BLACKSBURG, Va. — Pop Watson showcased a stellar performance by throwing for 254 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for another score, guiding Virginia Tech to a convincing 37-17 win over their arch-rival Virginia on Saturday.
Bhayshul Tuten contributed significantly to the Hokies’ success with 124 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns. This victory allowed Virginia Tech (6-6, 4-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) to break a three-game losing streak and secure bowl eligibility for the second consecutive year.
Virginia (5-7, 3-5) experienced its fourth straight defeat against Virginia Tech, marking a disheartening trend with 22 losses in their last 24 encounters.
In an unfortunate twist, the Hokies were without their top two quarterbacks, Kyron Drones and Collin Schlee, due to injuries. This situation paved the way for Watson to make his first career start, which he capitalized on by leading Virginia Tech to four scoring drives in the first half.
The game began with the Hokies taking a 10-0 lead, thanks to Tuten’s 6-yard touchdown run and a field goal by John Love on their initial possessions. The momentum continued as they added 10 points in the final moments of the first half, highlighted by a 66-yard touchdown pass from Watson to Jaylin Lane, followed by another field goal from Love that sent Virginia Tech into halftime with a commanding 20-3 advantage.
As the second half commenced, Watson extended the lead further with a 5-yard rushing touchdown on the Hokies’ first drive. The redshirt freshman’s overall effort accounted for 302 of the Hokies’ 456 total offensive yards, including 48 rushing yards.
On the other side, Tony Muskett, making his initial start of the season for Virginia, threw for 178 yards and added 62 rushing yards along with two touchdowns.
Key Observations:
Virginia: Under the guidance of third-year coach Tony Elliott, the Cavaliers managed to improve their win total from the previous year. However, they finished the season on a low note, losing six of their last seven matches. Their struggles continued against the Hokies, as 17 of their 22 losses in this recent rivalry stretch were by ten points or more.
Virginia Tech: Despite a season filled with disappointments, the Hokies found a way to secure bowl eligibility once again against Virginia, marking their seventh victory in twelve rivalry matchups where a win was needed for bowl contention.
Looking Ahead:
Virginia: The Cavaliers have concluded their season and will regroup for next year.
Virginia Tech: The Hokies now await to learn who their bowl opponent will be.