Sometimes you just have to take a win any way you can get it. That was the case Saturday afternoon for Virginia Tech in rainy Blacksburg, Virginia. The Hokies found a way to knock off upset-minded Marshall in triple overtime, 29-21. It was anything but pretty.
Virginia Tech needed a late touchdown in the fourth quarter to tie Marshall after not scoring since the first quarter of the game. Logan Thomas had another rough performance but led the Hokies to the tie with a short pass to Willie Byrn. The game would go to overtime after Marshall for some reason opted to hold on to timeouts at the end of the fourth quarter rather than preserve some time for a potential drive. Once the game got to overtime, kicking woes would be seen on both sides.
Virginia Tech walk-on kicker Ethan Keyserling missed on a 50-yard attempt after the Hokies offense moved backward on the first overtime possession. Marshall would have their first field goal attempt blocked. In the second overtime Virginia Tech forced Marshall quarterback Rakeem Cato to lose a fumble, nearly resulting in a fumble return fat guy touchdown walk-off win. Instead the Hokies would miss another field goal attempt by Keyserling.
In the third overtime Virginia Tech finally put a score on the board with a short touchdown run by Thomas. The Hokies picked up a two-point conversion, as required starting in the third overtime of a game. Virginia Tech got away with what appeared to be a pass interference on a third down throw to the end zone for Marshall, and the final pass to the end zone fell right through the hands of Davonte Allen to end the game.
Virginia Tech is now 3-1 but they have looked awfully shaky getting there. The offense failed to do much throughout the bulk of the game but they came through in the end when absolutely needed. Virginia Tech also had two turnovers but they forced three on defense. If there is one thing we can say about Virginia Tech it may be that they remain very much a question in the ACC Coastal Division.