Pavia-led Commodores stun Hokies in overtime

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Virginia Tech found a way to stymie Vanderbilt’s defense for most of the second half. Then Diego Pavia took over and led the Commodores to an upset victory.

Pavia threw a game-tying touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter and scored on a touchdown run in overtime as the Commodores stunned the Hokies, 34-27, in both teams’ season opener Saturday afternoon at FirstBank Stadium.

The Commodores (1-0) took a seven-point lead in overtime on Pavia’s 4-yard run.

Tech, needing to score, had to turn to backup quarterback Collin Schlee with starter Kyron Drones dealing with cramps.

Schlee’s fourth-down attempt to Da’Quan Felton in the end zone fell incomplete and led to the Vanderbilt sideline spilling onto the field in celebration.

The late rally allowed the Commodores to seize back the momentum the Hokies (0-1) gained in the second half and prevent Tech from claiming their first true road win against a nonconference Power Five opponent since 2015.

Pavia, down by seven with less than 4 1/2 minutes remaining, led a six-play scoring drive that was capped by his 8-yard touchdown pass to Sedrick Alexander to even the score with 1:51 remaining.

The Hokies’ ensuing drive featured two incomplete passes and a swing pass to Bhayshul Tuten that went out of bounds and allowed Vanderbilt to keep all three of its second-half timeouts.

Pavia and Alexander were able to get the Commodores to the Hokies’ 25.

Brock Taylor, who had made field goals from 43 and 53 yards earlier in the game, pushed his 43-yard attempt wide right to force overtime.

The Commodores’ first-half defensive looks led to Drones and the Tech offensive attack utilizing screens and quick passes in the opening 30 minutes. The Hokies were unable to establish the run and it led to Drones not having time in the pocket to find receivers in their downfield routes.

That changed in the second half. The Hokies weren’t able to fully establish Bhayshul Tuten in the run game, but the threat of Tuten being able to run the ball allowed Drones to have time in the pocket to pick apart the Vanderbilt defense.

Drones had 67 passing yards at halftime. He threw for 255 yards in the second half. That includes touchdown passes of 11 yards to Tuten and 62 yards to Ali Jennings.

The long touchdown pass to Jennings capped the Hokies’ rally and gave them a 27-20 lead with 4:21 remaining.

Vanderbilt did just about everything right in a dominating first half. Methodical scoring drives led by Diego Pavia resulted in a 17-3 lead at halftime.

The Commodores had the ball for more than 18 minutes in the opening half. Their first three drives led to scores and a 17-point advantage.

Tech, on the other hand, failed to muster much on offense until late in the first half.

The first two drives ended with an interception and punt, respectively, before the third drive ended with John Love’s 40-yard field goal.