By : Mouaz Piracha
(Photo/Mouaz Piracha-The Mojo Network)
Vanderbilt’s offense was a sight to behold, pulling off a stunning second-half comeback to topple Virginia Tech 44–20 at Lane Stadium. The win was a masterclass in seizing momentum, as the Commodores scored 34 unanswered points and found the end zone on their first five possessions after halftime.
Their rushing attack was the engine of the victory, simply overpowering the Hokies’ defense by racking up 262 yards on the ground at a whopping 7.1 yards per carry. Running backs Makhilyn Young and Sedrick Alexander were the difference makers, as Young led the team with 95 rushing yards, while Alexander punched in two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to seal the deal. Quarterback Diego Pavia was calm and collected, going 12-of-18 for 193 yards and two touchdowns.
For Virginia Tech, it was a tale of two very different halves. Quarterback Kyron Drones had the Hokies looking great early on, leading them to a 20–10 halftime lead. But then, everything just collapsed. The offense went completely silent after the break, gaining just 21 total yards as the Hokies were shut out. The defense couldn’t stop Vanderbilt’s relentless ground game, and the turning point came when a crucial sack from Vanderbilt’s CJ Heard completely killed a third-quarter drive, sealing their fate.
So, what's next? For Vanderbilt (2-0), the focus is on carrying this momentum into a huge road test against No. 11 South Carolina. For Virginia Tech (0-2), it's a massive wake-up call. They'll need to figure out how to solve their second-half struggles fast before they host Old Dominion in a must-win game.