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VATECH |
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Holston scores 3 TDs, Virginia Tech trips up Liberty 23-22
LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) Virginia Tech had a pair of fourth-quarter leads slip through their fingers during its seven-game losing streak. Whatever could go wrong over the final 15 minutes seemingly did for the Hokies.
Tech reversed its fortunes with two key takeaways and a go-ahead score that capped a career performance for its top running back.
Jalen Holston rushed for 99 yards and a career-high three touchdowns and Virginia Tech snapped a seven-game losing streak by stunning Liberty 23-22 on Saturday.
''They persevered, handled the adversity and learned to get better through it,'' Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry said. ''It was a good football team we beat today.''
The Hokies' defense, maligned during the lengthy losing skid, came up with three big stops in the final minutes to first erase a five-point deficit and then hold onto a precious one-point lead.
Liberty backup quarterback Kaidon Salter, who led the team with 119 yards on 12-of-18 passing, lost a fumble early in the fourth quarter with the Flames (8-3) leading 22-17.
The Hokies (3-8, 1-6 ACC) answered with their third lengthy scoring drive of the game. This one lasted 13 plays and picked up 64 yards, culminating in Holston's 1-yard plunge for a 23-22 advantage with 7:46 remaining.
''He did run well,'' Liberty coach Hugh Freeze said of Holston. ''They blocked well and they had a good plan.''
Liberty turned it over on downs on the following possession when Salter was unable to find an open receiver while under duress on a fourth-and-12 pass. The Flames were able to force a punt with a chance to win it in the final minutes.
TyJuan Garbutt recorded the Hokies' fifth and final sack of the game when he stripped quarterback Johnathan Bennett of the ball and Jaylen Griffin recovered with 2:49 remaining.
Holston picked up a key first down despite Liberty defensive linemen attempting to carry him into the end zone in order for the Flames' offense to get the ball back.
''They were in what is called `surrender.' Their best opportunity to win the game was to let us score,'' Pry said. ''From the get-go, we let our kids know that we would not be scoring on that drive. We wanted to get the first down and go down after the first down so we can run the clock out. Our staff did a great job managing that situation.''
Holston's 99 rushing yards were part of a season-high 176-yard attack on the ground for the Hokies. Keshawn King added 78 yards on 11 carries.
Quarterback Grant Wells completed 14 of 20 passes for 148 yards.
Bennett, who started the game at quarterback for Liberty, threw for 98 yards and scored the Flames' only offensive touchdown on a 15-yard run with 2:34 remaining in the first quarter.
Shedro Louis rushed for 64 yards on nine carries. He missed last week's game at Connecticut while attending his father's funeral in Immokalee, Florida.
THE TAKEAWAY
Virginia Tech: The Hokies showed some fight and took a 23-22 lead in the fourth quarter on Holston's third rushing touchdown of the game. It was Tech's first fourth-quarter points since tallying 14 on Oct. 15 against Miami.
Liberty: The Flames dropped their second straight game after rising to 19th in the AP Poll two weeks ago.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech: Wraps up the regular season Saturday against Virginia.
Liberty: Completes a two-game homestand with its regular-season finale Saturday against New Mexico State. Both teams are future members of Conference USA.
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
J. Holston
0 RB 99 RuYds, 3 RuTDs, 5 ReYds, 2 RECs |
|
J. Bennett
11 QB 98 PaYds, 20 RuYds, RuTD |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 19 | 20 |
Rushing | 14 | 6 |
Passing | 5 | 12 |
Penalty | 0 | 2 |
3rd Down Conv | 6-18 | 4-12 |
4th Down Conv | 3-3 | 0-1 |
Total Net Yards | 324 | 328 |
Total Plays | 79 | 63 |
Avg Gain | 4.1 | 5.2 |
Net Yards Rushing | 176 | 120 |
Rush Attempts | 59 | 29 |
Avg Rush Yards | 3.0 | 4.1 |
Yards Passing | 148 | 208 |
Comp. - Att. | 14-20 | 20-34 |
Yards Per Pass | 3.2 | 4.7 |
Penalties - Yards | 4-45 | 4-27 |
Touchdowns | 3 | 1 |
Rushing TDs | 3 | 1 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
Fumbles - Lost | 1-0 | 2-2 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 7-43.9 | 6-35.8 |
Return Yards | 3 | -9 |
Punts - Returns | 2-3 | 1--9 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 1 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
G. Wells
6 QB
|
G. Wells | 14/20 | 148 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Holston
0 RB
|
J. Holston | 26 | 99 | 3 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. King
23 RB
|
K. King | 11 | 78 | 0 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Love
97 K
|
J. Love | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Wells
6 QB
|
G. Wells | 16 | 4 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Black
28 RB
|
C. Black | 1 | -3 | 0 | -3 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
N. Gallo
86 TE
|
N. Gallo | 2 | 2 | 45 | 0 | 35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Wright
13 TE
|
D. Wright | 2 | 2 | 35 | 0 | 32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. King
23 RB
|
K. King | 4 | 4 | 31 | 0 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Blue
2 WR
|
J. Blue | 2 | 2 | 23 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Smith
80 WR
|
K. Smith | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Holston
0 RB
|
J. Holston | 4 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Lofton
3 WR
|
D. Lofton | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Gosnell
12 WR
|
S. Gosnell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jones
88 WR
|
J. Jones | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
T. Garbutt
45 DL
|
T. Garbutt | 3-0 | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Lawson
21 LB
|
K. Lawson | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Pollard
3 DL
|
N. Pollard | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Hollifield
4 LB
|
D. Hollifield | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
J. Love
97 K
|
J. Love | 1/1 | 23 | 2/2 | 5 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
P. Moore
85 P
|
P. Moore | 7 | 43.9 | 3 | 55 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
C. Beck
14 WR
|
C. Beck | 3 | 25.7 | 40 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
T. Holloway 11 WR
|
T. Holloway | 2 | 1.5 | 4 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
K. Salter
7 QB
|
K. Salter | 12/18 | 119 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Bennett
11 QB
|
J. Bennett | 8/15 | 98 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
S. Louis
1 RB
|
S. Louis | 9 | 64 | 0 | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Salter
7 QB
|
K. Salter | 10 | 23 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Bennett
11 QB
|
J. Bennett | 9 | 20 | 1 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Green
2 RB
|
T. Green | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
N. Frith
5 WR
|
N. Frith | 5 | 4 | 74 | 0 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Douglas
3 WR
|
D. Douglas | 11 | 9 | 60 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Hanshaw
15 TE
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B. Hanshaw | 1 | 1 | 25 | 0 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jackson
