LIVE UPDATES - Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Old Dominion Monarchs Football

Coming off a 73-3 drubbing of VMI, Virginia Tech football looks to improve to 2-0 today with a victory over Old Dominion. Read below for a game thread, organized in reverse chronological order.

FINAL | Virginia Tech 44, Old Dominion 21

Virginia Tech wins by 23 and moves to 2-0 for the first time since the 2021 season. Ethan Grunkemeyer (31-42, 327 yds, 2 TDs) had the most single-game passing yards for a Hokies quarterback since Ryan Willis in 2019 vs. Boston College.

Q4 1:18 | Virginia Tech 44, Old Dominion 21

Call overturned. It was ruled an incomplete pass, so ODU keeps the ball. It's now a fourth-and-3 for the Monarchs.

Q4 1:55 | Virginia Tech 44, Old Dominion 21

And... Old Dominion fumbled. Virginia Tech takes over on the Monarchs' 7-yard line.

Q4 2:30 | Virginia Tech 44, Old Dominion 21

Third-and-3 for Old Dominion, and Henicle made his way past the sticks.

Q4 7:20 | Virginia Tech 44, Old Dominion 21

And Bryce Baker is into the game. The first play with him as the QB today is an 8-yard gain on a handoff to freshman RB Messiah Mickens.

Q4 7:49 | Virginia Tech 44, Old Dominion 21

Henicle kept it and dashed to the right pylon. He got there, and ODU cashes in on the 2-point conversion. The Hokies now lead by 23.

Q4 7:49 | Virginia Tech 44, Old Dominion 19

76-yard run to the house for ODU signal-caller Quinn Henicle. The Monarchs went for two, but it was incomplete. Ruled PI, though, so ODU will get another chance.

Q4 8:54 | Virginia Tech 44, Old Dominion 13

First punt of the day for the Hokies. Nathan Totten punted it 38 yards, though it looks like there was contact.

Q4 9:17 | Virginia Tech 44, Old Dominion 13

ODU punted again. Three-play drive that went backwards for the Monarchs.

Q4 11:03 | Virginia Tech 44, Old Dominion 13

1-yard QB sneak for Ethan Grunkemeyer. John Love's PAT is good, and the Hokies now lead by 31. There were offsetting unsportsmanlike penalties for VT and ODU; Virginia Tech OL Montavious Cunningham was ejected.

Q4 11:12 | Virginia Tech 37, Old Dominion 13

Unsportsmanlike conduct on ODU's Ahmaad Foster gives Virginia Tech first down by penalty. First-and-goal at ODU's 1-yard line.

Q4 12:50 | Virginia Tech 37, Old Dominion 13

Virginia Tech is at second-and-7 on ODU's 9-yard line. Ethan Grunkemeyer is 30-for-40 for 325 yards and two touchdowns against the Monarchs.

Q4 13:30 | Virginia Tech 37, Old Dominion 13

Benji Gosnell dropped a pass from Ethan Grunkemeyer, but the Hokies came up with a first down via a 14-yard reception to Jeffrey Overton Jr. He's got 32 receiving yards today.

Q3 END | Virginia Tech 37, Old Dominion 13

Grunkemeyer remains in the game, though he took an 8-yard sack (third today). There's a holding penalty on ODU. The new line of scrimmage will be VT's 49 when we come back for the fourth quarter.

Q3 1:14 | Virginia Tech 37, Old Dominion 13

For the first time this season, Virginia Tech has allowed a touchdown. ODU starting QB Quinn Henicle found Leon Haughton Jr. open the right to slice the Hokies' lead to 24.

Q3 1:14 | Virginia Tech 37, Old Dominion 6

Third-and-6 for ODU... and the Hokies got the stop. The Monarchs will go for it on fourth-and-goal.

Q3 3:43 | Virginia Tech 37, Old Dominion 6

Deeeeeep ball to Josh Rodriguez. 34-yarder that has ODU at Virginia Tech's 2-yard line.

Q3 6:33 | Virginia Tech 37, Old Dominion 6

25-yard field goal for John Love. The Hokies now lead by 31. Bryce Baker is starting to warm up on the sideline.

Q3 7:20 | Virginia Tech 34, Old Dominion 6

Grunkemeyer found Ayden Greene for a 44-yarder. The Hokies are back into enemy territory, looking to break past the 40-point mark.

Q3 10:27 | Virginia Tech 34, Old Dominion 6

Wow. On a lateral, Tyseer Denmark found Benji Gosnell for a deeeeep 57-yard haul... before they ruled Denmark had taken a knee. Second-and-17.

