Hokie ClubHeading into their second meeting in as many years, the Hokies and Thundering Herd each look to jumpstart their 2024 campaign when they meet inside Lane Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. E.T., with the game set to air on CW Sports.
Defending Home Turf
It’s no secret that playing within the confines of Lane Stadium has always been a massive advantage for Virginia Tech – and the meetings with Marshall have been no exception.
The Hokies find themselves 7-0 all-time in Blacksburg against the Thundering Herd, with only two of those games decided by less than three scores. The two sides first met in 1913, a 47-0 rout of the Herd that kicked off the 14-game set.
Tech last hosted Marshall in 2018, a game in which the Hokies threw for over 300 yards in a 41-20 win, leading the team to its sixth victory of the season and to bowl eligibility for a 25th straight year.
On top of that, Tech hasn’t lost a home opener since 2015 and is 18-2 in the first home game of the year since joining the ACC in 2004.
Seeing Double
New seasons always bring new challenges, there’s no doubt about that. For Tech in its second game of the year, the Hokies are going to have to prepare for two different quarterbacks.
In all actuality, Marshall played three separate signal-callers in last week’s 45-3 win over Stony Brook, but favor a two-quarterback system with North Texas transfer Stone Earle and former Tulsa Golden Hurricane Braylon Braxton.
Earle was the starter in the team’s 42-point victory over the Seawolves, finishing the day 10-for-16 with 97 yards and two touchdowns in the air. He also averaged nearly seven yards a carry, rushing the ball eight times for 55 yards.
Braxton also put his stamp on the contest using his arm. The junior completed seven of his 11 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns that afternoon, showcasing the ability for both to be effective while trading off opportunities to get the ball.
Ready To Rumble
Though cliche, it goes without saying when it comes to the Hokies needing to get off to a fast start on Saturday afternoon. Interestingly enough, Tech is 9-4 when it scores first under third-year head coach Brent Pry.
To add on, the Hokies are 6-0 in the Pry era when scoring first at home, showcasing a key ingredient to the team’s success when looking back over the past two seasons.
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