88 TE
|
J. Jackson | 5 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Sibley
21 WR
|
T. Sibley | 3 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Snead
8 WR
|
C. Snead | 3 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Louis
1 RB
|
S. Louis | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Yarbrough
13 WR
|
C. Yarbrough | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
J. Scruggs
1 S
|
J. Scruggs | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Smith Jr.
7 LB
|
M. Smith Jr. | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Clark
10 DE
|
T. Clark | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Johnson
11 DE
|
D. Johnson | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Dupree
35 LB
|
T. Dupree | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Walker
34 LB
|
A. Walker | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Charles
91 DT
|
K. Charles | 1-1 | 1.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Reese
16 S
|
Q. Reese | 0-1 | 0.5 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
N. Brown
42 K
|
N. Brown | 2/2 | 47 | 2/2 | 8 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
A. Alves
46 P
|
A. Alves | 6 | 35.8 | 2 | 46 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
S. Louis
1 RB
|
S. Louis | 3 | 53.3 | 97 | 1 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
D. Douglas 3 WR
|
D. Douglas | 1 | -9.0 | -9 | 0 |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | VATECH 15 | 2:19 | 3 | 9 | Punt |
11:07 | VATECH 20 | 4:10 | 8 | 80 | TD |
6:20 | VATECH 29 | 0:44 | 3 | 2 | Punt |
2:34 | VATECH 33 | 4:25 | 12 | 67 | TD |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
11:32 | VATECH 36 | 4:26 | 10 | 59 | FG |
6:52 | VATECH 25 | 3:09 | 6 | 20 | Punt |
1:53 | VATECH 22 | 0:51 | 3 | 3 | Punt |
0:05 | VATECH 25 | 0:05 | 1 | -2 | Half |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
12:44 | VATECH 10 | 0:40 | 2 | -10 | Safety |
10:32 | VATECH 6 | 3:05 | 6 | 29 | Punt |
3:50 | VATECH 40 | 2:56 | 5 | 14 | Punt |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
13:17 | VATECH 36 | 5:31 | 13 | 64 | TD |
4:28 | VATECH 40 | 1:09 | 3 | -5 | Punt |
2:49 | LIB 14 | 2:49 | 5 | 1 | Game |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
12:41 | LIB 34 | 1:34 | 3 | 8 | Punt |
6:57 | LIB 25 | 0:37 | 3 | 5 | Punt |
5:36 | LIB 11 | 3:02 | 8 | 89 | TD |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
13:09 | LIB 25 | 1:37 | 4 | 23 | Punt |
3:43 | LIB 14 | 1:50 | 5 | 22 | Punt |
1:02 | LIB 20 | 0:57 | 8 | 51 | FG |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | LIB 37 | 2:16 | 6 | 20 | Punt |
12:04 | VATECH 48 | 1:32 | 3 | 0 | Punt |
7:27 | LIB 24 | 3:37 | 9 | 57 | FG |
0:54 | LIB 10 | 2:37 | 6 | 47 | Fumble |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
7:46 | LIB 25 | 3:18 | 8 | 36 | Downs |
3:19 | LIB 22 | 0:30 | 2 | -5 | Fumble |
- Punt (3 plays, 9 yards, 2:19 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (15:00 - 1st) J.Stricker kicks 61 yards from LIB 35 to the VT 4. C.Beck returns the kickoff. Tackled by LIB at VT 15. |
+4 YD | 1 & 10 - VATECH 15 (14:53 - 1st) K.King rushed to VT 19 for 4 yards. Tackled by T.Clark at VT 19. |
+1 YD | 2 & 6 - VATECH 19 (14:26 - 1st) G.Wells pass complete to VT 19. Catch made by K.King at VT 19. Gain of 1 yards. Tackled by LIB at VT 20. |
+4 YD | 3 & 5 - VATECH 20 (13:50 - 1st) G.Wells pass complete to VT 20. Catch made by D.Lofton at VT 20. Gain of 4 yards. Tackled by LIB at VT 24. |
Punt | 4 & 1 - VATECH 24 (12:49 - 1st) P.Moore punts 42 yards to LIB 34 Center-J.Pollock. Fair catch by D.Douglas. |