Gameday Live Blog/Open Thread: State at Virginia Tech
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- The big news surrounding tonight's football game between NC State and Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium isn't really news at all.
It's that the game is actually going to be played.
That's been in doubt since the middle of last week when the Hokies were forced to postpone their scheduled game against Virginia because of a COVID-19 outbreak within their ranks.
Coach Justin Fuente cast further doubt on the matchup with the Wolfpack on Monday by saying that he hoped to have enough players to field a team. And that even if he does, he wouldn't have a full roster at his disposal for what is the Hokie's season opener.
But here we are, preparing for kickoff.
PREGAME
The inactive lists are out and just as Fuente feared, Tech's is extensive -- 13 defensive players, nine offensive players and two special teams players, along with defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton and three other members of his staff.
The biggest names among the Hokies' inactives are starting quarterback Hendon Hooker and cornerback Jermaine Waller.
As much as Tech will miss Hooker, his replacement -- Oregon transfer Braxton Burmeister -- at least has starting experience. Waller might be the bigger loss, considering the Hokies' secondary is already shorthanded with All-ACC cornerback Caleb Farley having opted out and safety Devon Hunter suspended.
Tech's kicking game will also be worth watching, since long snapper Oscar Shadley is also inactive.
While State's list of inactives is nowhere near as long, it's got some big names on it as well. Not playing tonight are linebacker Payton Wilson, the team's leading tackler last year, starting safety Tanner Ingle and cornerback Teshaun Smith.
All of them are out with football injuries not related to the coronavirus pandemic. ...
Enter Sandman just isn't the same without fans in the stands ..
And here comes the Wolfpack ...
Virginia Tech's band isn't in the stadium, but its presence is being felt. The members are assembled at a location just outside the stadium and are shown on the scoreboard when they begin playing ...
State wins the toss and will defer to the second half. We'll get a look at replacement Tech QB Burmeister right away ...
FIRST QUARTER
Tech starts the game exactly the same way State did with a backup quarterback last week ... a 31-yard run. Then a 16-yard pass in which the receiver broke several tackles. Not the way the Wolfpack wants to start this one. ...
Vi Jones is starting in place of Wilson at LB. Rakeim Ashford is at safety in Ingle's spot and Cecil Powell is starting at corner in place of Smith ...
A nice stop in the backfield by Isaiah Moore and an awful throw by Burmeister on third and 11 will set up a 46-yard field goal attempt Brian Johnson that's good ... no adventure from the backup long snapper as the Hokies draw first blood ...
Tech 3, State 0 with 12:13 left first quarter
A false start penalty and a Hockman sack end the Wolfpack's first possession of the night ...
Gill boots a 57-yard punt ...
Kansas transfer Khalil Herbert, who had the 31 yard run to start the game, now goes 37 yards around left end for a Hokies touchdown. Burmeister also a 22-yard run on the drive and the Wolfpack is in a hole. Three plays, 64 yards, 90 seconds ...
Tackling hasn't gotten any better from last week and the perimeter is just as vulnerable. This could be a VERY long night if DC Tony Gibson doesn't make some adjustments and the offense doesn't put another big number up on the board ...
Tech 10, State 0, 8:30 left first quarter
Wolfpack in a whole heap of trouble now ... first Hockman throws behind Porter Rooks, then he telegraphs a pass on the near sideline to Rooks that's intercepted Tech's Devane Deablo ...
How long before we see Devin Leary?
It won't be long. Tech converts the turnover into a quick TD and it's now ...
Tech 17, State 0 with 7:11 still left in the first.
Hockman still out there ...
And after Bam Knight runs for a first down, he's sacked again, this time by linebacker Rayshard Ashby, the ACC's leading tackler each of the past two years ...
The defense really needs to stop the bleeding here. ... And it gets the stop it desperately needed ... now the offense has to show up.
First quarter mercifully over. State will have a third and four play when the second quarter begins ... Wolfpack needs something good to happen quickly ...
End of 1: Hokies 17, Wolfpack 0
Hockman throws it away as he retreats ... with Ashby in hot pursuit. Not what State needed .... I can't imagine the inevitable QB change can be too far away ...
Everything going the Hokies' way right now -- even when State gets a stop. Tech elects to punt on 4th and inches from its own 35 and the kid bombs a 63-yarder that is downed at the 6. That's where the Wolfpack will start ...
Hockman is 1 for 5 passing with an interception ... four yards and two sacks ...
Another QB hurry credited to Ashby. That kid has been in the State backfield all night ...
And another three-and-out for the Wolfpack ...
Tech helps State out by commiting a taunting penalty after the punt, adding an extra 15 yards to Gill's kick ...
The good news is that the Wolfpack's defense in general -- and Isaiah Moore in particular -- seem to have finally gotten their feet on the ground ... Moore sacks Burmeister and the Hokies QB is hurt ... If he can't go, third stringer Quincy Patterson will have to come in ....
