Virginia Tech 37-17 Virginia (November 30, 2024) Game Recap

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Pop Watson threw for 254 yards and a touchdown and rushed for the score to lead Virginia Tech to a 37-17 victory over rival Virginia on Saturday.

Bhayshul Tuten added 124 yards rushing and two scores for the Hokies (6-6, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference), who snapped a three-game losing streak. With the win, the Hokies were also eligible to bowl for the second year in a row.

“It suggests growth, development and resiliency,” Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry said of the upcoming bowl invitation. “More than anything, I’m just happy that this group got this win tonight. It was a hard-fought game and we played well in all three phases, we’ll have to see that. We have to be that kind of team, and we did that with a third-team quarterback.”

Virginia (5-7, 3-5) lost to Virginia Tech for the fourth straight time and 22nd time in the last 24 meetings.

With Virginia Tech’s top two quarterbacks, Kyron Drones and Collin Schlee, injured, Watson made his first career start and led the Hokies in scoring four times in the first half.

The Hokies took a 10-0 lead, scoring on their first two possessions, a 6-yard touchdown run by Tuten and a field goal by John Love. They then scored 10 points in the final two minutes of the first half on a 66-yard scoring drive from Watson to Jaylin Lane and then closed the half with another field goal from Love to take a 20-3 lead .

In the second half, Watson scored on a 5-yard run on the Hokies’ first possession. The redshirt freshman finished the game with 48 yards rushing and accounted for 302 yards of the Hokies’ 456 yards of offense.

“If you know Pop, you know he’s one of the most confident guys in the world,” Lane said. “That’s why we have the utmost confidence in him. … I had no doubt he was going to play like he did.”

“I thought he (Watson) played well,” Pry said. “He made better decisions than he did last week (against Duke). He played with his arm. He played with his feet. I thought the line did a good job protecting him. He has a knack for moving and avoiding the rush, but a few people have surrounded him. … He had a lot of support, but I was happy with the way Pop played.”

Tony Muskett, making his first start of the season, led Virginia, throwing for 178 yards and rushing for 62 yards and two touchdowns.

The Cavaliers finished the game with just 274 yards rushing and allowed five sacks.

“I didn’t have them ready to play with the right level of discipline and execution,” Virginia coach Tony Elliott said of his team. “Emotionally they were ready to play because last year we didn’t have a lot of emotions in this game. But just execution. It’s one or two pieces. One or two plays can turn the tide of the game. We didn’t have the discipline on certain plays and that’s on me. I need to get this fixed.”

souvenir

Virginia: The Cavaliers improved by two wins from last year’s record under third-year coach Tony Elliott, but finished the season with a loss in six of their last seven games and still haven’t found an answer against the rival Hokies. Seventeen of the 22 losses to Virginia Tech during this recent streak were by double digits.

Virginia Tech: The Hokies were one of the country’s biggest disappointments this season, but behind Watson they managed to secure bowl eligibility again with a win over Virginia. Virginia Tech has entered the rivalry game seven times in the last 12 seasons, needing a win to become bowl eligible – and has won all seven games.

THE BEST OF THE ACC?

Virginia Tech defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland finished the game with three of the Hokies’ five sacks and now has 16 sacks, with 19 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles. Pry said after the game that Powell-Ryland was worthy of being named ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

“You’d have to show me the other guys (in competition),” Pry said. “Put it on paper. You talk about impacting games, he’s done that all year against good people. There’s no better quarterback in our league, and that’s a pretty important trait.”

DECISION FOR MUSQUETTE

Elliott said he and the coaching staff decided earlier this week to start Muskett in place of Anthony Colandrea. Muskett, a starter for parts of last season, completed 19 of 36 but threw two interceptions.

“Looking at the last four or five weeks, I just felt like as head coach I needed to do something to help the offense by giving us a little bit of a boost,” Elliott said. “I felt it was best to give Tony the chance.

“I thought he left everything on the field. He scrapped. He ran the ball and converted some first downs for us. I think he wants the two throws back, but with the exception of the two interceptions, I thought he fought and put his body on the line. He gave us everything he had.”

NEXT

Virginia: The Cavaliers’ season is over.

Virginia Tech: The Hokies await their bowl opponent.

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