Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - After two weeks away from home, Virginia Tech is back in Lane Stadium and the Hokies lead the Yellow Jackets 20-13 heading into the half.
Virginia Tech delivered in all three aspects of the game in the opening half, putting together the complementary style of football that head coach Brent Pry has been preaching. The Hokies put up 184 yards of total offense, 117 through the air and 67 on the ground. On defense, the Lunch Pail Defense has compiled four TFLs, two sacks, and three pass-breakups. Special teams broke records today, with their 141 punt return yards being the most in one half in program history since at least 1987. Heading into this game, Virginia Tech only had 33 punt return yards on the season.
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"It's been a point of emphasis all week that we have to be able to battle back when other teams make plays," said Pry during his halftime TV interview. "We had the turnover, we were able to hold them to three [points] there. The offense got some momentum going. You have to play complementary football and we're doing a better job of that."
The Yellow Jackets got out of the gates quickly, scoring twice in the first quarter to put them up 10-0.
Five minutes into the second half, the Hokies got on the board thanks to a three-yard quarterback keeper by Grant Wells to make it 10-7. He has now scored a rushing touchdown in three straight games, and this was his sixth rushing score of the season. The touchdown was set up by a 26-yard toe-tapping grab by wide receiver Kaleb Smith just a play earlier.
Two drives later, running back Keshawn King punched in a one-yard run to put Virginia Tech up 13-10.
With just over a minute left in the half, the Hokies extended their lead to 20-10 after Tucker Holloway took a punt return 90-yards to the house. Holloway's 141 punt return yards is the third most in a game in school history.
Georgia Tech drove down the field in the final seconds of the half and kicked a 27-yard field goal to make it 20-13 heading into the break.