Virginia Tech rallied and gutted out a 42-34 win over Cal in double overtime on Friday night in Lane Stadium.
In a back-and-forth game that neither team could close out in regulation, the Hokies (3-5, 2-2 ACC) sealed it in overtime with 7-yard passing touchdown from quarterback Kyron Drones to wideout Takye Heath and the ensuing two-point conversion on a Drones keeper.
They were dominant on the ground, rushing for 357 yards on 58 carries (6.2 average). That was a stark difference to the Golden Bears’ (5-3, 2-2) ground attack, which posted just 39 rushing yards despite running back Kendrick Raphael finishing with 71. Quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele finished with minus-27 and was sacked three times.
Drones accounted for five touchdowns — three through the air and two on the ground. He threw for 119 yards on 9-for-18 passing while racking up 137 rushing yards on 21 attempts (6.5 average). Meanwhile, running back Marcellous Hawkins ran for 167 yards on 21 totes (8.0 average).
There were numerous momentum swings over the three-hour, 50-minute contest. Tech went up 10-0 before Cal responded with 20 unanswered and led 20-10 at the break. After the Hokies came out of the locker room and posted 17 straight to take a 27-20 lead, the Bears knotted things up with 2:34 remaining.
Both teams had game-winning field goal opportunities but missed wide right, which included a doink from Tech’s John Love. That led to overtime, where Cal struck on the first play — a 25-yard pass from JKS to Mason Mini — before Drones answered with a 17-yard rushing score. Then came his dart to Heath, which the difference as the Bears turned it over on downs to end the game.
The opening touchdown was a 27-yard throw from Drones to Ayden Greene less than three minutes in. Then the Hokies tackled on a 46-yard field goal from Love on the next possession.
The Golden Bears repeatedly punched back, though, courtesy of Raphael. His 1-yard rushing score was sandwiched between two Chase Meyer field goals — from 38 and 34 yards, respectively — and made it 13-10 with 9:31 in the second quarter.
Then special teams ate away at the Hokies. Rather than letting a kickoff bounce out of bounds for a penalty or for a touchback, wide receiver Cam Seldon caught it at the 1-yard line and stepped out.
While the offense converted its first third down since the Wake Forest game when Hawkins ran up the gut for a 12-yard gain, Tech had to punt — twice. A false start on gunner Thomas Williams forced a second attempt for Nick Veltsistas, and it was blocked by Bears wideout Cole Bosica and went for a 1-yard gain, setting up Cal at the Tech 21.
The Bears capitalized eight plays later when Raphael punched it in from the 1-yard line again to make it 20 unanswered points.
At halftime, Cal led 20-10, while the Hokies had 20 yards of offense on their last 20 plays.
Tech appeared to be different team after intermission, though. It started the second half with a methodical 13-play, 40-yard drive. It had an apparent 42-touchdown pass from Drones to Isaiah Spencer, though the officials overturned the call, citing that the ball hit the ground.
Instead, the Hokies had to settle for a 52-yard field goal from Love, which he drilled to make it 20-13.
After forcing another punt, Tech received a big-time return from Spencer, who ripped off 67 yards down the sideline. However, it was called back because of an illegal blindside block penalty against linebacker Will Johnson on Cal’s Tristan Dunn. Instead of the Hokies starting at the Bears’ 10, they began the drive at their own 14.
No matter. Hawkins burst up the middle for 36 yards — and might’ve gone the distance if not for a tackle by Cal’s Austin Brent. Then Drones found a wide open Heath for a 44-yard touchdown to tie things at 20. It marked the team’s longest scoring play of the season.
Drones and Tech marched down the field on the next possession, but he threw an interception in the end zone. Yet, the defense stood tall after Kemari Copeland racked up his third sack of the night and became the first Tech defensive tackle to hit that mark in a game since his position coach, J.C. Price, had four vs. Miami in 1995.
The Hokies capitalized on the opportunity when, sparked by a 24-yard run from Hawkins, found the end zone and took a 27-20 lead on a 14-yard keeper from Drones.
Still, Cal responded. A 34-yard pass from JKS to Trond Grizzell moved the offense into Tech territory, and entering the red zone, it was bailed out by a debatable roughing the passer call on third-and-5. That set up a 2-yard rushing touchdown from Raphael.
Both teams had an opportunity to close things out in the final 90 seconds. Love hit the right upright from 45 yards with 1:02 to play. Then the Bears’ Chase Meyers was wide right from 49 with one second remaining. That sent things to overtime, where the Hokies pulled away in the second period.
Box Score: Virginia Tech 42, Cal 34 (2OT)
