Virginia Tech took care of business Saturday, beating Wofford 27-7. With the win, the Hokies improve to 2-1 on the season (1-0 in ACC play). And with a short week ahead, they can officially focus on trying to take back the Black Diamond Trophy from West Virginia in a Thursday night rivalry game.
The First Half Was Impressive
Coming into this game, most Tech fans were probably hoping for a huge margin of victory and an opportunity for the backups to see the field in the second half. And after a solid first half, it appeared as if this was going to be the case.
The Hokies moved the ball well throughout the first thirty minutes. They came up short on a fourth and one on the first drive and had to settle for field goals on the next two, but otherwise it was a pretty good half of football.
In the first half alone, Sophomore quarterback Grant Wells was very efficient, completing 20 of 26 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown. Senior running back Jalen Holston had 15 carries for a career high 65 yards and a touchdown.
Tech Receivers Stepped Up
Although the ball was spread fairly evenly among eleven different receivers, redshirt freshman Christian Moss emerged with several of his five catches for 50 yards in the first half, including a very athletic sideline catch where he managed to get a foot down.
Another receiver who had a nice outing was Temple transfer Jaden Blue. He ended the game with four receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown, including two in the first half where he showed great hands and footwork. On one of those, he managed to get both feet inbounds in what the ACC Network broadcasters called a “Sunday catch.” Blue has been battling injury, so it was good to see him get some quality receptions.
On the other side of the ball, the Virginia Tech defense held Wofford’s offense to 51 total yards in the first half. This helped Virginia Tech run 30 more plays than Wofford and maintain a 9:15 time of possession edge.
Second Half Snoozer?
As solid as the first half was for Tech, the second half was a bit ho-hum. Both teams combined for five punts in the third quarter. Only 84 yards were gained between the two teams prior to Tech’s final possession of that quarter. The Hokies marched 80 yards on that drive alone, reaching the end zone early in the fourth quarter. Wells hit true freshman running back Bryce Duke on a wheel route out of the backfield for the score, and the Hokies went up 27-0.
Duke had a nice showing, carrying the ball six times for 25 yards to add to his 27-yard touchdown reception. He had the highest yards per carry average on the day.
Wofford responded with a six play, 75-yard touchdown drive to give the Terriers their first score of the season. The big play was a double move by senior Landon Parker that went for a 47-yard reception. Parker finished with five catches for 98 yards in a solid showing.
The Hokies closed out the game uneventfully and now can focus on West Virginia.
The Thursday Night Rivalry Returns to Lane Stadium
West Virginia comes to Blacksburg this week for a Thursday night prime time game on ESPN. It is the Mountaineers’ first trip to Lane Stadium since 2014, but the rivalry goes back to 1912 when Virginia Tech won 41-0. They played every year from 1957 to 1968, then again from 1973 through 2005. West Virginia leads the series, 29-23-1, but Virginia Tech won seven of the last ten games. West Virginia currently has a hold on the Black Diamond Trophy however, holding on to win in Morgantown last season, 27-21.
Virginia Tech has a storied history of Thursday nights in Lane Stadium. And it goes back 28 years to the day – to their first ever Thursday night home game on September 22, 1994. Who was the Hokies’ opponent for that big game? West Virginia. The Hokies prevailed 34-6, leading the way to the birth of the Terror Dome.
Virginia Tech hopes to use history and 66,000 raucous fans to win back the Black Diamond Trophy this week.
West Virginia’s Offense Will Test the Hokies
Although the Mountaineers are only 1-2 so far, they will likely provide the greatest test to date for the Hokies. They have playmakers on offense at all three skill positions.
Redshirt junior quarterback JT Daniels has played at Southern Cal and Georgia, and now he is slinging it at WVU. He is averaging 251 yards and two touchdowns per game in the air. He has a big arm, but he is not very mobile.
Daniels has a few big targets on the outside that can go get the ball. His top three receivers have double-digit receptions and yards per catch after three games, with Bryce Ford-Wheaton leading the way. The 6’4” junior has 24 receptions for 296 yards and four touchdowns. The Hokies will have to keep him in check Thursday night.
Balancing out the offensive attack are a pair of running backs who have combined for 508 rushing yards in three games. (Compare that to Virginia Tech, who as a TEAM has only gained 516 yard in three games – with one against a G5 school and one against an FCS school.) Sophomore Tony Mathis, Jr. is a shifty back who can make would-be tacklers miss, while freshman CJ Donaldson is a 240-pound converted tight end who is averaging 9.4 yards per carry. They are both tough to tackle, but in very different ways.
Can Virginia Tech’s Defense be Disruptive?
The Virginia Tech defense has been very good so far. They have only given up three touchdowns through three games. But West Virginia can score, so this is strength on strength. If the Hokies want to win, the defense will have to slow down those West Virginia playmakers. The Yard Dogs will have to pressure Daniels, and the front seven will have to stop the run. And if they get a few turnovers, they could turn the tide of the game.
This may not be your father’s West-Virginia vs Virginia Tech rivalry game. If Daniels has time to throw, and if the Mountaineers can be balanced in their attack, it could be a high scoring affair and a long night for the Hokies.
Can Virginia Tech’s Offense Sustain Drives?
A big key to this game is going to be Virginia Tech’s ability to sustain drives. If JT Daniels and company are not on the field, they cannot score. So Virginia Tech will have to effectively run the ball and not turn it over.
Can they do that? The Hokies’ ground game has not been its strength. Their net rushing yards-per-game, including sacks, is only 413 through three games. They ran for 144 against Boston College, but that includes a 65-yard touchdown run. They only ran for 133 yards against Wofford, who is not a very good FCS program right now.
Head Coach Brent Pry admitted that the O-line needs to get a better push and sustain blocks. After three games, Virginia Tech has had THIRTY designed runs that were stopped for a loss or no gain. That is the most by any Power Five team in the nation. The coaching staff will address this during the short week, but can they right the ship in so few days? To beat West Virginia and win this rivalry game, the Hokies must win the line of scrimmage and establish the run.
If they cannot do that, they will have to rely on the arm of Grant Wells. Yes, he did throw for 309 yards last week, and yes, West Virginia’s secondary is not a strength. But the Hokies are not a team built for high scoring affairs. A shootout on Thursday would probably favor the Mountaineers.
Final Thoughts
This is a border rivalry. This is a trophy game. There is history. These teams – and fans – hated each other for years, even decades. Some of that has died down recently because of conference realignment and a lack of scheduling, but make no doubt about it – this game means a lot to both sides. Because they are not scheduled to play again in the next decade, the winner of this one will keep the Black Diamond Trophy for a while.
As in all rivalry games between fairly evenly matched teams, edges can appear in many ways. The crowd will be electric, which definitely helps the Hokies. But penalties and turnovers can negate – or heighten the crowd’s effect. Special teams play can also significantly affect the outcome. So all this analysis can go out the window if any of those scenarios play out.
Any way you slice it, this should be a fun one in a great environment. Be sure to tune in to ESPN on Thursday night because you will not see this rivalry again for many years!
