Virginia Tech Opens James Franklin Era With Dominant 73-3 Win Over VMI (9-5-26)
By: Joey Raymond
Headline Photo Credit: Jason Wiley-3780 Media/LMS Network
BLACKSBURG, Va. — If Virginia Tech wanted to make a statement in the first game of the James Franklin era, mission accomplished. The Hokies raced out of the gate Saturday night at Lane Stadium and never looked back, overwhelming VMI in every phase of the game en route to a 73-3 victory in Blacksburg. And frankly? This was exactly what Virginia Tech needed to do.
Coming into the matchup, there was never supposed to be much drama. The Hokies were the overwhelming favorite against their in-state FCS opponent, and anything resembling a competitive game would have immediately raised questions.
Instead, Tech did exactly what a Power Four program should do against an opponent like VMI. They dominated.
Virginia Tech scored on its opening drive, led 21-0 after the first quarter, took a 45-0 lead into halftime, and continued piling on throughout the second half. By the time the final whistle sounded, the Hokies had scored 10 touchdowns and opened their new era with one of the most dominant performances Lane Stadium has seen in years.
A Fast Start Sets the Tone
The Hokies wasted absolutely no time getting things started. After quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer completed his first pass of the night, Virginia Tech quickly established the running game. Marcellous Hawkins helped move the chains early before Jeffrey Overton Jr. delivered the first major explosion of the evening.
Overton took a handoff and broke free for a 50-yard touchdown run, giving the Hokies an early 7-0 lead and immediately setting the tone for the night. But the Hokies weren’t finished making plays. On VMI’s first possession, Virginia Tech’s defense completely shut down the Keydets before the special teams unit came flying in for a blocked punt.
Suddenly, the Hokies had the football deep inside VMI territory. One play later, Hawkins punched it into the end zone. 14-0. A few possessions later, Overton found the end zone again, this time on a 23-yard touchdown run. 21-0 after one quarter.
The game was essentially over before the opening quarter had even ended.
The Hokies Had Answers Everywhere
What made Saturday night’s performance especially impressive wasn’t simply the final score; It was the way Virginia Tech dominated all three phases of the game. The offense moved the football with ease, the defense lived in VMI’s backfield, and special teams brought back some serious memories of the Beamer Ball days.
Virginia Tech blocked two punts during the game, marking the first time the Hokies had accomplished that feat in a single game since 2017. Knahlij Harrell also recorded a scoop-and-score touchdown following a blocked punt, giving the Hokies another special teams touchdown and sending Lane Stadium into celebration.
The defense was equally relentless. The Hokies finished the night with an incredible 18 tackles for loss, the most recorded by Virginia Tech in a single game since at least 1987. VMI managed just 32 yards of offense in the first half, matching the fewest yards gained by a Hokie opponent in a half since Boston College in 2016.
Grunkemeyer Looks Comfortable in His Blacksburg Debut
While the running backs and defense stole plenty of the headlines, Grunkemeyer quietly put together an extremely efficient performance in his debut at Lane Stadium. The quarterback completed 17 of his 20 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns, helping lead an offense that scored points on each of its first six possessions. Virginia Tech scored touchdowns on each of its first four offensive possessions.
There wasn’t much pressure on Grunkemeyer to become a hero Saturday night. He didn’t need to be. Instead, he distributed the football, made smart decisions, and allowed the Hokies’ offense to operate efficiently. That may be one of the biggest positives Virginia Tech can take away from this game. The Hokies didn’t need one player to carry the entire offense. They had weapons everywhere. Albeit against an FCS opponent, but weapons everywhere nonetheless.
Hawkins and Overton Lead the Ground Attack
Virginia Tech’s running game was simply too much for VMI to handle. Overton had the best night of his Hokie career, recording his first career 100-yard game while also scoring two rushing touchdowns. His 50-yard touchdown on the opening drive was also the longest run of his career.
Meanwhile, Hawkins found the end zone three times, tying his career high for rushing touchdowns in a game. Together, the two backs helped power an offense that finished with six rushing touchdowns, giving Virginia Tech a physical identity from the opening kickoff.
And perhaps most importantly, the Hokies didn’t slow down once the starters left the field.
The Young Hokies Got Their Moments
With the game out of reach, Virginia Tech gave several younger players a chance to make an impact. Backup quarterback Bryce Baker entered the game and helped lead the offense in the second half. One of the biggest moments of the night came when Baker connected with Chanz Wiggins for a 40-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
The score was significant for both players. It marked the first career touchdown for Baker and Wiggins, while also serving as Wiggins’ first career reception as a Hokie. Luke Reynolds also hauled in his first touchdown as a Hokie, while A.J. Brand scored his first career touchdown on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter. For a team trying to establish a new culture and build depth, those moments matter, and Virginia Tech got plenty of players involved.
The Only Thing Missing Was the Shutout
For most of the night, the only remaining question was whether Virginia Tech could complete the shutout. VMI eventually got its opportunity late in the fourth quarter after recovering a muffed punt and taking over with excellent field position. The Keydets took advantage.
VMI drilled a 50-yard field goal to put its only points of the night on the board and spoil the shutout. But by that point, the scoreboard already told the entire story.
Virginia Tech 73. VMI 3.
Exactly the Statement the Hokies Needed
There will be plenty of tougher opponents ahead. Nobody should pretend that beating VMI by 70 points automatically answers every question surrounding Virginia Tech football. Old Dominion will provide the Hokies with their next challenge, and the competition will continue to increase as the season moves forward.
But Saturday night was never about proving Virginia Tech could beat VMI. It was about showing what this team was supposed to look like. For years, Hokie fans have talked about wanting Virginia Tech football to feel like Virginia Tech football again. Saturday night certainly felt like a step in that direction.
The offense was explosive. The defense was aggressive. Special teams made game-changing plays. The starters handled business, the young players got opportunities, and Lane Stadium got to celebrate a dominant victory in the first game of a brand-new era.
Virginia Tech did exactly what they were supposed to do. And they did it emphatically.