Q3 12:13 | Virginia Tech 34, Old Dominion 6

13-yard sack of Quinn Henicle. That one was from Cortez Harris; he's now at two sacks today. ODU will punt.

Q3 START | Virginia Tech 34, Old Dominion 6

Henicle threw a 28-yard dart to JJ Harrell, and ODU's into Hokies territory on its first drive of the second half.

HALFTIME | Virginia Tech 34, Old Dominion 6

ODU buried the 51-yard field goal. The Hokies lead by 28 at the conclusion of the first half.

Q2 0:03 | Virginia Tech 34, Old Dominion 3

Grunkemeyer was sacked and coughed up the ball for a fumble. Officials ruled that there were three seconds left on the clock, so the Monarchs will go for the FG.

Q2 0:57 | Virginia Tech 34, Old Dominion 3

It's a fourth-and-6, and Old Dominion will punt again. The Hokies' defense has been swarming around today, compiling four forced fumbles, five sacks, eight TFLs.

Q2 3:10 | Virginia Tech 34, Old Dominion 3

Grunkemeyer's pass to Reynolds in the end zone was batted away. The Hokies will settle for a 22-yard field goal from John Love that'll elevate their lead to 31.

Q2 3:59 | Virginia Tech 31, Old Dominion 3

Virginia Tech just used Luke Reynolds in a Wildcat play. Didn't work on the rush; it's now third-and-4.

Q2 4:35 | Virginia Tech 31, Old Dominion 3

Oh, my. Que'Sean Brown just totaled a 79-yard punt return. Virginia Tech is at ODU's 1-yard line.

Q2 5:41 | Virginia Tech 31, Old Dominion 3

ODU will punt again. On that last drive, Henicle was sacked for a 10-yard loss by Cortez Harris — the fourth time he's been sacked today. Que'Sean Brown then darted down into ODU territory on the PR (though there are flags).

Q2 6:51 | Virginia Tech 31, Old Dominion 3

Who else but Reynolds? Grunkemeyer found the Penn State transfer TE just short of the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown — and the Hokies' lead has reached four TDs. Three-play, 20-yard, 1:24 drive.

Q2 8:13 | Virginia Tech 24, Old Dominion 3

The ruling stands, and the Hokies start on the ODU 20.

Q2 8:15 | Virginia Tech 24, Old Dominion 3

Third fumble recovery of the day for the Hokies. Virginia Tech has it... if the ruling on field stands.

Q2 8:23 | Virginia Tech 24, Old Dominion 3

On fourth-and-2, Grunkemeyer found an open Luke Reynolds four yards away close to the left perimeter. Reynolds made the dive past the pylons, and the Hokies now lead by three touchdowns.

Q2 10:00 | Virginia Tech 17, Old Dominion 3

Hawkins pounced with a 2-yard gain. It's a first down for the Hokies that's swiftly followed by a 17-yarder to wide receiver Tyseer Denmark.

Q2 11:30 | Virginia Tech 17, Old Dominion 3

Fourth-and-2. Grunkemeyer (14-of-17, 135 yards) found Reynolds for a 14-yard gain. It looks like the Hokies are going for it.

Q2 12:44 | Virginia Tech 17, Old Dominion 3

Second-and-21. The Hokies' Ethan Grunkemeyer was whistled for intentional grounding.

Q2 13:03 | Virginia Tech 17, Old Dominion 3

Grunkemeyer found Reynolds for a 21-yard gain, but an illegal block in the back penalty assessed to Hokies wide receiver Ayden Greene moves VT back 10 yards (now at ODU's 45).

Q2 14:40 | Virginia Tech 17, Old Dominion 3

First play of the second quarter? A 17-yard throw from Ethan Grunkemeyer to Luke Reynolds on a play-action pass.

Q1 END | Virginia Tech 17, Old Dominion 3

A chaotic quarter ends with a 14-point lead for the Hokies. There were two sequences in the opening frame where Virginia Tech had a fumble return TD, though one was called back after LB Keon Wylie dropped the ball before reaching the goal line.

Q1 0:04 | Virginia Tech 17, Old Dominion 3

Seven-play, 59-yard drive ends with a Monarchs field goal. Quinn Henicle 3-of-4 for 65 yards for ODU; Ethan Grunkemeyer 9-of-12 for 87 yards for Virginia Tech.

Q1 1:40 | Virginia Tech 17, Old Dominion 0

Wow. 21-yard completion from Henicle to Josh Rodriguez — then one for 34.

Q1 2:29 | Virginia Tech 17, Old Dominion 0

Hahaha. Henicle fumbled it on the subsequent play and Tyson Flowers picked it up for another touchdown. This time, there's no doubt. Flowers with the scoop-and-score.

