I’m not sure I know how to feel about Virginia Tech’s 31-7 win over Stanford today.
I’m not sure anyone does. It’s not the kind of game Hokie fans are used to.
In a season where each game has seemed to provoke an emotional response akin to being happy, being angry or being disappointed, today’s game was just your garden variety, vanilla, take control of the game and wait until the clock has expired victory.
After taking a 14-0 lead, there was no point from then on it felt like the Hokies weren’t going to win the game. It wasn’t a perfect game by any means, as there were some notable mistakes. But none of them led to a Stanford score, the defense had a few rubber band moments, and aside from a Micah Ford 19-yard pass to Elic Ayomanor with one minute left in the third period, it was all Hokies.
On a brutally hot day in Palo Alto, a sparsely filled Stanford Stadium saw the Hokies go right down the field and score on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Kyron Drones. After treading water until midway through the second period, the Hokies went 88 yards in 13 plays and scored on a 7 yard run by Bhayshul Tuten to make it 14-0.
From there the game seemed over.
Because so few people were there (they listed the attendance at 36,277, which seemed about 20,000 more than what you could see on TV, and half of them were Hokies) the atmosphere was as exciting as going back to work on Monday. Both teams were workmanlike in their approach, which gave the game a feel of a scrimmage with the outcome already predetermined.
At halftime, when ACC Network broadcasters such as former Hokie Eddie Royal and former Miami Coach Mark Richt were asked what they thought about the first half, they both said they found it boring. The pace stayed about the same in the second half with the Hokies scoring two more TDs on a 55-yard Drones TD pass to Da’Quan Felton and a 2-yard by Drones, then John Love drilled a 46-yard field goal to end the game.
The ironic thing about the game was this is how it used to be at one time for Hokie football. Virginia Tech would take the field, take control, everyone would do their job and it was a nice, calm, fun afternoon. This was no 3-hour stomach ache. That whipping boy of every Hokie fan – the offensive line – had its moments but for the most part gave Drones plenty of time to throw. He was only sacked one time.
The passing game didn’t generate any Heisman Trophy-type numbers, but Drones went 14 of 19 for 201 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. The Hokies had no fumbles either, going an entire game with no turnovers and only 6 penalties for 45 yards. Of the 14 completions, every single one went to a wide receiver vs. the sea of dump-downs to running backs which at times seem to be a staple of the offense.
The running game was the same, with Tuten leading all runners with a good but not great 79 yards on 21 carries. But on the second touchdown that made it 14-0, the Hokies seemed to show they’re learned something on short-yardage situations. They had driven to the Stanford 7 yard line with 2:18 left in the half, and were facing a 3rd and 1. As has been the case in similar situations earlier in the season, Drones took it up the middle and got stuffed for no gain.
After a break for the 2-minute warning, the Hokies came back and tried what they have needed to be doing more of. Instead of Drones carrying, the gave it to a running back and Tuten got hit right at about the same place Drones did when stopped on a previous play. But this time after first contact, Tuten put his shoulder down, kept running and bulled over the defensive player for not only the first down, but carried him into the end zone for a touchdown.
That’s been one of my issues with the offense this season. When you’re in a situation where you need a yard, your primary option should be a running back, as Drones, being a QB, tends to go down after the first hard hit. Tuten, conversely, can take a direct hit and keep on running for the tough yards. Do it enough that defense focuses on it like defenses did with a player like the NFL’s John Riggins, and it opens up plays where Drones can use his speed to get into the end zone.
That play illustrated this, so on a 3rd and goal late in the game where the Stanford defense was looking for Tuten to get the ball, Drones realized this, rolled to his right, outran the defense and scored untouched. Two touchdowns, your RB gets to do his job, and the QB doesn’t risk injury.
The win evens Virginia Tech’s record at 3-3 and 1-1 in the ACC. But more importantly, they did it without a slow start, the played like they were just doing their jobs, they didn’t make many mistakes, and they made a game they flew across the country to play look routine.
There’s a commercial for a bank here in Northern Virginia that proclaims their services are “brilliantly boring.” Their message is that they may not be flashy, but are steady, reliable and dependable, and that’s what you probably want in a bank.
That’s not a bad description of the Hokies today. Not flashy, but steady, reliable and dependable at all positions. Boring. But brilliantly boring.
After a season that’s been a weekly emotional roller coaster, brilliantly boring is something all of us probably want for a change in a football team.
Today the Hokies delivered it. And in a perfect world, it would be great if they were this way every week.
It will just take some getting used to 😊
