Virginia Tech Hokies vs Tulane Green Wave Match Player Stats On Dec 27, 2023

Kyron Drones rushed for a career-best 176 yards and accounted for three touchdowns to lead Virginia Tech to a 41-20 victory over Tulane on Wednesday afternoon in the Military Bowl at Annapolis, Md.

Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns as the Hokies (7-6) rolled up 362 yards on the ground.

Drones completed 13 of 21 passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a score. Harrison Saint Germain and Benji Gosnell caught scoring passes as Virginia Tech ended a four-game bowl losing streak.

Tulane (11-3) lost its second straight game as star quarterback Michael Pratt opted out of the contest and coach Willie Fritz departed to take over the Houston program. Slade Nagle served as interim coach for the Green Wave.

Kai Horton completed 13 of 20 passes for 119 yards and rushed for a score for Tulane. Tyler Grubbs scored a touchdown on a fumble return.

The teams combined for eight fumbles (losing five) in wet and slippery conditions. The Green Wave lost all three of their fumbles.

The second half was played in heavy and sometimes torrential rain, but Tulane tied the score at 17 early in the third quarter on Horton's 6-yard scoring run.

Virginia Tech answered with a five-play, 73-yard drive in which Tuten scored from the 9 to regain the lead.

John Love kicked a 35-yard field goal to give Virginia Tech a 27-17 lead with 5:28 remaining in the third quarter.

The Green Wave put together an 11-play, 73-yard drive to the Virginia Tech 2-yard line but opted for a field goal on fourth down. The 20-yard kick by Valentino Ambrosio was good on the initial play of the fourth quarter.

The Hokies responded with two touchdowns in 3:05 to put the game away.

Drones threw a 10-yard scoring pass to Gosnell to increase the margin to 14 with 12:38 remaining. Then Tuten scored on a 12-yard run to make it 41-20 with 9:33 left.

Virginia Tech held a 17-10 halftime advantage due to Drones tossing a 1-yard scoring pass to Saint Germain with 8 seconds left in the half.

At the outset, Tulane made the big play on defense as Grubbs broke in free on Drones and the quarterback lost the ball with Grubbs recovering and running 21 yards for a touchdown.

Love put the Hokies on the board with a 35-yard field goal with 5:33 left in the quarter. Drones added an 11-yard scoring run three-plus minutes later to give Virginia Tech a 10-7 lead.

The Green Wave knotted the score on Ambrosio's 49-yard field goal with 4:40 left in the half.

--Field Level Media