Herbert and Hokies snap skid, beating Virginia 33-15

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Khalil Herbert ran for 162 yards, including a 76-yard touchdown, and Virginia Tech ended a four-game slide with a 33-15 victory against rival Virginia on Saturday night.
The Hokies (5-6, 5-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) also got a big play from Tayvion Robinson, who turned a short pass from Braxton Burmeister into a 60-yard TD, a scoring run from wide receiver Tre Turner and four field goals from Brian Johnson to regain the Commonwealth Cup.
Virginia (5-5, 4-5) had its four-game win streak end. The Cavaliers drove 75 yards for a touchdown and a 7-3 lead with their first possession, but managed just 71 yards the rest of the half while the Hokies scored all five times they had the ball to lead 27-7 at halftime.
Turner’s 6-yard run capped a 17-play drive to give the Hokies a 10-7 lead, and after Johnson’s second field goal and a Virginia punt, Herbert bolted off the right side and raced untouched down the center of the field for his longest run of the season.
On Virginia Tech’s next possession, with halftime looming, Burmeister hit Robinson along the Hokies sideline, he spun away from cornerback De’Vante Cross and raced down the sideline, scoring 31 seconds before the half.
The Cavaliers earlier failed to cash in on a muffed punt after taking over at Virginia Tech’s 24. Two runs netted three yards, Brennan Armstrong misfired on a pass and Brian Delaney’s 39-yard field-goal try missed, the first by a kicker against the Hokies all season.
After halftime, the Cavaliers executed a fake punt to keep a drive alive, but three consecutive incompletions by Armstrong forced them to punt for real four plays later.
THE TAKEAWAY
Virginia: The Cavalier’s offense looked discombobulated after the opening drive, and Armstrong, after back-to-back 400-total yard performances, was well contained when he tucked the ball to run and was under increasing pressure when he dropped to throw.
Virginia Tech: The Hokies had struggled in recent weeks converting on third down, with just seven conversions in 22 tries combined in losses to Pittsburgh and Clemson, but they had no trouble against the Cavaliers, converting their first seven and 9 of 16 overall.
UP NEXT
Both teams will hope for bowl invitations on Dec. 20.
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