By Marty Gordon
Many things came from Saturday’s football game between Virginia Tech and Clemson with the bottom line being a loss for the home team. But Tech sports staff were quick to point out some small victories.
In the second quarter, Keyshawn Burgos blocked Nolan Hauser’s 46-yard field goal attempt. The ball fell right into Quentin Reddish‘s hands at the Hokies’ 23 yard line. Reddish returned the blocked field goal 77 yards for the first score of the game with 12:46 on the clock. It was Tech’s first blocked field goal returned for a touchdown since Greg Stroman blocked a Duke 30-yard attempt and Adonis Alexander returned it 75 yards with 12:40 remaining in the second quarter in 2016. The last time Tech blocked a field goal was when Luke Tenuta blocked a 44-yard attempt by North Carolina in the second overtime period in 2019.
Reddish’s touchdown was the first touchdown by a true freshman since Nov. 5, 2022 when Tucker Holloway return a Georgia Tech punt 90 yards in the second quarter of the game.
For the fifth straight time, the defense has not allowed a touchdown in the first half of a game. It was the third time this season that Tech’s opponent has been held scoreless heading to halftime. The five games without allowing a touchdown ties for the most in a season with five games to end the 2006 season and five games to start the 2002 season.
Tech’s Lunch Pail Defense picked up four sacks against Clemson on Saturday. Entering the game, Clemson had only allowed eight sacks for the season. The most sacks allowed in a game by Clemson prior to yesterday was two, their seaosn opener against Georgia and last week against Louisville.
Antwaun Powell-Ryland picked up one of the sacks against Clemson moving his NCAA-leading season total to 13. For his career at Virginia Tech, he now has 22.5 sacks putting him in fifth place in school history behind Bruce Smith (46), Cornell Brown (36), Corey Moore (35) and John Engelberger (26.5).
Saturday’s game marked the 340th consecutive game during which Virginia Tech has scored. The Hokies are in fourth place in both the all-time and active streak lists. In that span, Tech has shutout their opponent 34 times.
Fifth-year defensive leader Keonta Jenkins was all over the field on Saturday afternoon against Clemson. Playing at the STAR position, Jenkins is a versatile chess piece on the second level for defensive coordinator Chris Marve.
The Jacksonville, Florida product had himself one heck of an outing with seven tackles, three TFLs, one sack, a forced fumble, two pass breakups and a quarterback hit. Jenkins’ playmaking ability was on full display across the stat sheet as he impacted the game in various ways.
The talented graduate student is on track for a career year in production with totals matching or exceeding his statistics from the previous four seasons.
With scores across the offense and special teams, young players along Tech’s roster reached paydirt against Clemson. True sophomore Ayden Greene caught the second touchdown of his career on a 14-yard pass from quarterback Collin Schlee late in the fourth quarter. Greene has found himself in unique situations this season, reaching the endzone both times against ranked opponents.
The speedy wideout corraled two passes for 19 yards, with an average of 9.5 per reception, while also being involved in a trick play during the second half.
Greene offers a valuable skillset for offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen, as the Knoxville, Tennessee native has notched at least one rushing attempt in three of the last four contests.
For fans scratching their heads about the officiating crew for Saturday’s game, yes that was same group from the University of Miami-Virginia Tech controversial ending earlier this year.
The game was only Clemson’s third true road game of the season, and they are now 9-2 all-time at Lane Stadium.
The Tigers are also now 25-12-1 against Tech, and Saturday’s win was their fourth consecutive in Blacksburg.
