Three keys to the Hokies’ victory against Georgia Tech

Virginia Tech looks to get its third straight win this weekend against Georgia Tech and its third win in ACC play this season.

What are the Hokies’ three keys to victory against the Yellow Jackets?

1. Be prepared for either quarterback.

So far, Georgia Tech has yet to name a starting quarterback for this weekend’s game, and both options have proven to be dual threats, a type of quarterback that the Hokies have struggled against. The Hokies’ defense has had a difficult time containing dual-threat quarterbacks this season, as all of their losses have come against players with that skill set. Haynes King and Zach Pyron are capable running backs, each with over 100 rushing yards and multiple rushing touchdowns this season. It will be interesting to see how the Hokies plan to defend against either of them.

2. Reduce turnovers and execute the ball efficiently

Georgia Tech has proven to be a strong run-stopping team, allowing just 103.7 rushing yards per game this season. This is crucial for the Hokies, who prefer to run the ball but have struggled with ball security against certain teams. Georgia Tech will likely take advantage of the mistakes as they average 30.4 points per game. If Virginia Tech falls behind, they will have a harder time maintaining their running game, forcing them to adopt a different style of play than the one they prefer. The Hokies are currently averaging 209.3 rushing yards per game and running back Bhayshul Tuten is on a nine-game touchdown streak. If they start strong on both offense and defense, running the ball like they normally do shouldn’t be a problem, making a win more attainable, especially with Tuten coming off a four-touchdown performance last week.

3. Consistency in all quarters

Since the start of the season, the Hokies have struggled with consistency, which has already cost them three games. They tend to start strong in the first quarter or first half and then struggle in the second half, or vice versa. This pattern is worrying, especially against stronger teams where that inconsistency could result in a loss. For example, last week they led Boston College 28-0 at halftime, but then allowed 21 unanswered points before finally securing the victory by scoring 14 straight points in the fourth quarter to finish 42-21. If this happens again this weekend, the result could be different, which wouldn’t be ideal against a team you’re expected to dominate.

Additional links:

Virginia Tech vs Georgia Tech: Three players to watch in the Yellow Jackets’ offense

Virginia Tech football: Three things the Hokies need to fix ahead of their showdown with Georgia Tech

Virginia Tech Football: Could Bhayshul Tuten catch up to Ashton Jeanty as the nation’s leading rusher?