every day," Tuten said of the team's momentum heading into the open week. "We just get more days of preparation, but I think we're definitely going in with a positive mindset and a great work ethic."
Tuten has dealt with a left-knee injury since the fourth quarter of the season's second game against Marshall. He will have the open week to rest the knee.
Other players like wide receiver Ali Jennings, linebackers Keli Lawson and Jayden McDonald and offensive lineman Layth Ghannam will have time to recover from their various ailments.
Jennings has 26 receiving yards over the last five weeks, while Lawson's snaps have disappeared as he deals with nagging injuries.
"We need to get well. We've got some guys that just can't quite get over the hump in a week's time," Pry said. "A couple extra days will be really good for us that way. We'll get on the road and do a little recruiting at the end of the week.
"The other thing that happens is we get bonus work on Boston College, but we also get our young guys a bunch of scrimmage work," he continued. "Our practices starting Monday will incorporate both — BC preparation and young guys scrimmages."
Damien Sordelett (540) 981-312 4
ACC FOOTBALL
Boston College at Va. Tech
Oct. 17, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
