Virginia Tech Edges West Virginia, 31-24

WOAY – Virginia Tech will retain the Black Diamond Trophy after a 31-24 win over West Virginia Sunday night in Landover, Maryland.

The Hokies opened the scoring on a Joey Slye field goal, before trading touchdowns with the Mountaineers before halftime for a 10-7 lead at the break. Both offenses had more success in the second half, with West Virginia seeming to have an answer almost every time Virginia Tech regained the lead.

WVU trailed 24-17 entering the fourth quarter, but tied the contest for a third time when Will Grier found Gary Jennings for a 60 yard touchdown pass. Virginia Tech later answered with a Travon McMillian touchdown run – that ended a drive punctuated by a 46-yard run from Josh Jackson that took the Hokies inside the red zone.

Virginia Tech had a chance to ice the game in the final two minutes, but Joey Slye’s second missed field goal gave the Mountaineers one last chance to drive downfield; they reached the 15-yard line before Grier’s end zone pass on the final play of regulation was incomplete.

In his WVU debut, Grier passed for 371 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Jackson – the first Hokies quarterback to start as a freshman since Michael Vick – recorded 235 yards and one touchdown passing, along with 101 yards and a touchdown rushing.

This is Virginia Tech’s third straight win in the Black Diamond Trophy rivalry, though West Virginia still has a 28-23 series lead with one tie. The next scheduled meeting is in 2021 in Morgantown.

Both teams return home Saturday; West Virginia will host East Carolina, while Virginia Tech faces Delaware.

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