Virginia Tech Avenges Lost To ODU From Last Season With 36-17 Win (9-2-23)

By: Joey Raymond

Headline Photo Credit: Katie Lovell-LMS Network

Blacksburg, VA – As the saying goes, “Exit light, enter the Hokies”. When the sun goes down, Lane Stadium comes to life. Fans screaming “Let’s go Hokies” rain down as ‘Enter Sandman’ starts blaring, fans start jumping, and the stadium starts to shake. The Old Dominion Monarchs and the Virginia Tech Hokies are set to battle on the gridiron. It’s a brand new season and both teams are looking for a fresh start. Old Dominion kicks it off for the start of the game after winning the toss and we’re ready to go. 

A few things to keep in mind here, Lane Stadium is loud. Almost to the point of ear-piercing decibel levels. The Old Dominion Monarchs are young, like extremely young. The Monarchs are tied with New Mexico for the fewest seniors in the country with 6. They have 58 newcomers, which is the 7th most in the country, and of the 41 players returned, ODU has 150 combined starts which is the fewest in the country. 

First Quarter Recap: 

Malachi Thomas grabs the return and gains 16 yards to the 26-yard line to get the game started. The 2023 season is officially underway.  The Hokies and Grant Wells start slow, going three and out on their first drive of the game. They punt it away and give the Monarchs their first chance of the game. The Monarchs start the drive at the 16-yard line after a great punt by the Hokies. The crowd roars to life and causes the Monarchs to false start. This only makes the crowd raise the noise level. To get out of the hole, they dug themselves the Monarchs ran the next couple of plays. This forces a third and long where the Monarchs try to throw. On the play the Hokies get a sack, causing a four-and-out for the Monarchs. 

After the first drive of both teams stalling out quickly, we see the Hokies start the second drive with a run from Bayshul Tuten. This is followed by a first-down pass to Jaylin Lane. Kyron Drones then comes in at Quarterback and throws a screen pass. On the play ODU committed a roughing of the passer penalty, bringing the Hokies to the 22-yard line. In the play, Amorie Morrison from Old Dominion gets called for targeting. Morrison by rule gets tossed out of the rest of the game. Grant Wells comes back in at quarterback. After a couple of runs by Thomas, the Hokies, Kyron Drones comes back and picks up the first down to make it first and goal for the Hokies. The Hokies fight hard after working their way to the one-yard line, bringing in Grant Wells again, who throws an incomplete pass. Old Dominion takes over on downs at the two-yard line. Lane Stadium once again swells with noise, and Old Dominion gets called for another false start. After an Incomplete pass, and a five-yard run, quarterback Grant Wilson runs for 16 yards to give the Monarchs some breathing room. ODU would then stall out shortly after, having to punt on fourth and eighth. On the snap, the ball goes over the head of the kicker and into the back of the endzone for a safety. Virginia Tech would then take a 2-0 lead on the play, and receive the ball on the punt. 

The Hokies would start with the ball on the 45-yard line. Wells is in at quarterback and leads the Hokies to a first down. The drive continues after a couple of good short passes and runs. The ball gets down to the opposite 40-yard line before Old Dominion gets called for targeting again. Jason Henderson is called this time and does not get tossed as the referees determined there was no targeting on the play. The drive does continue, with the Hokies ultimately getting to fourth down converting on a clutch catch by Lofton, bringing the Hokies to the 22-yard line. The quarter ends not too long after an incomplete pass. 

Second Quarter Recap:

The second quarter begins right where we left off, The Hokies on 3rd and 8 on the 20-yard line. The Hokies waste absolutely zero time in the second, scoring 7 seconds in. Grant Wells throws a dart to Jaylin Lane, who muscles his way into the end zone. This brings the score to 9-0 after Love kicks the field goal. The Monarchs then take the ball to the 17-yard line on the kickoff. The drive starts strong for the Monarchs on a 6-yard rush from Keashawn Wicks. Wicks would then catch a screen pass to give them a first down. The Monarchs would keep gaining yardage and work their way down to the 27-yard line. This comes off a huge pass to Isiah Paige and a massive run from Devin Roche, who ran for 22 yards on the play. The Monarchs would then get a huge first-down run from Wicks. This helps the Monarchs work their way into the endzone off of a huge pass from Wilson who connects with Dominic Dutton. This brings the score to 9-7. 

