Shorthanded No. 20 Va. Tech blasts NC State, 45-24

Article content

Khalil Herbert rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown to lead No. 20 Virginia Tech to a 45-24 win over North Carolina State in an ACC contest in Blacksburg, Va., on Saturday.

The Hokies took a 17-0 lead 7:49 into the game on a 46-yard field goal by Brian Johnson, a 37-yard touchdown run by Herbert and an 8-yard touchdown run by Raheem Blackshear.

NC State cut its deficit to 17-7 with 7:22 left until halftime on a 3-yard touchdown run by Ricky Person, but Virginia Tech responded.

Filling in after starting quarterback Braxton Burmeister left the game with an injury, Virginia Tech quarterback Quincy Patterson hit Tayvion Robinson for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 2:48 left until halftime to give the Hokies a 24-7 lead.

Virginia Tech then went up 31-7 with 42 seconds left in the first half on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Patterson to James Mitchell.

NC State made it 31-10 on Chris Dunn’s 53-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.

Following a pair of field goals in the third quarter by Johnson that gave Virginia Tech a 37-10 lead, the Wolfpack closed to within 37-17 with 2:18 left in the third on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Devin Leary to C.J. Riley.

Virginia Tech all but put the game away with 8:56 remaining, when Patterson scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, and a successful 2-point conversion gave the Hokies a 45-17 lead.

The Wolfpack made it 45-24 with 4:03 left on a 1-yard touchdown run by Jordan Houston.

Before the game, it was announced that Virginia Tech would be without 23 players due to injury and undisclosed reasons, including first-string quarterback Hendon Hooker and starting defensive back Jermaine Waller.

In addition, new defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton, who was supposed to coach in his first game since taking over for the retired Bud Foster, also missed the game.

–Field Level Media

Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis.