Hokie ClubPITTSBURGH – Following its game Saturday at Pitt, Virginia Tech football met with the media for a press conference. Read below for what head coach Brent Pry, quarterback Grant Wells and linebacker Keonta Jenkins had to say.
Head coach Brent Pry
Opening statement:
"Obviously, disappointed in the outcome. I'd start off by saying that's the closest we've come to playing complementary football, which is what we hope to do. Giving us a chance to win a game on the road against a good ACC opponent. We're in it deep into the fourth quarter, we've got opportunities. There was ebbs and flows to the game, momentum kept shifting. We hung in there, we battled, we clawed back in it. We didn't do enough things well enough to win the game in the end. Certainly, some good things, but against a good football team at their place, we have to play better. We have to coach better and we have to play better."
On the offense's performance:
"I think against a good defense, we played our best game offensively. I really think that. I think Malachi [Thomas], we have to continue to get him greased up. I think he had 15 carries and looked pretty good, shaking off some rust. Grant [Wells] played his most confident game. Obviously, Kaleb [Smith], you can't ask him to do anything more. I hate it for him, the fumble. His ball security is always good. He took a heck of a hit. I want to make sure we're running to that ball like we need to be if we have a chance to cover it up and help him there. It was good to see us move the ball and compete and keep us in the game. That needed to happen, and I think that's a close look at who we can be offensively."
Quarterback Grant Wells
On the return of Malachi Thomas:
"He's a spark in the whole offense. I think everybody knows how talented of a running back he is, and I think he showed that today. I think his confidence is only going to rise from today. He's definitely a joy to have back in the offense."
On having Da'Wain Lofton as another talented target in the passing game:
"He's just as reliable as anybody, and he needs to be. When Kaleb [Smith] is having a good game, you're not going to win many games with just one receiver, and we have the luxury of having many reliable guys in the wideout position. Jadan Blue had a really good game, and I think the confidence in that entire room is pretty high right now, which is good."
Linebacker Keonta Jenkins
On his interception:
"That was my first interception. I'm very proud of myself and my improvement, and just making a play. I'm disappointed that I left plays out there. I know there are more plays to be made, just running to the ball and having that extra hustle can make a game-changing play and put our offense in position to score."
On the blocked punt that was recovered for a touchdown:
"That was big. We had just watched a documentary on 'Beamer Ball' and we knew what we needed to do in order to have a greater chance of winning the game. P.J. [Prioleau] plays hard, practices hard and it shows up in practice. So, for him to come into the game and make that play, I was excited for him."