LISTEN: @CuseFootball struggled mightily in its 38-10 loss to @HokiesFB. @bespector and @Jackgordon10_ had the call for SU's fourth consecutive defeat. pic.twitter.com/3he87SUpcm
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) October 27, 2023
The numbers don’t lie. Syracuse football (4-4, 0-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) was outgained 528-137 by Virginia Tech (4-4, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) on Thursday night in a 38-10 thrashing.
Hokie running backs Bhayshul Tuten and Malachi Thomas combined for 205 yards on the ground, and quarterback Kyron Drones added 65 of his own. VT set season highs in rushing yards (318) and total yards (528) while winning for the third time in four games.
On the other hand, SU's offense looked completely stagnant once again, rushing for zero yards even though VT entered the game in the bottom third of the conference in rushing defense.
“We have to go out and be a little bit more aggressive offensively,” head coach Dino Babers said. “To do it consistently over a long period of time, we just haven’t been able to do it.”
The Orange have lost four straight contests by an average of 29 points. Senior Garrett Shrader had 138 yards through the air with a touchdown, but he was under constant pressure all night and was sacked a career high eight times.
LISTEN: DL Norell Pollard crushed SU's Garrett Shrader in the backfield. @Jackgordon10_ called the Hokies' seventh sack of the night.
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) October 27, 2023
🎙️@waer883, https://t.co/BG0Q3sGq3P pic.twitter.com/OXhaqlL3sZ
Virginia Tech set the tone right from the jump and scored on its first six possessions. Wide receiver Da'Quan Felton had a pair of touchdown receptions: one from Drones, and the other on a tailback pass by Thomas. The Hokies increased the lead thanks to a three-yard scamper by Tuten and three field goals from kicker John Love. VT entered the locker room with a 30-3 advantage after gaining 341 yards and 17 first downs.
“Virginia Tech came out with something different and caught us by surprise,” SU junior Marlowe Max said. “At the end of the day, though, we have to execute.”
Drones's strong effort helped the Hokies cruise from there, as he topped 1,000 yards passing for the season. In the later stages, the Baylor transfer threw his 151st consecutive passes without an interception. That mark broke Sean Glennon's previous record of 149 attempts set in 2007.
“The biggest thing is, you keep him [Drones] in the pocket with what you do with your line stunts and your linebackers,” Babers said. “But that’s a big old cat, and there were a couple times where we hit him and we didn’t bring him down.
After a month on the road, Syracuse returns to the JMA Wireless Dome on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. start against Boston College (4-3, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference). WAER's coverage begins at 7 p.m. with McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Kickoff.
