The Hokies finished the 2016 season 10–4, 6–2 in ACC play to win its sixth ACC Coastal Division title.[1] In the ACC Championship, the Hokies fell to eventual National ChampionClemson.[2] The Hokies were invited to the Belk Bowl where they defeated Arkansas, scoring 35 unanswered points to win the game 35–24, the greatest comeback in team history.[3]
David Sills V 11-yard pass from Will Grier (Mike Molina kick)
7–3 WV
Q2
0:27
VT
Josh Jackson 5-yard run (Joey Slye kick)
10–7 VT
Q3
11:25
WV
Mike Molina 34-
yard field goal
10–10
Q3
9:51
VT
Deshawn McClease 12-yard run (Joey Slye kick)
17–10 VT
Q3
2:18
WV
David Sills V 10-yard pass from Will Grier (Mike Molina kick)
17–17
Q3
2:02
VT
Cam Phillips 32-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye kick)
24–17 VT
Q4
12:37
WV
Gary Jennings 60-yard pass from Will Grier (Mike Molina kick)
24–24
Q4
6:30
VT
Travon McMillian 3-yard run (Joey Slye kick)
31–24 VT
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
22–28–1
2005
W, 34–17
In the first game of the season at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, Hokies quarterback Josh Jackson ran for a touchdown and threw another as the Hokies held off No. 22-ranked West Virginia 31–24. In the 52nd meeting between the two schools, a back-and-forth matchup was decided in the fourth quarter when Jackson rushed for a 46-yard gain to set up Travon McMillion's three-yard touchdown run with 6:30 left in the game. The Hokie defense, which gave up 592 total yards to the Mountaineers, came up big at the end, keeping West Virginia out of the endzone after two attempts from the 15-yard line as time expired. The win moved the Hokies to 1–0 on the season.[5]
The Hokies announced they would wear new "white Hokie stone" helmets for their first home game of the year against FCS Delaware.[6][7] After allowing nearly 600 yards to West Virginia, Virginia Tech's defense rebounded nicely to record Bud Foster's 32nd shutout as the Hokies' defensive coordinator. The Blue Hens only got into Virginia Tech territory three times. Another Hokie hallmark, special teams, played an important role as Greg Stroman returned a punt for a touchdown late in the first quarter to give the Hokies a 7–0 lead. Quarterback Josh Jackson threw two scoring passes in the game as the Hokies were held to only 303 yards of total offense. However, it was enough as the Hokies moved to 2–0 on the season with a 27–0 win.[8]
Davon Grayson 9-yard pass from Gardiner Minshew (Jake Verity kick)
7–0 ECU
Q1
8:44
VT
Steven Peoples 1-yard Run (Joey Slye Kick)
7–7
Q1
7:55
ECU
Trevon Brown 76-yard pass from Gardner Minshew (Jake Verity Kick)
14–7 ECU
Q1
2:34
ECU
Jake Verity 35-yard field goal
17–7 ECU
Q2
13:11
VT
Cam Phillips 10 Yd pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye Kick)
17–14 ECU
Q2
8:36
VT
Joey Slye 25-yard field goal
17–17
Q2
2:07
VT
Joey Slye 34-yard field goal
20–17 VT
Q2
0:43
VT
Joey Slye 37-yard field goal
23–17 VT
Q3
12:53
VT
Cam Phillips 31-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed)
29–17 VT
Q3
11:54
VT
Travon McMillian 70-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye Kick)
36–17 VT
Q3
7:46
VT
Cam Phillips 45-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye Kick)
43–17 VT
Q3
5:54
VT
Sean Savoy 9-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye Kick)
50–17 VT
Q3
0:40
VT
Jalen Holston 1-yard Run (Joey Slye Kick)
57–17 VT
Q4
6:50
VT
Coleman Fox 5-yard Run (Brian Johnson Kick)
64–17 VT
See also: 2017 East Carolina Pirates football team
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
14–7
2016
W, 54–17
Virginia Tech traveled to Greenville, North Carolina to take on East Carolina in a non-conference game. Things did not start well for the Hokies as the Pirates took an early 7–0 and then 17–7 lead as the first quarter ended. VT responded quickly thereafter, getting a touchdown catch from Cam Phillips and three Joey Slye field goals in the second quarter to take the lead at the half 23–17. In the second half the Hokies ran away with the game scoring five touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 57–17 lead. Four of the third quarter touchdowns were passes from quarterback Josh Jackson. Another touchdown in the fourth quarter gave the Hokies a 64–17 win over East Carolina.[9]
The Hokies rushed for 287 yards and Jackson passed for 388 yards and five touchdowns in the blowout. Phillips set a school record with 14 catches for 189 yards in the game.[9] Meanwhile, the Hokie defense held the Pirates to only 281 total yards. The win moved the Hokies to 3–0 on the season.
Old Dominion[]
See also: 2017 Old Dominion Monarchs football team
Since the start of the 2016 season, two days prior to each game, Head Coach Justin Fuente has selected an outstanding special teams player to wear the #25 jersey in honor of former head coach, Frank Beamer, who wore #25 as a player for Virginia Tech.
Media related to 2017 Virginia Tech Hokies football team at Wikimedia Commons