BLACKSBURG, VA. -- Virginia Tech rallied for 21 second half points to overtake FCS 13th-ranked Furman en route to a 24-17 victory at Lane Stadium on Saturday.
The Hokies (2-1) trailed the Paladins (1-2) 14-3 at intermission before scoring two third quarter touchdowns to erase the deficit.
Virginia Tech led 24-14 when the Paladins'
Grayson Atkins converted a 22-yard field goal to pull Furman to within 24-17 with 1:49 remaining.
Ryan Miller then pounced on an Atkins onside kick at the Furman 48, but an extended review gave replay officials an opportunity to identify an infraction, and the Paladins'
Dae'one Wilkins was cited for blocking within the 10-yard neutral zone despite no flag being thrown on the play.
The Hokies banked the gift by recovering the ensuing re-kick and running out the clock.
Virgina Tech's comeback started on the first possession of the second half when James Mitchell's 3-yard touchdown run capped a lightning-quick six-play, 85-yard drive to pull the Hokies to within 14-10.
Less than two minutes later the Hokies took advantage of a fumble by Furman's
Devin Wynn at the Paladin 26 to grab the lead, getting a 2-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Willis to Tre Turner to go up, 17-14.
It remained that way until late in the fourth period when Turner took a handoff on a jet sweep around right end for a 29-yard touchdown run with 5:04 to go.
Furman battled back, using a 48-yard run by
Devin Abrams to the Virginia Tech 4, but the Paladins had to settle for an Atkins 22-yard field goal to get within 24-17.
Atkins' field goal was his 13th consecutive make, which established a new Furman record. He previously shared the standard with Danny Marshall (2003).
Furman outplayed Virginia Tech over the game's first 30 minutes, taking a 7-3 lead on the first play of the second quarter when Abrams bulled his way for four yards into the end zone following a
Bryan Okeh fumble recovery at the Hokie 41-yard line.
Redshirt freshman cornerback
Travis Blackshear's interception at the Virginia Tech 42 set up the Paladins' next touchdown, which quarterback
Darren Grainger delivered via a 15-yard burst with 5:35 to go in the first half.
Making his career starting debut,
Braden Gilby, a redshirt freshman linebacker, led all tacklers with 12 stops. His forced fumble set up the Paladins' first score, and the St. Petersburg, Fla., product was also credited with a tackle for-loss of six yards.
Abrams' 72 rushing yards and touchdown paced Furman's ground game, which totaled 163 yards.
Grainger completed 8-of-15 passes for 63 yards and a score.
The Paladins open Southern Conference play next Saturday when they play host to Mercer at 1:00 p.m.
