2023 Virginia Tech Spring Game Recap (4-15-23)

By: Joey Raymond

Headline Photo Credit: Katie Lovell-LMS Network

Things to keep in mind…

​This is just a spring game, not a full contact game in the fall where the Hokies are going full speed. The second half of the spring game is going to have a running clock. Even then, the game might just get cut off due to ACC Network regulations keeping the game at a two-hour limit. Another note is that if any of the players are even slightly ‘banged up’ or hurt, they probably are not going to be playing in this game. Most coaches don’t like to play these games anyways because they want to avoid injuries but play them to appease the fans. 

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About that QB race…

​For the record, let’s get this out the way, this will NOT be a two-hour Grant Wells versus Kyron Drones show. In this game, we will see more of the two deep quarterbacks like Pop Watson or Taj Bullock. Time will tell if Drones can beat out Wells at the number one spot but with this game essentially being a practice there is no way to truly tell how that battle is playing out right now. Drones is a redshirt sophomore coming into a new system with a new offense. It’s likely he will make a push for the top spot later in the fall but currently, it seems Wells is the main man. Hokies fans should instead get excited to see some of the younger quarterbacks show what they got in hopes to make a push for a starting spot a couple of years from now. 

First Half notes…

​*1st Quarter*

​‘Enter Sandman’ finishes up and we begin the spring game. A couple of starters are out due to injuries but as I mentioned earlier, that’s to be expected. They’ll play this game as maroon v. white, with the quarterbacks in orange as they are “no contact” in this game.

A touchback on the kickoff starts us out and the maroon team’s offense takes the field. Grant Wells is the starting quarterback and makes several really good passes, one of which goes for 19 yards en route to finishing a touchdown drive. Grant Wells finished the drive with a 10-yard read-option keeper. Kyron Drones starts the white team out at quarterback. They start slow, having to punt on a 3 and out. The maroon team goes again and is successful once again off another 19-yard pass and a 16-yard run. They take this momentum to the end zone scoring another touchdown. The Maroon team leads the White team 14-0. White teams turn again and they struggle again, going 3 and out and punting again. Bryce Duke starts off the maroon team’s drive with a 23-yard rush. The maroon team continues the drive after Wells throws to Tucker Holloway for 33 yards, then scoring shortly after on a 10-yard run from Chance Black giving them a 21 to 0 lead.

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*2nd Quarter*

​The white team finished out the last quarter with a rush to run out the clock. They start out the second quarter of play with another rush and a loss of yardage before Kyron Drones sends a 31-yard pass to Jeremiah Coney. This is the white team’s first, first down of the game. This joy is short-lived as they have to punt shortly after. Grant Wells and the maroon team get the ball and can’t make anything happen, having to punt on a 3 and out. Drones and the white team go again and on the second play of the drive throws an interception to Da’Quan Felton on the maroon team. Off of some slick running from Chance Black and some solid throws from Grant Wells the maroon team worked their way to the 25-yard line. That’s as far as they make it though as Wells gets sacked a couple of times. The maroon team does get points out of this however as John Love kicks a field goal to put the maroon team up 24 to 0. Drones and company begin their turn as the white team starts with a successful 25-yard pass. They follow that play with a 15-yard passing play and keep working to about the 20 when Drones throws an interception to Derrick Canteen. The maroon team takes over and runs a couple of plays but the time runs out on them as the half comes to an end with a score of 24 to 0, the Maroon team leading. 

Second Half Notes…

​*Third Quarter*

​We begin the third quarter with the white team and Taj Bullock in at quarterback. Bullock makes some solid passes but also makes some ‘not solid’ passes as the white team eventually makes it to fourth down and punts the football. Pop Watson comes in for the maroon team at quarterback and leads them on an electric drive where he rushed a 16-yarder and threw a stunning 39-yard pass into the end zone to give the maroon team a 31 to 0 lead. Kyron Drones comes back in for the white team and doesn’t take them anywhere as the white team goes 3 and out. Dylan Wittke comes in as quarterback for the maroon team. The maroon team goes for it on fourth down after not being able to convert on third down. They continue the drive working down to the 38-yard line. They go for it on fourth down again, this time it results in a sack and a turnover on downs. Bullock comes back in as quarterback for the white team and throws an interception to Miles Ellis on the second play of the drive. 

*Fourth Quarter*

Watson and company head back out again to begin the fourth quarter after letting the clock run out on the third. They begin in good field positions and use that to their advantage as they work into field goal range. Even though they can’t put it into the end zone they do score on a field goal bringing the lead from 34 to 0. The white team takes over as Devin Ferrell steps into the quarterback role. He overthrows a couple of passes but that doesn’t stop the white team from moving the chains off of some great running from P.J. Prioleau. Ultimately Devin Ferrell’s throw power and his throwing his receivers, cause them to get to fourth down and they convert off of a 14-yard passing play. The next set of three proves to be too much though as they set up to kick the field goal. The kicker, William Ross can’t make it and misses wide right, leaving the score at 34 to 0. The maroon team comes to play for what is likely the last drive as there is only 1:19 left on the clock in the fourth. They make a couple of rush attempts before throwing for a first. The clock runs out on a pass play, and that’ll end it. Maroon’s team wins 34 to 0.

Post-Game Thoughts… 

Let’s start with the quarterback play, Drones showed promise with a cannon of an arm but needs to work on overthrowing his targets. Yes, he threw a couple of interceptions but I chalk that up to not having enough time to throw. He was working with the second-team offensive team line. Grant Wells looked lights out today with impeccable accuracy and poise in the pocket. In my opinion, he showed why he is leading in the quarterback race. Another player I should note is Pop Watson, I liked his dual-threat ability. He also showed off a really strong arm which is something VT fans should look forward to in the future. 

Now let’s talk about the running game. The running backs looked incredible in this game. Hokies fans should be watering at the mouth for the duo of Bryce Duke and Chance Black. Yes, I know they are the third and fourth running backs on the roster but they showed real promise in today’s game. Having those guys to back up your starters is going to make the Hokies’ running game that much more dangerous. When I asked coach Pry about how he felt about the running game in the post-game press conference, he relished how well they’ve improved and how they still need to get better. He said they’ve shown a ton of promise and that excites him. 

All in all, the Hokies and their fans have a lot to be excited about. They look much better on offense, albeit it is early in the year. The offensive line looks like they can get better separation in comparison to last year. They have a schedule strength on par with last year so if they improve at all, they should be able to gather a couple more wins.