And Patterson is in ...
This is potentially a game-changer ... if the Wolfpack offense can get it's act together ...
Thayer Thomas with a 21-yard punt return gives State it's best field position of the night so far ... Wolfpack starts at the plus 49 ...
State's finally on the board ... Seven play, 49 yard drive ... all on the ground with Knight doing the early damage and Person finishing it off, going in from the three and just like that, we've got a ballgame ...
Tech 17, State 7, 7:22 left in the second
Patterson completes a 33-yard pass on third and four ... the throw was a wounded duck that Tyler Baker-Williams could have knocked down if he'd have turned around ...
Now Patterson completes another third down pass, an 11-yarder that will move the chains again if it stands. Kaleb Smith juggled it and it looked to hit the ground, but ... ACC refs, the call on the field stands. ...
And of course, the Hokies convert it into a touchdown one play later when Patterson hits Tayvion Robinson in the corner of the end zone ...
Tech 24, State 7, 2:48 left second
Hockman had Provillion behind the defense on third and 3, but the ball goes through his hands and the Wolfpack punts again ... That one wasn't on Hockman, but, it doesn't change the fact that he's 1 of 7 for four yards with an interception. ...
Cecil Powell just showed off his elite speed. Problem is, he had to run down a Hokie ballcarrier at the end of a 51 yard run ... Whatever promise the Wolfpack had after its touchdown is quickly fading ...
And now another touchdown pass by Patterson and the rout is on ...
It's now Tech 31, State 7 with 42 seconds left in the half ...
Hockman completes his first pass since early in the game, a 19-yarder to Devin Carter. Now he hits Rooks, who makes a leaping catch, for 23. Where was this earlier?
With time running out, Christopher comes in to try a 53-yard field goal. His career long is 49 ... It's good. But as if the first half wasn't bad enough, Ickey Ekwonu is called for unsportsmanlike conduct after the kick, so the 15-yard penalty will be assessed on the second half kickoff ...
Halftime: Virginia Tech 31, State 10
THIRD QUARTER
Second verse, same as the first ...
Hockman with an awful read on a third-and-nine pass near midfield. He had a man coming across the middle open for a first down, but threw instead to sideline to a well-covered man on the far sideline. Instead, he threw it right to a Hokies DB, who returned it 41 yards ...
State's defense does well to limit the damage, forcing a 29 yard field goal, but it only gets worse ... it's now 34-10.
This has to be the end of the line for Hockman, right?
Nope. He's still out there.
Another sack ends another State possession. The offensive line that earned so much syrup last week looks like its feet has been stuck in syrup tonight. ... Hockman has only been sacked three times, but he's been on the run a lot ...
Burmeister back in at QB for Tech ...
The good news for State in the second half is that it's only giving up field goals instead of touchdowns. But the deficit still continues to grow. It's now
Tech 37, State 10 with 5:22 still left in the third
Finally, Leary comes into the game. It will be interesting to see how, if any, the playcalling changes now that Beck has a new QB out there that he presumably has more confidence in ..
Leary is sacked ... the offensive line is having a horrendous night ...
State going for it on fourth and eight at midfield. Why not?
Leary throws a bullet to Carter for a 36-yard gain. It was a great route by Carter and a crisp, bullet of a pass by Leary. He should have been out there much earlier than this ...
And then he hits C.J. Riley in the end zond for a touchdown. That's Riley's first catch since 2018. He was hurt in the first half of the opening game last year while covering a punt ...
Again, why did they wait so long to get the QB they've wanted out there all along into the game?
Tech 37, State 17
Khalid Martin is injured and being worked on by the medical staff. He's on his back and not moving. This doesn't look good ...
Here comes the back board. And now the ambulance is backing onto the field. He does not appear to be moving his legs. WPN, you might want to say a prayer for the kid.
State spokesperson Annabelle Meyers has reported that Martin never lost consciousness and that his injury is to his hip.
End of 3 quarters: Tech 37, State 17
FOURTH QUARTER
Martin's injury has to have shaken his teammates, who were already knocked back by the way this game has gone. With 15 minues remaining, it will be interesting to see how the Wolfpack reacts. Will it be motivated and put together a solid quarter that carries over into next week? Or will it lose its will and go down quietly?
Tech adds another touchdown after Burmeister's short flair pass to Khalid Herbert turns into a 46-yard gain ... and then, to add insult to injury, the Hokies go for two and get it ... Not sure why that was necessary.
Tech 45, State 17 with 8:56 left
Leary leads State to his second touchdown of the night ...
Tech 45, State 24
The Hokies finally call off the dogs by taking a knee instead of punching it in one last time inside the 10. ...
State scored 45 last week in a win, not gives up 45 in a loss that drops it to 1-1 on the season.
FInal: Virginia Tech 45, State 24
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