Virginia Tech football: Hokies dominate Syracuse, leading 30-3 at halftime

Virginia Tech Hokies dominate Syracuse in Thursday Night Football with a 30-3 halftime lead. Impressive performances from QB Kyron Drones and RB Malachi Thomas.

After a well-deserved break, the Virginia Tech Hokies returned to the football field for this week's Thursday Night Football showdown. The question on everyone's mind was how would the Hokies, with a record of 3-4, respond? Little did they know, a 30-3 halftime lead was about to unfold.

Syracuse had the first opportunity on offense, but it quickly turned sour for the Orange. On their very first play, their quarterback Garrett Shrader was penalized for intentional grounding. As if that wasn't enough, on the following play, Syracuse was called for holding, giving the Hokies the perfect opportunity to take control.

The Hokies capitalized on their first possession by kicking a field goal, and their defense swiftly followed suit with another stop. It was clear that the Hokies meant business.

The next drive showcased the impressive skills of Tech's quarterback, Kyron Drones, who led a remarkable 10-play, 68-yard drive. The drive concluded with running back Malachi Thomas throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Quan Felton, extending the Hokies' lead to 10-0.

The Hokies' defense continued to bring the pressure, leaving the Orange struggling to find their footing. Meanwhile, Drones and the running game relentlessly moved the ball down the field. Kicker John Love added two more field goals to the scoreboard, solidifying the Hokies' dominance with a 16-0 lead.

Everything seemed to be going well for the Hokies, except for the fact that they needed to convert their opportunities into touchdowns. However, Drones had a solution up his sleeve. On the next drive, he connected with Felton on a spectacular 62-yard touchdown pass, further widening the Hokies' lead to 23-3. The six-play, 93-yard drive showcased the Hokies' offensive prowess.

Finally, the Orange managed to put some points on the board with a field goal. But Drones wasn't about to let that dampen the Hokies' spirits. He led yet another impressive drive, this time covering 75 yards in just six plays, culminating in a touchdown run by Bhayshul Tuten.

As the first half came to a close, Drones had completed 10 of 17 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown. He also showcased his rushing abilities, gaining 62 yards on seven attempts. Tuten contributed 58 rushing yards, while Thomas added 32 yards. The Hokies collectively ran for an impressive 164 yards in the first half, averaging 6.6 yards per attempt.

Felton emerged as a standout player, catching three passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Jaylin Lane also made his presence known with six receptions for 72 yards. In terms of total yardage, the Hokies dominated with 341 yards compared to 'Cuse's mere 59 yards.

To add to the Hokies' good fortune, they would begin the second half with possession of the football.