By: Amber Miller
The Hokies won for the first time in Heinz stadium since 1999 by a final score of 39-36. Virginia Tech moves to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the ACC with a victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers.
On the first drive of the game, Jerod Evans completed four passes of 10 plus yards with one being a 27-yard pass to Isaiah Ford on the first drive. Joey Slye then made a 31-yard field goal to put the Hokies up by three.
Ford’s sixteen-yard touchdown reception marked the 23rd of his career, which also broke the school record. Ford caught at least 10 passes for the third time in his career.
Joey Slye tied the school’s record and the ACC record with six field goals. Slye also set a Virginia Tech single-game record for points by a kicker with 21 points. “Our operation was good and he was on point. He was smooth in powering it through here. Obviously, we needed every single one of them.” Coach Fuente comments on Joey Slye’s performance.
Jerod Evan’s two touchdown passes gave him 21 on the season, marking the most by a Hokie first-year starter. Evans completed 24-for-40 passes. “Jerod wants to play and wants to play well. He works hard. He has battled through some adversity on the football field.” Coach Fuente comments about Evans pushing through his ankle injury in the third quarter.
Bucky Hodges, after being awarded “Tight End of the Week” , had a personal best, six catches for 145 yards.
Cam Phillips also set a personal best with 109 receiving yards and 43 yards on the ground.
Virginia Tech finished with 56 yards of offense. James Conner from the Panthers rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns. Pittsburgh finished with 458 yards of offense with outstanding performances from Brian O’Neill and Nathan Peterman.
Bud Foster comments on the upcoming match up against Duke, “We have to go 1-0 every week. If we do that, everything will take care of itself after that.”
The Hokies are on the road again to match up with the Blue Devils next Saturday, November 5th. The Hokies have suffered two of the three past contests against Duke. Kick-off time is TBA.
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