The Jackets kept their perfect season alive with a 35-20 win over Virginia Tech on Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Tech moved to 6-0 (3-0 ACC) with the win, marking the program’s best start since 2011 and only the second time in the last 59 years that the Jackets have opened a season with six straight wins.
From the second toe met leather, Tech controlled the game. Quarterback Haynes King led the way with another strong performance, completing 20 of 24 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 60 yards and two scores. His 83% completion rate was the second-highest single-game mark in school history.
Running back Malachi Hosley also had a great performance, rushing for a career-best 129 yards on just 11 carries, including a 15-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The University of Pennsylvania transfer recorded his second 100-yard game of the season and 12th of his college career.
Tech’s offense was sharp from the start, scoring on their first three drives to take an early lead. King opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run before connecting with Malik Rutherford on a 9-yard touchdown pass. A field goal from Aidan Birr made it 18-0 before the Hokies finally answered late in the first half.
Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones tried to rally, finishing with 181 passing yards, two touchdown passes and 83 rushing yards. But Tech’s defense made key stops, including a fourth-down sack on the Hokies’ final drive.
The Jackets’ defense performed well, holding Virginia Tech to 0-for-8 on third-down conversions. This was the first time Tech has shut out an opponent on third down since 1988. Linebacker Kyle Efford led the defense with seven tackles and a sack while Rodney Shelley recorded his first career interception in the third quarter.
Despite a few defensive lapses on fourth down, Tech kept control. The Hokies tried to catch up and made the score 21-14 early in the third quarter, but Hosley’s touchdown run and King’s 26-yard scoring dash in the fourth quarter brought Tech’s lead to 35-14, putting the game out of reach.
The win was Tech’s ninth straight victory at home, marking the program’s longest home winning streak since 1991. The crowd of 50,878 was the largest at Bobby Dodd Stadium since 2018. The Jackets are the first ACC team to clinch bowl eligibility this season, with Oct. 12th the second-earliest date Tech has reached the required win total.
Next up, Tech hits the road for a massive ACC matchup against Duke on Saturday. With their undefeated record intact and confidence running high, the Jackets will hope to keep their remarkable season rolling against the high-powered Blue Devils, who currently sit third in the conference.
The post Tech Football Stays Perfect, Rolls Past Virginia Tech 35-20 appeared first on Technique.