Virginia Tech scored on its first three second-half possessions to put away Marshall in a 31-14 victory, its first of the 2024 season.
The Hokies (1-1) had trouble getting going early, coming away with just a field goal on nine first-half drives. They righted the ship after the break, however, and the Thundering Herd (1-1) couldn’t keep pace.
Jaylin Lane’s 52-yard punt return touchdown as the first quarter expired was the lone bright spot for the Hokies in the first half. It was the second career punt return touchdown for the graduate student, a second-team All-Conference USA pick as a specialist at Middle Tennessee in 2022. He housed a 70-yarder in 2021 against Monmouth.
Outside of that, Tech struggled against the Herd in the first 30 minutes. John Love converted a 42-yard field goal in the second quarter — his 18th in a row dating back to October 2023 — but that was after the offense shot itself in the foot. It had first-and-goal from the Marshall 2-yard line on that possession but an illegal blocking penalty and a sack moved them back.
The Thundering Herd couldn’t do much offensively — Virginia Tech allowed just 77 yards on 29 first-half plays — but capitalized on special teams. It blocked Peter Moore’s punt with 3:28 remaining in the second quarter, and Ethan Payne punched it in after taking over from the 5-yard line.
Tech took a 10-7 lead into intermission and came out firing to start the second half. It ripped off a 12-play, 50-yard drive — which featured 11 rushing plays — capped off by a 1-yard score from Bhayshul Tuten.
The senior had a productive Week 2 for the Hokies, racking up 120 yards on 22 attempts (5.5 avg). It was the second-most carries in Tuten’s Tech career, just two shy of his mark vs. Pitt in 2023. He has 10 touchdowns in his last six games.
The Herd struck back on the next possession, which was jumpstarted by a 69-yard run up the middle by A.J. Turner. Dorian Strong brought him down at the Tech 18-yard line, but Stone Earle (13-of-36, 129 yards, 1 TD) hit Christian Fitzpatrick for an 18-yard strike on the next play.
Leading 17-14, the Hokies responded well, courtesy of a big play from Stephen Gosnell. Kyron Drones (14-of-21, 130 yards, 1 TD) found the graduate student deep down the sideline and he completely laid out to haul in the 49-yard pass. Four plays later, Drones ran it in from the 3-yard line.
The tide eventually turned for good when Virginia Tech safety Mose Phillips tipped a pass from Earle, which fell into the lap of Mansoor Delane with 2:03 left in the third quarter. The defense’s first turnover of the season set up another successful drive, capped off by a 5-yard pass from Drones to Da’Quan Felton.
In all, the Hokies finished with 338 yards on 72 plays. They also held Marshall to 278 total yards, including 149 on the ground. Their defense, which finished with 12 pass breakups, limited the Herd to 5-of-17 on third down and forced eight punts, too.
Tech is back in action next week at Old Dominion for a 6 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN+. They lost in their previous two trips to Norfolk in 2018 and 2022.
Box Score: Virginia Tech 31, Marshall 14
