Virginia Tech made sure it wasn’t a repeat of last year’s game and dominated 44-21 on Saturday at Lane Stadium. They are now 2-0 to open the 2026 season. It gives the Hokie fans some hope after defeating the Monarchs, who shocked the Hokies last year. Virginia Tech started the game off quickly. They jumped to a 17-3 lead after a fumble recovery for a touchdown and big offensive plays.
Photo Cred: Va Tech
ODU’s defense was struggling early with the Hokies’ short passing attack. Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer had an amazing day. He completed 31 of 42 passes for a career-high 327 yards and two touchdowns. The QB also added a rushing touchdown. He moved the ball quickly and helped the Hokies build a big lead before halftime. Grunkemeyer’s end favorite target was tight end Luke Reynolds. He had one of the best performances of the day.
Reynolds caught eight passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. He was Virginia Tech’s reliable weapon. The tight end was consistently open in the middle of the field and red zone. The Hokies’ defense also made a huge impact by making one of the biggest plays in the first quarter when ODU quarterback Quinn Henicle was pressured and fumbled. Virginia Tech safety Tyson Flowers scooped and scored the loose ball for a touchdown, helping the Hokies increase their lead.
At halftime, the Hokies had a 34-6 lead. Old Dominion continued to battle in the second half. Henicle made plays with both his arms and legs and finished with 270 total yards. His best play of the night was a 76-yard rushing touchdown. He showed his legs are a dangerous weapon. This gave the Monarchs a spark for the rest of the game.
Photo Cred: The Virginian Plot
Henicle finished the game with 187 passing yards with a passing touchdown, along with 83 rushing yards with a rushing touchdown. He helped ODU finish with 310 total yards despite trying to overcome the huge deficit. The Virginia Tech lead was already too big to come back from. The Hokies finished with 416 total yards and dominated the possession game with 38 minutes.
The victory was very significant for the Hokies. ODU entered the game with a Virginia Tech win of 45-26 last year. In what was Brent Pry’s final game as the Hokies’ head coach. With James Franklin now leading the Hokies, Saturday’s game shows the potential in its next chapter. The Hokies will travel to Maryland on Sept. 19 in a game that they hope to prove themselves.
