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United Kingdom Virginia Tech football, Kyron Drones run past Tulane to win Military ...
In front of a crowd of over 35,000 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for the 2023 Military Bowl, Virginia Tech clinched its first winning season since 2019 with a 41-20 victory over Tulane.
The win was spearheaded by a historic performance by quarterback Kyron Drones, whose 176 rushing yards are the most by a quarterback and second most by anyone in Military Bowl history.
“Very proud of everybody’s effort,” Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry said. “They deserve it, they’ve worked their tails off, stayed together, sacrificed and committed.”
With the rain pouring down for a majority of the second half, the Hokies (7-6) relied on Drones and running back Bhayshul Tuten to carry the rushing attack. Tuten finished with 136 yards and two touchdowns thanks to a huge second half. Before Tuten, Tulane hadn’t given up 100 yards rushing to a running back in 34 games.
Drones also completed 13 of 21 passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns, the first of which — a 1-yard pass to Harrison Saint Germain — came with eight seconds left in the first half to give the Hokies a 17-10 lead at the break.
The Green Wave (11-3) came into the game with a roster gutted after the team’s 26-14 loss to SMU in the American Athletic Conference championship game.
Head coach Willie Fritz and the majority of the coaching staff left the program after Fritz took the same position at Houston, leaving the program to offensive coordinator Slade Nagle in the interim. Former Troy head coach Jon Sumrall has been named Fritz’s successor.
Also gone were record setting quarterback Michael Pratt, wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson, offensive lineman Princeton Pines, and cornerback Jalen Monroe, who all chose to opt out of the game and prepare for the NFL Draft. Safety DJ Douglas and receiver Chris Brazzell both were missing as well after choosing to enter the transfer portal.
The rain made it tough for both teams to hold on to the ball all game as the teams combined for eight fumbles. Virginia Tech fumbled its first possession of the second half and Tulane made it pay with a three-play, 17-yard touchdown drive. Quarterback Kai Horton ran it in from 6 yards out to tie the score at 17.
Much like he’s done all season since being named the starting quarterback, Drones responded. The redshirt sophomore immediately led a 14-play drive that ended with a field goal, keeping his team in the game and morale up on the sideline. The drive was highlighted by a Drones 17-yard run to convert a fourth down.
“That type of resiliency, that’s been me my whole life.” Drones said. “I knew I had to do that because we still had a long game to go.”
The American flag covers the field during the singing of the National Anthemn at the Military Bowl game between Virginia Tech and Tulane in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones gains yards on a keeper in the first quarter. The Virginia Tech Hokies play the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Military Bowl Presented by Go Bowling, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Benji Gosnell has a nice catch and run for Virginia Tech in the second quarter. The Virginia Tech Hokies play the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Military Bowl Presented by Go Bowling, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Virginia Tech's Alan Tisdale tackles Tulane quarterback Justin Ibieta after a minimal gain in the first quarter. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff).
A mostly Virginia Tech crowd fills the stands in this section. The Virginia Tech Hokies play the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Military Bowl Presented by Go Bowling, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Virginia Tech\xe2\x80\x99s Bhayshul Tuten gains yards on a run in the first quarter. The Virginia Tech Hokies play the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Military Bowl Presented by Go Bowling, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Virginia Tech\xe2\x80\x99s Malachi Thomas gains yards after a catch in the first quarter. The Virginia Tech Hokies play the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Military Bowl Presented by Go Bowling, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
A mostly Virginia Tech crowd fills the stands in this section.of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for the Military Bowl. Announced attendance for the game was 35,849. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Tulane\xe2\x80\x99s Makhi Hughes gains yards on a run in the second quarter. The Virginia Tech Hokies play the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Military Bowl Presented by Go Bowling, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Virginia Tech\xe2\x80\x99s Bhayshul Tuten gains yards on a catch and run in the first quarter. The Virginia Tech Hokies play the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Military Bowl Presented by Go Bowling, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones gains big yards and a first down on a keeper in the first quarter of the 2023 Military Bowl against Tulane on Wednesday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Virginia Tech\xe2\x80\x99s John Love kicks a field goal in the first quarter. The Virginia Tech Hokies play the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Military Bowl Presented by Go Bowling, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Virginia Tech's Jaylin Lane reached for a pass. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Virginia Tech's Bhayshul Tuten gains yards on a run in the second quarter. Tuten rushed for two touchdowns in the Hokies' victory over Tulane in the Military Bowl on Wednesday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones runs in for a touchdown in the first quarter. The Virginia Tech Hokies play the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Military Bowl Presented by Go Bowling, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Virginia Tech\xe2\x80\x99s punter Peter Moore punts in the first quarter. The Virginia Tech Hokies play the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Military Bowl Presented by Go Bowling, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Virginia Tech fan in the stands. The Virginia Tech Hokies play the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Military Bowl Presented by Go Bowling, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
In the second half, Virginia Tech’s running game took over. Tuten scored the first of his two touchdowns to put the Hokies back ahead. After an exchange of field goals, Drones threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Benji Gosnell to make it 34-20 early in the fourth quarter.
That drive was sparked by a 38-yard rush by Drones as he and Tuten gashed the Green Wave as the offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage. Tuten later added a 12-yard touchdown run.
“We know whenever one of them has the ball, there’s potential for a big play,” Pry said. “Anytime we’ve had success this year, it’s really been because we’ve been able to run the ball.”
Virginia Tech outgained Tulane, 453-252, with 362 of the Hokies’ yards coming on the ground. Virginia Tech also forced three Tulane turnovers, all fumbles.
With the win, Virginia Tech becomes the third school to win multiple Military Bowls, joining Navy and Wake Forest, who also have two wins since the start of the bowl in 2011.
With the program’s constant improvement under Pry, the second year coach knows it was more than just him and his players responsible for the momentum his program now has.
“There’s so many people in our organization that are pouring into this thing right now,” he said with a smile. “It’s gonna take me all offseason to tell people how much I appreciate it.”
