Notable numbers versus Maryland, season records

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech football came away with some new highs in statistical categories for some underclassmen after its 54-10 setback against Maryland this past Wednesday at Yankee Stadium in the Pinstripe Bowl, while some new records were set this season. You can view those tidbits below.

STATS WITH SALAS

Play ball!
The Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium was just the third time the Hokies have played in a true Major League Baseball stadium. The first was against Air Force in the 2002 Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl played in Pacific Bell Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. The following season, the Hokies played in the 2003 Insight Bowl at the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix. 

First timers
Quarterback Tahj Bullock made his first appearance in a game going 2-for-4 for 27 yards passing and rushing for 14 yards. His first pass went 21 yards to Luke Bussel, who had made his first career reception. Earlier in the game, punter Peter Moore tucked the ball and scrambled for eight yards and a first down. The run on 4th and 4 was Moore's first rush of his career. Two plays later, Jaden Payoute was at the end of a 42-yard pass from Connor Blumrick for his first career reception.

Black excels in return game
Chance Black set career marks in kick returns (6), kick return yards (146) and longest kick return yardage (37). His 146 kick return yards were the most in a game since Khalil Herbert's 150 yards against Duke in 2020. Black also set a new Virginia Tech bowl record breaking Mike Imoh's 142 kick return yards against California in the 2003 Insight Bowl.

End of the season potpourri
With the season ending, here's a look at some records set this year:

Tré Turner finished his career (2018-2021) with 135 catches, placing him fifth on the all-time career receptions list, as well as 2,292 receiving yards, which is good for fifth in school history, too.

Freshman All-American Peter Moore finished the season with a 44.5 punting average, the highest mark by a freshman in school history. The 44.5-yard average is also good for second place all-time by a team. That record is held by the 2019 team with an average of 46.2.

Scorigami
The 54-10 final score was the seventh scorigami of the season. This was the 10th time the Hokies had seven scorigamis in a season. The last time Tech had seven scorigamis in a season was in 2003. The most scorigamis in a season is nine, which has happened twice with the most recent in 1997. Scorigami is the art of building final scores that have never happened before. More on scorigami.

Uniform Tracker
The Hokies wore maroon helmets, maroon jerseys and white pants for the fourth time this season. They finished 2-2 in this combination for the year.