Dynamic Drones, Persistent Ground Game Highlight Hokies' Offensive Surge In Pitt Win

Andy Bitter

Senior Staff Writer

October 01, 2023 40

Kyron Drones led the way for the Hokies on Saturday vs. Pitt in the victory. (Ivan Morozov)

In nearly two years as the Hokies’ head coach, Brent Pry has periodically attempted to describe the offensive identity he’d like to have at Virginia Tech.

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Kyron Drones 2021 · QB Jaylin Lane 2020 · WR

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2023 VT-Pitt Football

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40 Comments

xhokiehurler19 October 1, 2023 at 4:53 PM

Crazy that their two offensive scores came on single-play drives. And it’s awesome that we didn’t give up any long runs for once, but still need to reduce the explosive plays. I really liked the quick pitches to get our RBs on the edge quickly. That helped loosen up the middle a little. It was a great game to be at - I hope this starts a positive trend and doesn’t become just an outlier against a bad team. Go Hokies!
G83Hokie October 1, 2023 at 2:35 PM

Very much enjoyed the game & appreciated the efforts by all our guys. Saw the line quoting "Drones, who accounted for five touchdowns," though, and the tongue-in-cheek thought occurred to me that it wouldn't be wrong to credit him with accounting for SIX touchdowns, plus an assist on the one Pitt scored right after the unsportsmanlike spiking penalty that gave Pitt 15 additional yards to start where they scored immediately or nearly so, just prior to the scoop & score touchdown. Was very pleased & proud, though, at how well Kyron responded following those moments - made all the difference, at a moment when the wheels could just as easily have come off the wagon.
hokiejim63 October 1, 2023 at 1:07 PM

"Where are all the fair weather fans when you need them?" They were in a packed house stadium after three straight losses to not particularly talented teams. Wonder how many of these fair weather fans were not there because they could not get tickets. Hokies are not fair weather fans. Just because someone criticized a team that deserved criticism over the first four games does not make them fair weather fans. One final thought - for this one game Brent Pry produced a team that reminded me somewhat of a Frank Beamer team.
BillHuber October 1, 2023 at 12:05 PM

You just wonder what kind of thinking made the coaches name Grant Wells as the chosen QB at the start of the season?
1. joepugh2 October 1, 2023 at 2:03 PM
  
  Go rewatch the spring game and you will see why. Drones has made huge amounts of progress with his opportunity and built the confidence of the entire offense. Happy for him.
2. Spartacusjones October 3, 2023 at 5:41 AM
  
  Coaches love a QB that can throw a pretty long ball. Drones has a bit of an odd throwing motion and still needs work on the long passes. He's still a bit of a project as a passer. Additional game time can only help.
Chasesfish October 1, 2023 at 10:16 AM

I've been plenty critical of Bowen. Tonight he called a great game. Offensive line took some steps forward. Great to see them stick with the run and be able to put the game away in the 4th grinding out first down after first down. LBs mostly kept their gaps, tackling was better outside of the pinballing screen play. Very nice to not have one of those "41 of 44 running plays were good" press conferences. Who ended up playing safety most of the game? I saw Johnson out there for a ton of plays.
1. atlhokie1 October 1, 2023 at 10:30 AM
  
  Agree about Bowen. He realized the strength of Pitts D line and game planned around it. Who knew? Just hope the same people rejoicing today don't come crashing back next week after playing FSU. I think BC gave them a wake up call unfortunately.
GOML October 1, 2023 at 10:12 AM

KD may be what we all thought QP would be. Wow.
1. atlhokie1 October 1, 2023 at 10:27 AM
  
  Good pull. Agree.
2. BillHuber October 1, 2023 at 12:00 PM
  
  Patterson? We thought Hooker was the real talent.
Cheesehokie October 1, 2023 at 10:11 AM

Finally a solid game, providing momentum to build on. There were still some mistakes to clean up but the coaches & players got it done yesterday. And we owed Pitt a dreadful beating!
Cau12 October 1, 2023 at 9:45 AM

Andy, as a long time reader it's finally great to see that you have something positive to write. Seems like it's been awhile and you could tell in your writing just how bad it was. It almost seemed like you dreaded to write another article about how terrible this team played. Ive been upset with the offense along with everyone else and I really figured that would mean a change in coordinators, but I would just like to be a man and own up that I could be wrong. If Bowen keeps putting games together like that then he has a home in Blacksburg for as long as he wants. Last night the play calling was creative and inspiring which is something we have been missing in Blacksburg for a long time. Also nice to get back to the days of having a mobile quarterback that can get us out of some messes. Most of the VT great qbs have been dual threats.
1. govt86 October 2, 2023 at 8:28 AM
  
  So what changed for Bowen? Was it simply he had nothing to lose? It does give one hope, whatever it was.
IB4TECH October 1, 2023 at 9:10 AM

