Erasing Progress: Defense at Fault for Virginia Tech's 38-31 Loss to Syracuse
After weeks of strong and stout defense, Virginia Tech took a big step backward in their loss to Syracuse.
Just when you think you have it figured out, you’re wrong.
If I told you that Virginia Tech would score 31 points without Kyron Drones and Bhayshul Tuten, and lead Syracuse 21-3 midway through the third quarter, you would expect the Hokies to win, right?
Think again.
Instead, Tech’s defense allowed five touchdowns in a quarter-and-a-half plus overtime to lose to the Orange 38-31 ahead of what was supposed to be a relevant matchup with Clemson next weekend.
Ali Jennings’s 12-yard touchdown reception with 7:44 remaining in the third quarter gave Virginia Tech a 21-3 lead. Given how well defense, and short-handed offense, had played up to that point, nobody would fault you for expecting Tech to cruise to a win.
How wrong you would be…
Syracuse’s Justus Ross-Hammond, who has the same number of receptions as I do this season, caught a 55-yard touchdown to draw the Orange within 11. That started a string of five touchdowns in six possessions, which included the Orange’s overtime touchdown to win the game.
Rather than lean on the passing game as they have all season, Syracuse put it in the gut of LeQuint Allen 21 times on Saturday for 121 yards and three touchdowns, with all three scores coming amid Syracuse’s roaring comeback.
Allen’s second-half success is maddening, considering Saturday was his first game of 100 or more rush yards. The Orange entered Saturday 128th in rush yards per game and 127th in yards per rush.
The Hokies’ defense has been reliable for much of 2024, and especially so during Virginia Tech’s three-game win streak that came to a screeching halt on Saturday. Tech held their own against Miami in September, and bottled up Stanford, Boston College, and Georgia Tech in October.
Tech’s defense seemed poised to contain a Syracuse offense that hadn’t faced a defense as good as the Hokies this season. For the first portion of Saturday’s game, they did exactly that.
But when it mattered, Virginia Tech’s defense folded like a cheap lawn chair in the face of an offense that hadn’t threatened them all day long.
The defense’s regression on Saturday sows doubt that Brent Pry and his coaching staff will ever be able to cement any of the progress they’ve made. Kyron Drones’ development has stalled, and what was an improving unit faltered when the lights came on. Hopefully the offensive line and running game aren’t next.
At a certain point, you have to start building on things, not ripping them down and starting over. Progress cannot be made if you’re constantly taking steps backward after taking steps forward. That’s stagnation.
In Year 3, Brent Pry and his coaching staff cannot afford to be stagnant. You’ve got to move forward and closer to the end goal.
Saturday was a large step backward, and it left me wondering if this is really working at all.
Tough article, but not untrue. One of many skeptical Hokies right now, hoping and praying they can find their grit! Go Hokies!
I was there and could feel it slipping away after the first TD. Delane spent most of the 2nd half in the medical tent and most of the D line disappeared in the 2nd half. They absolutely couldn’t stop the run and I question whether they took their foot off the gas. Schlee did way better than I expected as did Thomas but I questioned why they did not run the clock down more often instead of leaving time on the play clock. Embarrassing to be a Hokie taking that L when you knew you had them. One Hokie fan said to me, “ same old Virginia Tech football.” I agree and yet I wonder why we still think this could change.