“Also, it’s an effort thing in practice”, Evans said. It was the largest audience to witness an American football game in the history of the sport – and they saw a lot of sloppy play from Tech.
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The Hokie defense forced another three and out and the offense soon pounced.
Virginia Tech has won seven conference titles since the Beamer era began; Tennessee has won four in that span. Virginia Tech has been ranked in the final AP poll 16 times since the Beamer era began; Tennessee has been ranked 18 times in that span. Tech’s overall record, including Saturday’s loss, is 239-122-2 since the Beamer era began; Tennessee’s is 246-118-4.
The Hokies started the Battle at Bristol clicking on all cylinders, with quarterback Jerod Evans in the driver’s seat and on track for a dominating victory.
Josh Dobbs extends the Tennessee Football lead.
The turnover shifted the momentum for the rest of the game.
Quarterback Josh Dobbs threw a touchdown pass to Juaun Jennings on the very next play, putting the Vols within a touchdown, 14-7.
Virginia Tech piled up 204 first-quarter yards, held UT to 28 and took what seemed like a commanding 14-0 lead based on the dominance with which it was achieved. Kenny Hill and Derrick Green took turns dicing the Hogs through the ground and air, with Hill finishing off the 8-play, 50-yard drive with a 5-yard scoring dash.
“It’s a hard enough game as it is when you’re playing good people”, Foster said. “It sets you back a little bit”. We gave up a couple cheap runs.
The rout started midway through the third quarter. Kamara. Dobbs. It finally looked like the 2nd half of 2015’s offense as another touchdown extended the Vols’ lead to 24-14 at the half. Now QB Joshua Dobbs and running back Jalen Hurd and the Tennessee Vols look to remain undefeated as they defend their home field in tonight’s game.
Another short field aided the Volunteers on their next possession when Virginia Tech punter and Abingdon product Mitchell Ludwig shanked the attempted kick, which measured out to 11 yards.
“We watched on film (FIU cornerbacks) were going to play soft often so that was something we were going to attack”, Moore said. “We shot ourselves in the foot continually”.
Tennessee is a good football team that deserves credit, but Tech was certainly its own worst enemy. “There’s just that expectation and confidence throughout the unit that we’ll be fine, we’ll go out, make our plays and our time will come”. “. We’ve got to be ready for a physical ballgame”.
Jones said Abernathy has great instincts around the football, and is turning into a leader on Tennessee’s defense. That said, one of these teams is going to have to pass to win. “It was a performance promotion, I guess you could say”.
There were some growing pains for a young Virginia Tech squad while Tennessee’s experience and focus overcame some adversity after the first quarter. Last weekend, Liberty scored two touchdowns off four lost fumbles by Tech. “I was just trying to be consistent”.
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Show me an SEC East team that has shown that fight on consecutive weeks? “We have to learn how to have intensity for 60 minutes”. He closed the day hitting 17-of-29 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, plus the game-winning rushing score.
