Virginia Tech’s Pop Watson led his team to victory over rival Virginia with a strong performance on Saturday. Watson threw for 254 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another score, while Bhayshul Tuten added 124 yards rushing and two touchdowns. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Hokies and secured their second consecutive bowl eligibility.
Despite injuries to their top two quarterbacks, Virginia Tech’s third-string quarterback, Watson, delivered a stellar performance, leading the team to four scoring drives in the first half. The Hokies jumped out to a 20-3 lead at halftime and never looked back, finishing with a 37-17 victory over Virginia.
On the defensive side, Virginia Tech’s Antwaun Powell-Ryland stood out with three sacks in the game, bringing his season total to 16 sacks. Head coach Brent Pry praised Powell-Ryland, even suggesting he should be considered for ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
Virginia, on the other hand, struggled to find success against the Hokies once again, losing for the fourth consecutive time and for the 22nd time in the past 24 meetings. Despite showing emotional readiness, the Cavaliers lacked execution and discipline, finishing the season with a 5-7 record.
Looking ahead, Virginia’s season is over, while Virginia Tech is awaiting their bowl opponent. The Hokies have remained resilient throughout the season, often needing a win in their rivalry game against Virginia to secure bowl eligibility, and have succeeded in doing so seven times in the past 12 seasons.
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