Tutten receives the kickoff, and the Hokies start the drive on the 35-yard line. The Hokies do work themselves a first down, but then stall out. They punt the ball away, which gives the Monarchs the ball at the 20-yard line after a touchback. The Monarchs start hot once again, giving the ball to Obie Sanni this time. He gets the ball twice and brings the team down to the 35-yard line. The Monarchs take two deep shots that fall incomplete and lose some yards on a rush, causing the Monarchs to punt the ball back to the Hokies. Jaylin Lane brings the ball to the 38-yard line. The Hokies try to get something going, as Grant Wells throws to Stephen Gosnell for a first down. The Hokies then take a deep shot by throwing a 34-yard pass from Wells to Lane, bringing the Hokies into the red zone. Wells then throws what can only be described as a perfect throw to Ali Jennings for a touchdown. After the extra point, the score is 16-7, with the Hokies in the lead. 

2 minutes left in the half as ODU starts with the ball on the 25-yard line, thanks to the touchback on the kickoff. The Hokies get a big sack on the first play of the drive, bringing the Monarchs back 5 yards. The following play they give them the 5 yards back on a false start penalty on the Hokies. On the next play, the Hokies get called for targeting. Jalen Stroman is the culprit and will have to sit the rest of this game out, as he gets tossed from the game. The Monarchs then start with the ball on the 42-yard line with a fresh first down. The Monarchs then throw a 15-yard pass to Granger, bringing them to the 40-yard line on the opposite side of the field. ODU keeps going to work, down to one minute left in the quarter. Wicks then gets handed the ball and gains 27 yards, bringing the Monarchs even closer to the endzone. The Monarchs then try to run with Sanni, which is snuffed out by the Hokies, forcing the field goal unit from Old Dominion to come out to attempt a field goal. This rings true, albeit, wobbly through the uprights, bringing the score to 16-10 to end the first half. 

Third Quarter Recap:

The Monarchs are set to receive the ball in the second half. The Hokies kick it and the Monarchs will start with the ball on the 25-yard line after a touchback. Wilson and the Monarchs start quickly with a run of 10 yards. After the run, the Monarchs quarterback scrambles for a first down. The Monarchs start moving and grooving to start this half, gaining another first down on a big run from Calloway. In the next play, Virginia Tech pops the ball loose and picks up the ball for a fumble recovery. Virginia Tech would then start with the ball after the turnover on the 31-yard line. Wells and company work fast as they throw a screen pass followed by a 34-yard pass to Felton. This brings the Hokies to the 30-yard line. They gain a quick first down after that on a rush and a short pass. They work their way into the red zone in the following play. Grant Wells then throws the ball to Ali Jennings on a screen pass, where Jennings runs into the end zone. The touchdown pass brings the score to 23-10 after the extra point from Love. 

The Monarchs receive the ball off of the kick which once again falls for a touchback. The Monarchs do convert another 3rd down to first down on a scramble from Wilson. Wilson then follows that scramble up with a massive run for 25 yards. Targeting is called on the play, but ruled that there wasn’t targeting on the play. Another targeting penalty is called on the play. This time it is confirmed and Pheldarius Payne is the culprit this time. He will also have to sit out the remainder of this game. The Monarchs gain 15 yards on the play and then work their way into the red zone after a 15-yard run. Old Dominion then throws a pass to Wicks, who finds his way into the end zone, bringing the score to 23-17. The Hokies then take over at the 35-yard line, hoping to get some momentum back. They do, pretty quickly, off of a 44-yard completion from Wells to Jennings to bring them to the opposite 28-yard line. Wells then makes a short pass to bring them into the red zone. The Hokies use all 3 downs to get there but get into the end zone on a ‘QB sneak’ from Wells. Love drills the extra point, bringing the score to 30-17, with the Hokies in the lead. 

