Canes Cruise Past Virginia Tech 34-17

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The mood was festive at Lane Stadium Saturday as Virginia Tech honored its seniors and introduced a new head coach.

But the Miami Hurricanes quickly extinguished any hopes for the Hokie faithful, jumping on the home team early and cruising to a 34-17 victory.

No. 14 Miami improved to 9-2 overall and 5-2 in the ACC. Tech fell to 3-8 overall and 2-5 in conference play. It was the Canes’ fifth straight win over the Hokies dating back to 2020.

Miami gobbled up 418 total yards as quarterback Carson Beck methodically carved up Tech’s secondary, completing 27 of 32 passes for 320 yards and four touchdowns. He completed his first 11 throws, setting a career mark with 24 straight completions dating back to last week’s win over NC State.

Wide receiver Malachi Toney amassed 12 catches for 146 yards and one touchdown. Running back Girard Pringle rushed for 49 yards and had a 16-yard touchdown reception. Tight end Elija Lofton and running back Mark Fletcher also had scoring grabs. Wide receiver Keelan Marion caught six passes for 79 yards. The Canes scored on all five red zone trips and held a seven-minute edge in time of possession.

Safety Zechariah Poyser racked up 10 tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery, while defensive end Akheem Mesidor recorded five stops, one sack and two forced fumbles. Defensive tackle Ahmad Moten registered five tackles and a sack and linebacker Wesley Bissainthe added six tackles. Miami’s defense allowed a season-high 194 rushing yards but held Tech to just 3 of 12 on third down.

Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones completed 12 of 21 for 124 yards. Running back Marcellous Hawkins rushed eight times for 72 yards, while backfield mate Jeffrey Overton rushed for 69 yards and a score. Wide receiver Ayden Greene had five receptions for 95 yards. Safety Tyson Flowers and linebacker Noah Chambers paced Tech with eight tackles.

The Canes got the ball to open the game with Pringle gaining 12 yards on two carries before Beck hit a wide-open Marion down the middle for 32 yards down to the Hokies 18. Two plays later Beck lofted a 20-yard scoring strike to Lofton to give Miami a quick 7-0 lead.

Tech responded on its opening offensive snap as Hawkins scampered 33 yards around the left end to the Miami 28. But the Canes’ defense held in the red zone and John Love kicked a 30-yard field goal to trim the lead to 7-3.

Beck connected with Toney on a 22-yard completion, and three plays later Miami faced 4^th and 3 from the Hokies 31. Beck and Toney hooked up again for an 11-yard completion to move the chains. Fletcher picked up another first down to set up first and goal at the eight-yard line, and then caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Beck to push Miami’s lead to 11 points early in the second quarter.

Drones marched Tech down to the Canes 23 but Hawkins was stuffed by linebacker Cam Pruitt on 4^th and 2 to give the ball back to Miami. A personal foul penalty on defensive tackle Kody Huisman moved the ball past midfield and Toney followed with a 15-yard pass to Marion and a nine-yard rush. But Beck threw incomplete on third down and Carter Davis nailed a 46-yard field goal to make it 17-3.

Drones picked up a 4^th and 1 in Hokies territory on a keeper but a sack by Mesidor thwarted the drive and Miami got the ball back at its 20 with 1:30 left in the first half. On the next snap Beck looked deep for Toney who raced 56 yards to the Tech 24. A holding penalty pushed the Canes back and they settled for another field goal by Davis, this one from 40 yards out. Miami led 20-3 at halftime.

On the opening drive of the second half, Tech again went for it on 4^th and 1 in their own territory and a face mask penalty on Pruitt moved the ball to the Canes 38. On the next snap, Overton scampered to the end zone for his first career touchdown. Miami’s lead was cut to 10 points.

But Beck marched the Canes right back down the field, picking up a key third down with a 19-yard pass to wide receiver Daylyn Upshaw. Two plays later Beck lofted a gorgeous pass on a wheel route to Pringle, who made a diving catch for a 16-yard touchdown. Miami led 27-10.

Overton broke off another big gain for 24 yards to the Tech 49, but Poyser sacked Drones for eight yards to force a punt. Miami followed with Dylan Joyce’s first punt of the day and Tech took over at its 30 to start the fourth quarter. The Hokies reached the Canes 41 but on 4^th and 2 Moten sacked Drones to turn the ball over on downs.

Joyce pinned Tech back to its eight-yard line before Drones completed his longest pass of the day, a 39-yarder to Greene. Moten again pushed the Hokies behind the chains but on 4^th and 11 backup quarterback William Watson hooked up with Green for 39 yards, setting the Hokies up with first and goal at the three-yard line. Watson rushed into the end zone on the next snap and Tech trimmed the lead to 10 points with 3:17 left.

The Hokies recovered an onside kick at their 39-yard line and Watson found wide receiver Isaiah Spencer for a 38-yard catch-and-run. But after an offensive pass interference penalty, Mesidor forced Watson to fumble and Poyser recovered at the Tech 40. Beck capped a seven-play scoring drive with a 20-yard scoring strike to Toney to seal the win.

The Canes conclude their regular season with a trip to Pittsburgh next Saturday. Kickoff time to be announced.