Game Recap: Virginia Tech vs. Old Dominion (9-14-24)

By: Joey Raymond

Headline Photo Credit: Arturo Jones-LMS Network

Virginia Tech came out strong and never looked back in their 37-17 win over Old Dominion. After struggling with slow starts earlier in the season, the Hokies flipped the script, showing up with energy on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Kyron Drones and running back Bayshul Tuten led the charge, helping the team dominate from the get-go. While Old Dominion made a brief push, the Hokies’ consistent offense and key defensive plays sealed the deal, keeping them in control from start to finish. Let’s get into how the Hokies pulled out the big win by breaking it down by quarter.

First Quarter

Virginia Tech opened the game on offense, setting a strong tone from the outset—a welcome change from their previous struggles. On their first drive, the Hokies leaned heavily on Bayshul Tuten’s rushing attack, culminating in a beautifully executed play-action pass from Kyron Drones to Jaylin Lane. Lane found himself wide open in the end zone for a touchdown, giving the Hokies an early 7-0 lead.

Old Dominion’s offense couldn’t find its rhythm early, going three-and-out on their first possession. On the Hokies’ next drive, chaos nearly unfolded as Drones fumbled the ball, but he recovered and scrambled, finding Jaylin Lane again for a 46-yard gain. A late hit by ODU added another 15 yards to the play, setting the Hokies up in excellent field position. Soon after, Tuten brought the ball to the 1-yard line, and Drones capped the drive with a “tush push” touchdown, extending the lead to 14-0.

ODU’s next possession ended in another three-and-out. Virginia Tech drove down to ODU’s 27-yard line but was stopped by the Monarchs’ defense on a critical fourth-down play, forcing a turnover on downs and giving the ball back to Old Dominion.

Second Quarter

Old Dominion opened the second quarter with some momentum, but their offense continued to sputter, going three-and-out again. Virginia Tech matched them, going three-and-out on their next drive, as both teams traded punts. When ODU regained possession, quarterback Quinn Henicle found a gap in the Hokies’ defense and broke free for an electrifying 65-yard touchdown run, cutting Virginia Tech’s lead to 14-7.
The Hokies looked to respond with a methodical, clock-eating drive, advancing to the Monarchs’ 16-yard line. However, Old Dominion’s defense once again stepped up, forcing a John Love field goal attempt, which he missed, keeping the score at 14-7. Old Dominion took advantage of the momentum shift with a big 48-yard run from former Hokie Bryce Duke. Although the Monarchs couldn’t find the end zone, they settled for a field goal, tightening the game at 14-10.

The remainder of the half saw both teams exchanging punts, with ODU getting the final possession. However, time expired before the Monarchs could capitalize, sending the game into halftime with the Hokies holding a narrow 14-10 lead.

Third Quarter

Old Dominion started the third quarter with the ball but was quickly forced to punt after another three-and-out. Virginia Tech took advantage, and on the second play of their drive, Kyron Drones ripped off an impressive 53-yard run, showcasing his physicality and setting the Hokies up in the red zone. Although the drive stalled, John Love converted a field goal to extend the lead to 17-10. On Old Dominion’s next possession, Antwon Powell-Ryland made a pivotal play, forcing a fumble and recovering it himself. The Hokies couldn’t move the ball much on the ensuing drive, but they were in field goal range, and Love delivered again, pushing the score to 20-10.

Old Dominion managed to get a first down on their following drive but was forced to punt shortly after. Virginia Tech’s next possession took a turn when Drones threw an interception to ODU’s Angelo Rankin, giving the Monarchs another chance. However, ODU couldn’t capitalize on the turnover, going three-and-out immediately. Virginia Tech responded with a solid seven-play drive that moved the ball into the red zone before the clock ran out on the quarter. Heading into the final 15 minutes, the Hokies held a 20-10 lead.

Fourth Quarter

The Hokies wasted no time striking early in the fourth quarter. On the very first play, Bayshul Tuten bulldozed through defenders for a tough touchdown run, stretching Virginia Tech’s lead to 27-10.
Old Dominion started their next drive with promise, picking up two quick first downs. However, freshman quarterback Quinn Henicle threw an interception to Mansoor Delane, halting their momentum and giving Virginia Tech the ball at midfield. The Hokies, relying on running back Malachi Thomas, methodically drove downfield. The drive was capped off by another explosive run from Tuten, who broke loose for a 22-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 34-10.

ODU’s next drive saw them stall after seven plays, resulting in a punt that gave Virginia Tech an excellent field position near midfield. Although the Hokies struggled to gain yardage, the favorable field position allowed them to squeeze out another field goal from John Love, pushing the score to 37-10.
In their final drive of the game, Old Dominion played for pride. Bryce Duke’s 32-yard run put the Monarchs in a strong position, and six plays later, a well-placed pass to Tariq Sims resulted in a touchdown, narrowing the score to 37-17. Virginia Tech then took control of the clock, running it down to secure their dominant victory over Old Dominion.

Final Thoughts & What’s Next

The Hokies looked like the better team on Saturday, as expected. But with Virginia Tech, simply playing up to expectations isn’t always guaranteed. Historically, trips to Norfolk haven’t been easy. On the bright side, this game marked the first time this season that Tyler Bowen looked like a solid play-caller. Defensively, there were some shaky moments, especially in the first half and even during mop-up time when they allowed that final touchdown.

Moving forward, the Hokies will need to reset their focus as they prepare for next week’s sold-out home game against Rutgers. They’ve already dropped a game this season to another Power 4 team, and with Rutgers coming in strong after two blowout wins, this could be a tricky matchup. If Tech isn’t careful, we might see them live up to their “Chokies” nickname. Rutgers is well-coached, and Virginia Tech cannot afford to take them lightly.
As for Old Dominion, they played tough despite the loss, especially considering they’re working with their third-string quarterback. Facing a defensive line like Tech’s was no easy task—it’s likely the best they’ve faced all season. Next week, they’ll head to Kentucky to take on Bowling Green, a team that gave No. 8 Penn State a real fight. That’ll be another tough challenge for the Monarchs, and it’ll be interesting to see how they handle it.