Old Dominion Monarchs @ Virginia Tech Hokies
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ODU | 3 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 21 |
| 17 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 44 |
Grunkemeyer's career day leads Virginia Tech to 44-21 victory over Old Dominion
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- — Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for 327 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another to lead Virginia Tech to a 44-21 victory over Old Dominion on Saturday.
Grunkemeyer set career highs for yards, completions (31) and attempts (42) for the Hokies (2-0), who finished with 416 yards in registering a second consecutive easy win over an in-state foe to start the season. Virginia Tech, which beat VMI 73-3 in the season opener, is now 2-0 for the first time since 2021.
Virginia Tech scored on its first five possessions to open the game and all but put the game out of reach when Grunkemeyer threw touchdown passes of 10 and 16 yards to tight end Luke Jackson in span of less than two minutes midway through the second quarter. Those two scores gave the Hokies a 31-3 lead.
Reynolds also enjoyed a career game for the Hokies, setting career highs in receptions (8), yards (108), and touchdowns (2).
Old Dominion (1-1) struggled for most of the game against Virginia Tech’s defense, which sacked Monarchs’ quarterback Quinn Henicle seven times. Henicle led the Monarchs with 187 yards passing and a touchdown and scored late in the game on a 76-yard run.
Old Dominion: The Monarchs, picked to finish second in the Sun Belt’s East Division, were competitive in the second half against the Hokies, but started the game terribly. They trailed 34-6 at halftime, only had 109 yards, and lost three fumbles. The rough beginning prevented them from winning in Blacksburg for the second consecutive season.
Virginia Tech: James Franklin’s rebuilding job in Blacksburg is off to a solid start, with an offense that has registered 117 points and 1,125 yards and a defense that has registered 12 sacks and 32 tackles for a loss in the first two games. But after playing two softies at home, the Hokies will find stiffer competition on the horizon, starting with a road game at Maryland on Saturday.
Old Dominion: Hosts East Carolina on Saturday.
Virginia Tech: Plays at Maryland on Saturday.
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