Q1 2:34 | Virginia Tech 10, Old Dominion 0

Credited as a fumble lost to Wylie. No score for the Hokies. ODU recovered the ball in the end zone, and they'll start at the 20.

Q1 2:34 | Virginia Tech 17, Old Dominion 0

Oh, my. Old Dominion fumbled, and Hokies linebacker Keon Wylie recovered it, taking the ball 45 yards to the house. Virginia Tech now leads by 17.

(They're looking at if Wylie dropped the ball before he crossed the goal line.)

Q1 3:01 | Virginia Tech 10, Old Dominion 0

20-yard rush, Marcellous Hawkins. The Hokies score.

Q1 3:55 | Virginia Tech 3, Old Dominion 0

Grunkemeyer got forward enough on the Tush Push and the Hokies are at first-and-10 on ODU's 23.

Q1 4:44 | Virginia Tech 3, Old Dominion 0

Fourth-and-1. Overton Jr. made a 3-yard gain that fell short of the sticks — and the Hokies are going for it.

Q1 5:51 | Virginia Tech 3, Old Dominion 0

Overton Jr. went for a 7-yard gain and the Hokies converted on a third-and-3. The sophomore then made a 1-yard gain before Grunkemeyer found Hairston for a 5-yard completion.

Q1 7:08 | Virginia Tech 3, Old Dominion 0

Grunkemeyer found Overton Jr. open on the right sideline again — this time, it went for a 10-yard gain. Grunkemeyer's next pass — it was to Marlion Jackson — moved the Hokies six yards forward. Second-and-4.

Q1 7:30 | Virginia Tech 3, Old Dominion 0

Grunkemeyer found Overton Jr. for a 2-yard completion on the right sideline before the sophomore tailback made a 3-yard gain on the next play. Third-and-5.

Q1 8:48 | Virginia Tech 3, Old Dominion 0

Old Dominion starter Quinn Henicle made a 10-yard completion, but Tyson Flowers kept ODU's Trey Hall short of the sticks on third-and-1. The Hokies get the ball back on their 23.

Q1 10:23 | Virginia Tech 3, Old Dominion 0

Grunkemeyer was sacked for a 12-yard loss, and that'll bring the field goal unit out. John Love nails it — and the Hokies lead by three.

Q1 11:25 | Virginia Tech 0, Old Dominion 0

Incompletion from Grunkemeyer and a Hawkins rush for no gain leaves the Hokies in a third-and-goal situation.

Q1 12:10 | Virginia Tech 0, Old Dominion 0

Davion "FatRat" Brown takes the Hokies to first-and-goal with a 17-yard haul. Virginia Tech's now at the 9-yard line.

Q1 13:13 | Virginia Tech 0, Old Dominion 0

Wow. Grunkemeyer found Hairston open down the middle for a 30-yard gain. Virginia Tech now sets up shop at ODU's 25-yard line.

Q1 14:10 | Virginia Tech 0, Old Dominion 0

Grunkemeyer found Que'Sean Brown for a 7-yard completion before his next pass was batted down. Second-and-10.

Q1 14:50 | Virginia Tech 0, Old Dominion 0

The first play of the game is a 4-yard gain from Hokies running back Marcellous Hawkins.

Q1 START | Virginia Tech 0, Old Dominion 0

ODU's kick goes through the end zone for a touchback. Virginia Tech will start its opening drive on the 25.

Q1 START | Virginia Tech 0, Old Dominion 0

ODU wins the toss, defers. The Hokies are starting on offense.

Pre-Game Notes

Pre-Game Update: Though the depth chart lists Kyle Altuner as the starter, the videoboard displayed Tommy Ricard as the starting center, and Ricard was taking reps with the first-teamers on offense during pre-game drills.

Here's the listed starters for the Hokies for Game 2:

Offense

QB: Ethan Grunkemeyer
RB: Marcellous Hawkins
WR: Davion "FatRat" Brown, Que'Sean Brown, Ayden Greene
TE: Luke Reynolds; Benji Gosnell OR Ja'Ricous Hairston
OL (L-R): Justin Terry (LT), Layth Ghannam (LG), Kyle Altuner (C), Montavious Cunningham (RG), Aidan Lynch (RT)

Defense

DL (L-R): Aycen Stevens, Kemari Copeland, Elhadj Fall, Cortez Harris
LB: Kaleb Spencer, Noah Chambers, Keon Wylie
NB: Isaiah Brown-Murray
CB: Jaquez White, Joshua Clarke
S: Quentin Reddish, Tyson Flowers

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