The Monarchs start the drive with 2 minutes left in the quarter on the 25-yard line, as the ball goes through the end zone on the kickoff, resulting in another touchback. On the first play that the Monarchs run, they fumble once again. This time it’s Josh Fuga to recovers the fumble. Virginia Tech takes over at the 37-yard line. Wells throws 2 quick incompletions, before getting a pass interference call on the third attempt. This brings the Hokies forward 15 yards, to the 22-yard line. A run by Tuten brings the Hokies into the red zone, and then another carry brings them to the 13-yard line, although a fourth down ensues. That concludes the third quarter though as the clock hits zero, bringing us to the fourth and final quarter. 

Fourth Quarter Recap: 

The Hokies bring out the offense and try to convert the fourth down, but they’re unsuccessful. Old Dominion takes over on downs. The Monarchs fumble again on the next play, but pick up their fumble. This brings them backward, back to the 9-yard line, and third down. They then throw an incomplete pass, forcing them to punt. Jaylin Lane then takes the ball off the return to the 50-yard line. Wells throws to Gosnell for a 23-yard completion to start the drive. A couple of plays later, Wells would run for a first down, bringing the Hokies into the red zone. Wells and company can’t capitalize on the good position though as the Hokies ultimately have to kick a field goal. Love’s kick does ring true though, bringing the score to 33-17. The 33 points the Hokies have scored in this game are the most ever points scored under head coach Brent Pry. The game continues with the Monarchs starting with the ball at the 16-yard line. Wilson continues to show his legs running for a first down and 15 yards. The moment doesn’t last too long though as the Hokies get an interception on the next play. Dorian Strong takes the ball and runs it back to the 9-yard line. The Hokies take a delay of game penalty a few plays after. This proves to be a detriment on the drive as the Hokies are forced to kick a field goal. Love once again knocks it through though, bringing the score to 36-17. 

There are just over 5 minutes left in this contest as the Hokies kick the ball off to the Monarchs. They will start their drive at the 25-yard line off of another touchback. Wilson starts the drive with a strong 6-yard run, followed by a 2-yard run. Wicks then takes the ball and can’t pick up the first down. The Monarchs then go for it on fourth down, throwing it and eventually turning the ball over on downs. The Hokies then take over at the 34-yard line. The Hokies can’t get anything going on this drive though, as they stall out again. The Hokies punt on the next play. This allows the Monarchs to start the next drive at the 20-yard line. The Hokies sack Wilson on the next two plays. Wilson and company stall out and are forced to punt as well. Tucker Halloway makes a masterful return on the play, bringing the ball 47 yards, to the 25-yard line. The Hokies then come out in the victory formation, sealing the victory for the Hokies. The final score in this one is 36-17. 

Post Game Thoughts: 

At the end of this game, the Hokies came out with what felt like a much-needed win on their side. From last season, and losing this matchup, it felt like almost a must-win game for the Hokies. To my surprise, the defense seemingly struggled more than the offense in the game. Especially when Wilson would run out of the pocket or would run an option. That’s when you would see Old Dominion break a big play. Targeting was called a ton. In my personal opinion, probably too much. Regardless, both sides played a fairly clean game outside of those targeting calls. Old Dominion got a couple of false starts thanks in large part to the noise of Lane Stadium, but other than that, both teams didn’t get many penalties. 

Old Dominion leaves Blacksburg with a 0-1 record and will move on to play at home against Louisiana. Louisiana will come into that game with a 1-0 record. Virginia Tech will move to 1-0 on the season and look forward to another game at home in Lane Stadium. Purdue will come to town with a 0-1 record after a shootout with Fresno State in their game this week.