Halftime: Virginia Tech Hokies Lead Old Dominion Monarchs, 17-0

It’s Military Appreciation Day in Blacksburg! After a fantastic section flyover by USAF F-22 Raptors the Virginia Tech Hokies and Old Dominion Monarchs got down to the business of their first ever meeting on a football field. The upstart Monarchs recently transitioned from the FCS to the FBS. Last year, Old Dominion just missed the C-USA Championship game, but finished the season 10-3 with a bowl win!

Joey Slye opened the game with a touchback, in front of a sold-out crowd at Lane Stadium. 17-year-old Steven Williams Jr. lead the Monarchs’ offense onto Worsham Field. ODU converted a first down, but soon found themselves facing a 4^th and 1 at the 49-yard line. In a surprising decision, the Monarchs went for it and were stuffed. On the Hokies ensuing drive Cam Phillips recorded a reception for the 31^st straight game, breaking Isaiah Ford’s program record of 30 straight games. Virginia Tech stalled at the Old Dominion ten-yard line. Joey Slye and the field goal unit trotted out for a 23-yard attempt. Unfortunately, Slye missed his fourth attempt of the year, bringing his season total to 6/10.

The Hokie defense served ODU a quick three-and-out. Greg Stroman had a 16-yard punt return and VT took over at the ODU 49. Josh Jackson found Cam Phillips for 29 yards, but the Hokies offense again stalled in the red zone. Joey Slye found himself back on the field and provided something of a redemption when he was good from 31 yards. Hokies take the lead, 3-0.

The Monarchs strung passes of 12 and 13 yards to put ODU near mid-field before a slew of incomplete passes sent the punt team out. After a Stroman fair catch the Hokies started at their nine-yard line, the team’s worst field position of the day. VT fought out to the 37-yard line but were forced to punt. The first quarter came to a close with the Hokies still leading, 3-0.

This game seems to be the spiritual successor of the Delaware game from two weeks ago. The defense is holding ODU. The VT offense is simple, taking only what ODU gives them rather than showing any flash or taking risks.

The second quarter started and then some stuff happened and both teams had a possession and then they both punted. I wonder what’s happening with Florida State and N.C. State...

Anyway, at around the ten minute mark in 2Q the Monarchs finally crossed mid-field into Hokies territory. Just kidding, they were held on their side of the field, still unaware of what the grass on the VT side feels like... then there was another punt. A fair catch. Hokies start on their 20... and, hey look at that! A 23 yard pass to Cam Phillips! Nice! The Hokies started rolling on offense, finding their way deep into the Monarchs territory. Then, on his 99th pass of the season, Josh Jackson finally threw his first interception. Boo!

Monarchs took over on their 14 yard line and immediately suffered a false start. ODU tried for a deep ball but Facyson had the coverage and the throw was long. Then there was a screen pass... and... man, Georgia Tech is really beating up on Pitt...

OH! YOU GUYS A THING HAPPENED! Old Dominion tried the deep ball again and then Divine Deablo picked it and the Hokies offense was back in ODU territory with every intention of seriously flirting with maybe scoring. Maybe. Josh Jackson also tried the deep ball for Phillips into the endzone, and it totally would have been a TD but the Monarchs DBs were forced to cheat to save the score. With the pass interference the Hokies were back in the ODU territory. Jackson hit Peoples for a 17 yard screen pass that carried the Hokies to the first TD of the game. Finally. Hokies up 10-0.

After another Slye touch back the Monarchs took over at their 25. ODU’s young QB had a nice run on third down to keep their drive alive. Three incomplete passes later and Old Dominion punted, and the Hokies had it at their 23. It was C.J. Carroll’s turn to catch the ball, so he did that to move the Hokies five yards. On a third and long Jackson found Phillips for consecutive receptions and 42 yards. With the catches, Cam Phillips crossed the 100 yard mark. A 12 yard rumbler from Steven Peoples took the Hokies back into the Monarch’s red zone with under a minute in the half. There were like a billion timeouts, but with 43 seconds left on the clock it appeared that Jackson had scored on a QB keeper, but that ruling was called back after a review. First and goal... and then Steven Peoples ran it in. Now it’s 17-0, Hokies.

The Hokies showing a little more life late in the second quarter, but expect more calm and methodical execution by Fuente and Virginia Tech!

Go Hokies!!!