And the fans rejoiced.
Minden Hokie October 1, 2023 at 7:28 AM

Who knew Tbow was saving the good stuff for conference play.
1. Cliffc37 October 1, 2023 at 8:06 AM
  
  He just discovered his playbook has a Page 2.
  1. `lag October 1, 2023 at 11:03 AM
    
    well, not really his fault, the pages were stuck together
Hokie101 October 1, 2023 at 6:31 AM

Most complete game of his tenure. There is now a spark of hope. We saw progress on offense, defense, and play calling. Despite the above, lots of opportunities to continue to improve. Love the positives, but have to acknowledge Pitt is a bad team and their quarterback played really bad
1. Hokie Witch October 1, 2023 at 8:58 AM
  
  …and the 10 penalties are concerning. Luckily Pitt did the same. Clean those up and play like tonight, we have a chance.
  1. HokieJB October 1, 2023 at 9:31 AM
    
    The Hokies are not good enough to invite bonehead 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalties for spiking the ball. Drones had one and Layne got away with one.
    1. ColWilliamFleming October 1, 2023 at 2:42 PM
      
      +1.
2. ColWilliamFleming October 1, 2023 at 2:40 PM
  
  Their D being 11th ranked is bad? We scored 38 points on that D.
DCL October 1, 2023 at 5:34 AM

Andy I may be wrong but the fumble by Drone and the scoop and score by Pitt made it 28-21.
1. Rusher October 1, 2023 at 7:33 AM
  
  Yeah, they scored on the screen pass to make it 28-14, then the fumble recovery probably less than a minute later made it 28-21 and I’m sure every long suffering Hokie though, Oh no, here we go ?. But instead we responded ????.
2. Andy Bitter October 1, 2023 at 9:27 AM
  
  Yup, had the touchdowns flipped in my head. Fixed it. Thanks.
nordstrom72 October 1, 2023 at 3:54 AM

Where are all the fair weather Hokie fans when you need them? The sky was falling last week; now it’s not. I thought 5 wins was in reach, and I was criticized off the forum. Maybe Tech will never be this good again this season, but let’s at least give Pry some space. The team clicked tonight. Remember, Beamer didn’t come blazing out of the gates.
1. nkhooch October 1, 2023 at 4:14 AM
  
  I assume they still want to fire the coordinators too.
  1. Mercury October 1, 2023 at 7:15 AM
    
    Of course they do agh
    1. gaholder81 October 1, 2023 at 8:12 AM
      
      I'm right here! And I judge someone's job not by one performance, good OR bad. Bowen's offense now has TWO wins over P5 teams. That's bad on the whole. However, the offense looked great last night! I hope this is the start of a trend. You guys have ONE game as an example of Bowen being good. There is MUCH more evidence he sucks. Having said that, of course I want the team to succeed and win! Pitt is an atrocious team, but we haven't been able to beat atrocious teams the last 1.5 seasons so this is progress no doubt.
  2. phoenixhokie October 1, 2023 at 9:01 AM
    
    Ha! Of course they do. I think they want Dr. Sands, Whit and prolly the Governor to just resign en masse. Dolts.
  3. extremehokie October 1, 2023 at 10:22 AM
    
    It was his best effort to date. But one game does not make a good OC. Let’s hope it continues
2. NRAHokie October 1, 2023 at 6:54 AM
  
  All Hokies want this group to succeed. Reality is neither side of the ball has been prepared well for football against average to below average teams last season and most of this season. Loved the win, we should celebrate but now all is awesome with the program? Still think these coordinators are sketchy
3. Hokie67 October 1, 2023 at 8:58 AM
  
  "Where are all the fair weather Hokie fans when you need them?">>>> They're all over on the Nebraska and Florida boards watching the coaches they wanted to replace FU. That worked out well yesterday.
4. jfhokie October 1, 2023 at 9:46 AM
  
  I told my tailgate people that if we won tonight we will go 6-6 and I'm sticking to it
  1. `lag October 1, 2023 at 11:05 AM
    
    as a decision tree it sure makes a difference, say, 1-5 after FSU vs 2-4 may only be a one game difference but are worlds apart in predicting the future.
5. HokieSpartan October 1, 2023 at 10:45 AM
  
  Taking issue with the coaching staff (a group of highly paid professionals) if no way makes you a fair weather fan.
  1. Bwaterhokie October 1, 2023 at 1:58 PM
    
    The pass from Drones to Layne was impressive. Drones stood in the pocket until the last second before delivering a strike to Layne. Layne showed great speed tonight. If tonight is an indication, VT is in good shape at QB for a couple years.
No_Limit_Hokie October 1, 2023 at 3:24 AM

Dare I hope that this was the game to launch Pry and his staff on their way!!
ColoVT82 October 1, 2023 at 3:12 AM

Amen. Drones gives a bit of a spark. Good to see.

Dynamic Drones, Persistent Ground Game Highlight Hokies' Offensive Surge In Pitt Win

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