CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry has repeatedly said over his three-year tenure with the program that the Hokies’ margin for error is razor-thin. Even with a full complement of scholarship players and walk-ons on the roster, Tech has needed to thread the needle to record victories and reach postseason play.
That margin tightened considerably Friday evening in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Minnesota. Fourteen starters did not play, either because of injury, opting out or leaving the program through the transfer portal.
Those absences meant Tech needed to capitalize on any opening the Gophers provided and weather any sort of punch the Big Ten program delivered.
Two empty trips into the red zone didn’t help matters. A trio of second-quarter touchdowns by Minnesota were too much for the depleted Hokies in a 24-10 setback before an announced crowd of 31,027 at Bank of America Stadium.
Minnesota running back Jaren Mangham (center) is tackled by Virginia Tech defensive backs Thomas Williams (left) and Devin Alves during the second quarter Friday night in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium.
Matt Gentry, The Roanoke Times
“It’s very frustrating. We’re right there. Those are ones you need, those are ones you have to put in especially in that scenario of the game,” Hokies wide receiver Ayden Greene said of the two empty red-zone trips. “We needed it, we didn’t get it done. That’s something we’re going to go straight back to Blacksburg and look at and learn from and be better from coming into this next season.”
The empty red-zone trips came with the Hokies (6-7) trailing by two touchdowns. Tech found a way to limit the Golden Gophers (8-5) in the second half, and there was a window of opportunity to trim into the deficit and get it to a one-score game.
Tech turned the ball over on downs on the first trip. The second trip, which came after cornerback Dante Lovett recorded his first career interception, ended with quarterback Pop Watson throwing an interception that ultimately sealed the outcome.
Watson threw for 81 yards on 8-of-12 passing. He was sacked five times and netted minus-31 rushing yards in his second career start.
“I’m not going to lie, I was hoping I was going to score, but I took the wrong angle. It’s all good,” Lovett said, “but I was hoping that put them in good position to score, but things happen, it’s all good.”
Those empty possessions came in a second half in which Minnesota scored a field goal early in the fourth quarter to account for all of the scoring after halftime.
Virginia Tech wide receiver Stephen Gosnell (12) drops a pass on fourth down while being defended by Minnesota’s Kerry Brown in the fourth quarter Friday night.
Matt Gentry, The Roanoke Times
Tech allowed 200 yards of total offense in the second quarter as the Gophers raced out to a double-digit lead and never looked back in recording their eight consecutive bowl victory.
The Gophers were held to 137 yards of offense in the second half.
“We did a few things. A couple of coverages we hadn’t shown in the first half just to give them a different look to try and buy us a little time for that rush to get there,” Pry said. “And we had a little more success getting at the quarterback. It just didn’t merit the sacks like we needed. They were able to, but if you can change the coverage up a little bit and make him pat that ball another second, it gives you a better chance of getting home.”
Tech wasn’t able to get to quarterback Max Bosmer much in the second quarter. He threw for 106 yards in the frame in leading a trio of touchdown drives that answered the Hokies’ first-quarter touchdown and put Minnesota ahead 21-7.
Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck hugs Minnesota’s Goldy Gopher mascot after being dumped with mayonnaise after the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Matt Gentry, The Roanoke Times
Elijah Spencer had two touchdown catches in the quarter and Darius Taylor added a 28-yard touchdown run that was the highlight of his 113-yard performance.
“Little mistakes, that’s what hurts most of the time if you check the games. It’s not the other teams really doing something to hurt us,” Tech defensive tackle Wilfried Pene said. “It’s most likely us who do something bad, wrong, some mistakes, misalignment, missed assignment. That’s really what hurt us. That was like the second quarter. That’s basically what happened. After halftime, we corrected it and got back and did better.”
Tech finished with 223 yards of total offense with seven starters not in the lineup. That included three offensive linemen, All-ACC tailback Bhayshul Tuten and starting quarterback Kyron Drones.
The Hokies didn’t have seven defensive starters, with All-American defensive linemen Antwaun Powell-Ryland and Aeneas Peebles being the noticeable losses.
Minnesota’s Jameson Geers (right) catches a first-down pass in front of Virginia Tech cornerback Joshua Clarke in the second half Friday night.
Matt Gentry, The Roanoke Times
Minnesota was held to 4.3 yards per play in the second half after averaging nearly 8 yards per play in the first half.
Greene, who stepped into a starter’s role with two wide receivers opting out, posted a career-high 115 receiving yards.
He had 104 receiving yards in the first half.
Collin Schlee scored on a 3-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter that gave the Hokies a 7-0 lead.
They were unable to capitalize on the early momentum as Minnesota seized control in the second quarter.
Virginia Tech quarterback Collin Schlee (right) scores on a 3-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter against Minnesota in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday night at Bank of America Stadium.
Matt Gentry, The Roanoke Times
“It was just unfortunate that we didn’t come out with a win,” Pry said. “I know everybody’s disappointed. But I’m hopeful and I’m encouraged about where we’re at.”
Damien Sordelett (540) 981-3124
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