Virginia Tech Hokies cornerback Dorian Strong (44) has gone airborne in an attempt to intercept a pass intended for Stanford Cardinal wide receiver Ismael Cisse (84) at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto on Sat Oct 5, 2024 (AP News photo)
By Michael Roberson
STANFORD, Calif. — A blazing 89 degrees was a contributing factor why the Stanford Cardinal (2-3, 1-2 ACC) realized hosting the inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference game at Stanford Stadium was Too Hot to handle, and lost to the Virginia Tech Hokies (3-3, 1-1 ACC), 31-7.
The visitors from the Old Dominion State won the coin toss, but graciously deferred the ball to the hosts. Unfortunately Stanford did not cherish the benevolent gift. They failed to convert any points on the scoreboard.
As the Cardinal took the snap on the first drive of the game, there was a chang under center. Backup junior QB Justin Lamson was the starter, as Ashton Daniels was out with an ankle injury, reportedly from the game last week at Clemson.
Lamson was sacked on a crucial 3rd down play, around the 10 minute mark, resulting in a field goal attempt To the team’s dismay, senior kicker Emmet Kenney missed a 53-yarder.. Despite good intentions during the initial possession, the Cardinal ended up with a “Goose Egg, 0-0.
The Hokies on the other hand, were determined to reach paydirt. More than midway though the first quarter, redshirt-junior QB, Kyron Drones hit graduate WR Stephen Gosnell for a 9-yard touchdown pass. Virginia Tech scored first and put seven points on the board and led 7-0 late in the quarter, However, Stanford still had time to deliver the equalizer.
Lamson tried a QB keeper with :12 left in the first 15; he was hit at the goal line with the opportunity to tie the game, consequently fumbling and turning the ball over to theards into the end zone, doubling their score. Two scoring opportunities thwarted for various reasons. After one quarter of play, 7-0 Virginia Tech.
In the second stanza, the Hokies went on a nearly 7-minute drive, culminating in another score just under the 2-minute timeout before halftime. Senior running back Bhayshal Tuten scampered seven yards into the end zone, doubling their score midway through the game, 14-0. That was their third halftime shutout of the year.
The third quarter provided the Hokies the opportunity to triple their original score in only four plays and just under two minutes. Drones launched a 55-yard TD pass to graduate WR Da’Quan Felton, to give VA Tech a commanding 21-0 lead with almost 3/4 of the contest being over. However, the Cardinal had something to say and do before quarter’s end.
On a trick play, freshman running back Micah Ford tossed a 19-yard TD to redshirt sophomore WR Elic Ayomanor, with a minute remaining in the third quadrant, 21-7 VA Tech. That was all the scoring for the Cardinal, as the Hokies tagged on 10 more points in the final quarter.
Lawson threw an interception early in the quarter, in which the Hokies capitalized on the turnover. A few minutes later, Drones scores on a QB keeper for a 2-yard TD. The Hokies were up 28-7 and capped off the blistering afternoon five minutes later with a 46-yard field goal by redshirt sophomore kicker Josh Love. After 60 minutes of scorching heat, the Virginia Tech Hokies won the conference game, 31-7.
Stanford will next be in action Saturday October 12 in South Bend, IN to take on Notre Dame at 12:30 PM EST. on NBC. Virginia Tech goes back to Blacksburg Thursday October 17, to host Boston College at 4:30 PM EST on ESPN.
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