Hokies Show A Level Of Heart & Resilience, Win In Double Overtime (10-25-25)
By: Joey Raymond
Headline Photo Credit: Katie Raymond-LMS Network
Blacksburg, VA —It’s a chilly fall night in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and nestled in the New River Valley is a place bubbling with energy as the Hokies welcome in the California Golden Bears — one of the newest Pacific Coast additions to the ACC. Tonight isn’t just another game in Blacksburg; it’s a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Hokies’ iconic “Enter Sandman” entrance.
This matchup also feels like a prime opportunity for interim head coach Phillip Montgomery and company to grab a statement win. Yes, the Bears enter at 5–2, while the Hokies sit at 2–5, but records don’t always tell the story. What matters is what happens once toe meets leather — and with the Hokies coming in as five-point favorites, Lane Stadium just might witness a little magic under the lights.
First Quarter
Virginia Tech won the toss and deferred, and the defense came out swinging. The Hokies opened with a huge sack for a 14-yard loss and forced an early punt, setting the offense up near midfield. Two plays later, Kyron Drones found Ayden Greene for a highlight-reel 27-yard touchdown grab to give Tech a quick 7–0 lead and ignite the Lane Stadium crowd. The energy was exactly what the Hokies needed after the bye week.
The Hokies stayed in rhythm on their next drive thanks to tough runs from Terion Stewart and Marcellous Hawkins. Though the drive stalled out, John Love drilled a 46-yard field goal to make it 10–0. Cal finally showed life on their third possession, aided by a couple of Hokie penalties that pushed them into scoring range. The Bears couldn’t cash in for six, but a 43-yard field goal from Chase Meyer put them on the board and briefly quieted the home fans.
Virginia Tech’s offense cooled off late in the quarter, and a quick three-and-out gave Cal prime field position near midfield. The Bears capitalized with a big 38-yard completion and a 10-yard rush, setting them up at the 3-yard line as the first quarter came to a close. The Hokies led 10–3, but Cal was knocking on the door to start the second.
Second Quarter
Cal wasted no time opening the second, punching in a one-yard touchdown to tie the game 10–10 and completely silencing Lane Stadium. The early fireworks from the Hokies faded fast as the student section began to thin out. Virginia Tech’s next drive went nowhere — a short pass, a pair of negative plays, and a punt later, Cal was right back in business near midfield. The Bears struck again with a 38-yard completion to set up shop inside the red zone. Though the Hokie defense stiffened, kicker Chase Meyer stayed perfect, hitting a 34-yarder to give Cal its first lead at 13–10.
Things unraveled quickly from there. Cameron Seldon’s decision to step out at the one-yard line on the kickoff summed up the Hokies’ season in a single play. A few bright spots — like Marcellous Hawkins fighting for tough yards and converting a key third down — couldn’t overcome the inconsistency. Virginia Tech’s offense stalled again, and disaster struck when Cal broke through and blocked the ensuing punt, setting up their offense at the Hokie 21. The Bears capitalized on the short field, eventually converting a fourth-and-two before punching it in for another touchdown to extend their lead to 20–10.
Now trailing by ten and with under two minutes left in the half, the Hokies tried to build something before the break. A quick first down brought a flicker of hope, but a sack on second down pushed them deep behind the sticks. Rather than risk a turnover, Tech ran out the final seconds and jogged to the locker room down 20–10, staring at 19 unanswered points from Cal and a mountain of missed opportunities.
Third Quarter
The Hokies opened the second half from their own 25, looking to find some rhythm offensively. A shaky start through the air quickly gave way to a more effective ground attack, as Virginia Tech began stringing together first downs behind physical runs. On fourth-and-one, Kyron Drones powered ahead to keep the drive alive, and moments later he appeared to hit Isiah Spencer for a stunning 42-yard touchdown down the middle. But after review, the call was overturned — a decision that left the Lane Stadium crowd furious. The drive stalled, but John Love stayed automatic, drilling a 52-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 20–13.
Cal’s next possession got off to a promising start with a quick first down, but chaos soon followed. A botched snap and intentional grounding penalty buried the Bears in a third-and-long, forcing a punt after an incomplete pass. The Hokies nearly flipped the field with a great return, but yet another questionable call — an illegal blindside block — wiped it out and pinned them deep. It didn’t matter for long. A few plays later, Marcellous Hawkins ripped off a 34-yard run, and Drones followed with a 44-yard strike to Takye Heath for the touchdown. After the extra point, Lane Stadium erupted as the Hokies tied it up 20–20.
