STANFORD, Calif. — Virginia Tech started fast and ran away from Stanford in its 31-7 win in the ACC’s first-ever West Coast game.
The Hokies (3-3, 1-1 ACC) started the game well, sacking Stanford (2-3, 1-2) quarterback Justin Lamson on third-and-8 on the first possession. Defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles got to him for his third sack on the season, a play that nearly knocked the Cardinal out of field goal range. Kicker Emmet Kenney pushed a 53-yard attempt wide left, setting Tech up at its own 35-yard line.
The Tech offense went to work from there. Wide receiver Jaylin Lane had three big plays — two receiving gains of 13 yards each, along with a 24-yard pickup on a reverse — that set Tech up inside the Stanford 10, and quarterback Kyron Drones found wideout Stephen Gosnell on a slant route for the score. It was the second straight game the offense scored on its first possession.
After the Cardinal moved the ball down the field, Hokies safety Mose Phillips came up with a huge play, forcing a fumble at the Tech 3-yard line, which defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland recovered.
Later in the half, Virginia Tech ripped off its longest drive of the year that spanned 6:45. It started on its own 12-yard line and moved the ball seamlessly down the field on 13 plays. Drones scrambled and found Ayden Greene for an 11-yard pass at the beginning of the possession, Bhayshul Tuten had a 13-yard run up the middle to spark things and Drones hit Gosnell again, this time for a 24-yard pickup.
The Hokies scored and extended the lead to 14-0 on a fourth-and-short conversion from the Stanford 6-yard line. Tuten received a handoff and powered up the middle, carrying a few tacklers with him to mark his eighth straight game with a touchdown.
Though the Cardinal ran six more plays and had the ball for five more minutes in the first half, the Hokies posted 44 more yards — 178 to 134 — and made the most of their possessions. They kept Stanford out of the end zone despite three offensive drives into Tech territory, too.
Drones & Co. opened the second half on fire. He found Da’Quan Felton for a 17-yard gain on the first offensive play after intermission and went back to him three plays later, connecting with Felton over the middle for a 55-yard catch-and-run that went for a score, putting the Hokies up 21-0. It was their second-longest passing touchdown of the season behind Ali Jennings’ 62-yarder at Vanderbilt.
Stanford found some life in the third quarter, finally connecting with star wideout Elic Ayomanor and getting on the board. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound redshirt sophomore had an 11-yard reception on fourth-and-9, which extended the possession, and later reeled in a 19-yard halfback pass for a touchdown, pulling the Cardinal within two scores.
Just when it felt like Stanford was finding a groove, the Hokies came up with their second turnover of the game with 10:56 remaining. Lamson tried to loft one deep to wide receiver Tiger Bachmeier, but Tech linebacker Keonta Jenkins was in the right position and made an easy interception.
That play set up the offense at the Cardinal 35-yard line, and Virginia Tech slowly moved down the field. It was going to settle for a 23-yard field goal from John Love after stalling at the Stanford 6-yard line, but a running into the kicker penalty gave the offense another chance. Three plays later, Drones punched it in from the 2-yard line for his third rushing touchdown of the season, giving Tech a secure 28-7 lead with 7:28 remaining.
The Hokies got the ball back one final time and Love, wearing Frank Beamer’s legendary No. 25 jersey, knocked through a 46-yard field goal to cap things off. He’s made 24 of his last 25 attempts.
Tech finished with 337 yards on 55 plays, good for a 6.1 average, which featured 201 through the air — Drones was 14-of-19 for two scores — and 136 yards on the ground. Tuten racked up 73 yards on the ground on 21 carries. Tech also limited Stanford to seven points — the fewest by an ACC opponent in the Brent Pry era.
The Hokies return to Blacksburg and have an open week before hosting Boston College at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 17, in Lane Stadium.
Box Score: Virginia Tech 31, Stanford 7
