BLACKSBURG — It started well Saturday for Virginia Tech.
The second half didn’t unfold the same way for the Hokies in an embarrassing 44-20 loss to Vanderbilt before a sellout crowd at Lane Stadium.
The setback was the second to an SEC program to open the season as Tech finds itself with an 0-2 record for only the third time since 1995.
Still searching
The Hokies boast one of the nation’s longest streaks dating back to 2017. It’s not a good streak, though.
Virginia Tech lost its 15th straight game against a nonconference Power Four opponent in the 24-point setback to the Commodores. The Hokies haven’t beaten a team from the SEC, Big Ten or Big 12 since knocking off West Virginia to open the 2017 season.
The Hokies squandered both chances to end the streak to open the season. They suffered a 24-13 loss to then-No. 13 South Carolina in Week 1.
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“The beauty of college football, we have an opportunity each week to show what we didn’t show the week before,†safety Quentin Reddish said. “Those plays that were left out there can’t happen. You’ve got to capitalize on every opportunity you get against those quality opponents or it’s going to come back to bite.â€
Vanderbilt running back Sedrick Alexander runs for a touchdown against Virginia Tech during the second half Saturday.
Tech also extended another unflattering streak. The Hokies have lost seven straight matchups against nonconference Power Four opponents and haven’t topped a team from another premier league since Tyrod Taylor found Dyrell Roberts in the back of the end zone for a 16-15 win over Nebraska on Sept. 19, 2009.
Hairston’s growth
Ja’Ricous Hairston wasn’t in the tight end rotation at all during his first two seasons with the Hokies. Part of that was adjusting to the new position after playing quarterback at Bassett High, and Tech had established players ahead of him in the rotation.
The redshirt sophomore isn’t just a rotational piece this season. He’s factoring in quite a bit.
Hairston’s first career reception also was his first touchdown at the college level when he secured a 2-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kyron Drones late in the first quarter.
“I have an OC and position coach that absolutely believe in me, along with a head coach,†Hairston said, “and they see positions that I can do, and they put me there and trust that I will get the job done.â€
Hairston has been the second tight end used in the rotation behind starter Benji Gosnell through the first two weeks.
Help wanted
Virginia Tech’s starting offensive line played every snap against South Carolina. The starting five played the first three series against Vanderbilt.
Then the injuries started piling up.
Right guard Montavious Cunningham didn’t play after the third series. Left tackle Johnny Garrett suffered a lower-body injury late in the first half.
Those setbacks forced Tommy Ricard to play at right guard, and Aidan Lynch played his first offensive snaps when he came in at right tackle.
“That’s the one spot that we didn’t have experienced depth at,†Hokies coach Brent Pry said.
The Hokies’ top two backups — Brody Meadows and Jaden Muskrat — were not cleared to play. Meadows did not dress and wore a protective boot on his right foot, and Pry said Muskrat wasn’t cleared to play.
Vanderbilt blitzed most of the second half to keep the inexperienced offensive linemen on their heels.
“We’ve got to get healthy on the offensive line,†Pry said.
