While Virginia Tech’s performance against an SEC opponent last Sunday was underwhelming enough that Hokies players felt the need to call a team meeting, Vanderbilt easily cruised to a victory against an overmatched foe last Saturday thanks to a steady showing from Diego Pavia.
Virginia Tech hopes the meeting yields results while Vanderbilt is looking to make its first trip to Blacksburg, Va., since 1989 a successful one when the teams meet up on Saturday.
The Hokies (0-1) are attempting to avoid their first 0-2 start since 2010, though that season ended with 11 wins. Virginia Tech began coach Brent Pry’s fourth season with a 24-11 loss in Atlanta against South Carolina on Sunday.
The Hokies allowed two long yardage plays in the fourth quarter and did not score an offensive touchdown due to an inconsistent ground game that finished with 115 yards.
Virginia Tech conceded an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter and gave up a 64-yard touchdown pass six minutes later. The Hokies outgained South Carolina and held the ball for about 34 minutes but quarterback Kyron Drones threw a pair of interceptions.
“It definitely felt necessary,” Hokies linebacker Jaden Keller told reporters about the team meeting on Tuesday. “Just seeing where we were at in the game and how close we were, we’re just right there.”
Vanderbilt (1-0) claimed a 34-27 home win over Virginia Tech in Pavia’s debut with the school last season after transferring from New Mexico State. Pavia completed 12 of 16 passes and scored on a 4-yard run in overtime to secure the win while Vanderbilt’s defense allowed Drones to complete 22 of 33 passes.
Pavia threw three touchdowns and 275 yards in a 45-3 rout over Charleston Southern last Saturday. He completed 20 of 25 passes while throwing TDs to Kayleb Barnett, Junior Sherrill and Sedrick Alexander as Vanderbilt outgained Charleston Southern 481-135.
“Obviously, the stakes only get higher, and the competition gets better,” said Commodores coach Clark Lea, who last visited Virginia Tech as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator in 2018. “This one in particular is going to be very challenging to us, because you’re going to battle a really good team and an athletic team who obviously I think has had a focus on this game from a year ago, also coming off a tough loss to start the season.”
