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The Virginia Tech Hokies kicked off to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to start the game and the defense quickly held Ian Book and the Notre Dame offense to a three-and-out. Quincy Patterson II showed up on field to lead the Hokie offense, but also suffered a three-and-out. A Dax Holyfield interception halted the Irish’s second drive, in the Hokie red zone. Early in the first quarter the VT offense struggled to get any rhythm going beneath a blanket of bland play-calling. After four three-and-outs in a row Patterson started hitting his passes and the Hokies drove deep into Notre Dame territory. After a gutsy fourth down conversion Patterson hit Hazelton for an eight-yard TD. At the end of the first quarter the Hokies only had 45 yards to the Irish’s 132, but with the TD the score reset to 7-7.
Book and the Irish were quick to retort and immediately drove the field to retake the lead, 14-7. In response the Hokies achieved their FIFTH three-and-out of the half and only managed to burn 0:51 seconds before returning the ball. The VT defense forced an Irish punt, and the offense returned to the three-and-out well, notching their sixth. THEIR SIXTH. With the Hokies finding some offense and less than five minutes to go in the half, the QB – RB exchange was fumbled, and the Hokies went from being on the ND 38-yard line, in a scoring position, to defending on their own 42 yard-line. And then… Notre Dame fumbled on the one-yard line and Divine Deablo ran 98-yards to tie the score. The half ends, 14-14, with the Hokies still very much in it, after several close calls. VT receives to start the second half!