Virginia Tech 31, West Virginia 24

The Hokies move to 2-0 on the season with wins over the Mountaineers and FedExField.

Relief. Exhaustion. Excitement. Pick your emotion. I choose disbelief.

We live in an alternate universe now. The world where Virginia Tech wins football games at FedExField. The one where the Hokies' offense answers the bell in a back-and-forth contest. In the same place, Tech knocks off ranked opponents in marquee season openers.

The existance where those three truths intersects is foreign, if not a bit weird. Oh look over there, the sink is leaking chicken wings again. Grab the ranch dressing.

Dissect Virginia Tech's 31-24 win over West Virginia at your peril. To reach a conclusion as to why the Hokies won, other than the obvious, is complicated.

The Mountaineers ran 89 plays and racked up 592 yards of offense. That's an uncharacteristically high amount of yardage ceded by a Bud Foster unit. Yet there was a span throughout the first half where Tech ran 13 plays and punted 4 times, and the gassed D only gave up a touchdown. That same offense employed a largely conservative approach in the opening half only to take more risks and become more productive down the back-nine. Only 3-of-8 Tech second-half drives ended in punts, whereas Australian Oscar Bradburn finished off 5-of-7 first-half drives with a boot. Each unit complimented the other — the defense got the crucial stop, the offense scored to keep pace. Neither unit played elite, but the balance was formidable. That's in stark contrast to the Hokie football many of you grew up on — Beamer Co. in the ACC — where the defense skewed savage and the offense hindered the effort at the other end of the scale.

Josh Jackson met and exceeded any realistic pregame expectations. He certainly made freshman mistakes, especially on throws early in the game, but Jackson didn't make any bad situations worse. At this stage in the game, that high level of poise and his command of the offense were unexpected. As were his 101 rushing yards and score. Jackson gashed West Virginia multiple times on inverted veers, a bread-and-butter Fuente run. That production even caught Cam Phillips off guard.

Jackson's passing stats — 15 of 26 for 235 yards and 1 touchdown — aren't jaw dropping. However, there were plenty of promising passes among his completions.

Touchback machine Joey Slye missing field goals from 38 and 32 yards is uninspiring. The latter attempt could have sealed the win for Tech and closed the door on any possible West Virginia comeback.

The running back rotation wasn't a disaster. That bucks the previous regime's trend of disastrous Virginia Tech running back rotations. Deshawn McClease (8 rushes, 51 yards, 1 TD), Steven Peoples (13 rushes, 39 yards), and Travon McMillian (9 rushes, 34 yards, 1 TD) all chopped up carries and looked like they had a role in the offense moving forward.

Cam Phillips footballs well. The senior caught 7 balls for 138 yards and a score. Attribute that in equal parts to his knack for getting open and because he's Jackson's comfort blanket.

Will Grier is legit. He has a live arm and can create opportunities outside of the pocket with his legs. As it stands now, he's the best QB Tech will face in the regular season. The Hokies' front-four struggled to generate pressure on its own, Foster wasn't keen on regularly sending extra blitzers, and as result the secondary was often left to die in coverage.

Find someone who loves you as much as Frank loves the Black Diamond Trophy.

It's a shame either of these teams had to lose such a spirited and competitive game. Except it isn't. Not for Hokies when it's the Mountaineers across the line. Virginia Tech gutted its longtime rival on national television in the face a sensational performance from the opposition quarterback. Perhaps satisfaction is the most appropriate feel.

Comments

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"It might be dark outside, but it's LeDay in here." - Jay Bilas

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"You know when the Hokies say 'We are Virginia Tech' they're going to mean it."- Lee Corso

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"IT'S A MIRACLE IN BLACKSBURG! TYROD DID IT, MIKEY! TYROD DID IT! TOUCHDOWN TECH!"

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

A decade on TKP and it's been time well spent.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Joffrey, Cersei, Ilyn Payne, the Hound, Jeff Jagodzinski, Paul Johnson, Pat Narduzzi.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

The doll's trying to kill me and the toaster's been laughing at me.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"Our job as coaches is to influence young people's lives for the better in terms of fundamental skills, work ethic, and doing the right thing. Every now and again, a player actually has that effect on the coaching staff." Justin Fuente on Sam Rogers

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"I liked you guys a lot better when everybody told you you were terrible." -Justin Fuente

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction:
“I served in the United States Navy"

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"Take care of the little things and the big things will come."

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Marshall University graduate.
Virginia Tech fanatic.
Formerly known as JWillHokieAlum.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"Take care of the little things and the big things will come."

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"I liked you guys a lot better when everybody told you you were terrible." -Justin Fuente

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

The Orange and Maroon you see, that's fighting on to victory.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Never Forget #1 Overall Seed UVA 54, #64 UMBC 74

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"You know when the Hokies say 'We are Virginia Tech' they're going to mean it."- Lee Corso

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Another white bronco? The first one didn't go too far.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

If you don't want to recruit clowns, don't run a clown show.

"I want to punch people from UVA right in the neck." - Colin Cowherd

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Even when you get skunked; fishing never lets you down. 🎣

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"Take care of the little things and the big things will come."

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

30 years after starting grad school at Virginia Tech, I finally defended my dissertation and earned my PhD.
Don't give up on your dreams.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

If you don't want to recruit clowns, don't run a clown show.

"I want to punch people from UVA right in the neck." - Colin Cowherd

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"...When we step on that field, they bleed like we bleed and we're gonna show the world."
-Corey Marshall

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"I liked you guys a lot better when everybody told you you were terrible." -Justin Fuente

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Even when you get skunked; fishing never lets you down. 🎣

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"I liked you guys a lot better when everybody told you you were terrible." -Justin Fuente

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Reach for Excellence!

VT Football: It'll get after ya!

Proud Hokie since 2004.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

There is nothing in the world like Thursday night in Blacksburg!

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

"...When we step on that field, they bleed like we bleed and we're gonna show the world."
-Corey Marshall

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Old sigline: I've been cutting back on the drinking.

New Sigline: lol it's football season.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

There's always a lighthouse. There's always a man. There's always a city.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

30 years after starting grad school at Virginia Tech, I finally defended my dissertation and earned my PhD.
Don't give up on your dreams.

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

VT Class of '12 (MSE), MVBone, Go Hokies!

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

VT Class of '12 (MSE), MVBone, Go Hokies!

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

You put those words together, those are my favorite words, Popeyes and bahama
- Mike Burnup

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

the numbers don’t lie and they spell disaster

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

I just sit on my couch and b*tch. - HokieChemE2016

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Joffrey, Cersei, Ilyn Payne, the Hound, Jeff Jagodzinski, Paul Johnson, Pat Narduzzi.