Lynchburg, Va. – Jalen Holston rushed for 99 yards and a career-high three touchdowns and Virginia Tech snapped a seven-game losing streak by surprising Liberty 23-22. The Hokies’ defense, maligned during the lengthy losing skid, came up with two big stops in the final minutes to preserve the one-point lead. They forced an incomplete pass by Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter to get the ball back near midfield, then forced Johnathan Bennett to lose a fumble on the Flames’ next possession. Holston picked up a key first down that allowed the Hokies to salt the final minute away.
“I’m thankful for them. I’m just so happy and proud for our football team and have a chance to celebrate all their work and investment. I looked for signs all week of guys coming off the gas and not pouring it into practice and they just weren’t there. We weren’t going to beat this bunch if we didn’t have a good week,” Hokies head coach Brent Pry said after the win.
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“Whenever you get a turnover its momentum, whether it’s for us or for the opposing team - so we never want to give a ball away. But obviously hats off to those guys they played extremely hard for 60 minutes but we just have to come back and get ready on Monday,” Liberty safety and former Appomattox Co. Star Javon Scruggs said.
VIrginia Tech moves to 3-8 on the season, Liberty falls to 8-3. The Hokies are scheduled to host UVA in the annual Commonwealth Cup next week, but the status of that game remains in question. Liberty hosts New Mexico State.