BLACKSBURG, Va. — Virginia Tech was routed by visiting Old Dominion on Saturday night, 45-26, in Lane Stadium to fall to 0-3 on the season.
Unfortunately for the Hokies, the game was not as close as the final score indicated.
Old Dominion controlled the game from the outset. Following a lost fumble on their second drive, the Monarchs scored touchdowns on their next four drives, racking up a whopping 334 offensive yards en route to a 28-0 halftime lead. The Hokies failed to make adjustments to give themselves a chance to get back into the game as the Monarchs tallied 526 yards and a perfect six-for-six in red zone touchdowns on the night.
Monarchs quarterback Colton Joseph led the way with 276 passing yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed eight times for 62 yards and a score. Trequan Jones turned in an outstanding performance on the ground, rushing 13 times for 103 yards.
Despite the excellent result for the Monarchs, who held their own against Indiana in their season opener, the story of the night will undoubtedly be the current status of the Virginia Tech football program. The Hokies fell to 0-3 for the first time since 1987, and the outlook for the remainder of the season is bleak after being outscored 89-46 and surrendering over 1,000 yards in the last two weeks.
Head coach Brent Pry’s record in Blacksburg currently stands at 16-24, and his job security appears to be very much in doubt, as the fan base has become increasingly vocal in recent weeks as injuries, and losses, have piled up.
“Yeah, I get it,” Pry said. “I’m frustrated too, so I understand where they are coming from. The expectations at this place are to win, and we have great fans here, so I understand their frustrations. They’ve been fantastic to us. I thought the crowd was good tonight, and we let them down.”
On why Pry believes he is the right man to lead the Virginia Tech program, he stated, “I see the strides we’ve made as a program. I know it doesn’t show on the field tonight. Our roster is deeper than it’s been… I’m proud of the team that we have, as far as the guys in that locker room. They’re wired the right way, they’re at Virginia Tech for the right reasons.
“I think there’s talent in that locker room. It’s not the talent that we need yet to be a team that can contend for championships, but it’s an improved roster…This was very disappointing and unexpected tonight.”
Patience, and time, are running out in Blacksburg.
Virginia Tech will look to bounce back next week at home against Wofford (Saturday at noon on ACC Network) before starting conference play the following week against North Carolina State.
Written by Greg Atkins