The defense followed suit, forcing Cal into a tough third down before dialing up a massive sack to halt the drive. The Hokies carried that momentum right back onto offense, where a late hit on Drones extended the series and a 33-yard run from the quarterback himself brought Tech deep into Cal territory. As the third quarter came to a close, the Hokies had all the momentum and the ball at the Bears’ 25-yard line, setting the stage for a dramatic finish in Blacksburg.
Fourth Quarter
The Hokies opened the fourth with a costly mistake as Kyron Drones forced a throw into double coverage, resulting in a Cal interception in the end zone. The Bears took over at the 25, but chaos soon followed on both sides — a mix of penalties, fumbles, and messy snaps. Cal eventually punted it back, giving Virginia Tech new life. Starting from their own 35, the Hokies leaned on the ground game again, with Marcellous Hawkins ripping off a 24-yard run to spark the drive. A few clutch third-down conversions kept it alive before Drones capped it off himself, rumbling 14 yards into the end zone to give Tech a 27–20 lead and ignite Lane Stadium once more.
But the question lingered — could the defense hold? Cal’s answer came quickly. The Bears converted yet another third-and-long, this time a 34-yard strike, and marched methodically downfield through the air. Just when it seemed the Hokies had them stopped, a controversial roughing the passer call extended the drive. Phillip Montgomery was livid on the sideline, and after the dust settled, Cal punched it in to tie the game at 27–27 with just over two minutes remaining.
With the ball back and the game on the line, Drones did what he could, ripping off a 28-yard run to push the Hokies into striking distance. Facing third-and-long, the drive stalled, setting up John Love for a 45-yard field goal — but in a stunning moment, the reliable kicker missed. Cal seized the chance, moving the ball into field goal range in the final seconds. With six seconds left, Meyer lined up for a potential game-winner from 49 yards out — and missed it wide! Lane Stadium erupted as the Hokies took a knee to send this thriller into overtime, tied at 27–27.
Overtime
Cal opened the first overtime with the ball after Virginia Tech elected to play defense, and the Bears wasted no time. On the very first play, they struck for a 25-yard touchdown to take a 34–27 lead and quiet the crowd. The Hokies answered with composure. Marcellous Hawkins picked up eight tough yards on first down, and Kyron Drones followed it up with a 17-yard scramble into the end zone to tie the game at 34–34 after the extra point. We were headed to double overtime, where every touchdown would now require a two-point attempt.
Virginia Tech got the ball first in the second overtime and stayed aggressive. Drones opened with an eight-yard run before Terion Stewart moved the chains on the next play. A false start backed the Hokies up, but Drones settled in and found Takye Heath for his second touchdown of the night. With the two-point conversion mandatory, Drones called his own number again, powering across the goal line to put the Hokies up 42–34. Lane Stadium was absolutely rocking.
Enter Sandman blared once more as Cal took the field needing a touchdown and a conversion to stay alive. Three straight incompletions set up a desperate fourth-and-10, and the Bears used their final timeout to regroup. The crowd that remained got their money’s worth — a tense, unforgettable finish under the lights. When Cal’s final pass fell incomplete, Lane Stadium erupted in celebration. The Hokies had done it — a 42–34 double-overtime win in one of the wildest games of the season.
Final Thoughts:
What a night in Blacksburg. This game had all the makings of an instant classic — the atmosphere, the energy, the history, and a finish that will be talked about for years. The Hokies showed a level of heart and resilience that’s been building week by week under Phillip Montgomery. Despite the ups and downs of regulation, they refused to back down, especially when the game hit overtime. Drones stepped up like a true leader, and the entire offense found another gear when it mattered most.
For a team that’s faced plenty of adversity this season, this win could be a real turning point. The crowd was electric, Lane Stadium was alive in every sense, and the 25th anniversary of ‘Enter Sandman’ couldn’t have had a better ending. But as sweet as this victory is, the road ahead doesn’t get any easier — the schedule only gets tougher from here, and the Hokies will need every bit of that same fight and fire to keep things rolling.
