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Making his first start at quarterback, William “Pop” Watson III threw for 254 yards and a touchdown Saturday night as Virginia Tech stopped in-state rival Virginia 37-17 in Blacksburg to clinch bowl eligibility.

Watson, who replaced the injured Kyron Drones, completed 14 of 21 passes as the Hokies (6-6, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) snapped a three-game losing streak. Bhayshul Tuten added 124 yards on 18 carries, sealing the outcome with a 58-yard touchdown run at the 6:12 mark of the fourth quarter.

Tony Muskett hit 19 of 36 passes for 178 yards and two interceptions while rushing for 62 yards and two scores on 18 carries. His 5-yard touchdown run with 13:12 remaining allowed the Cavaliers to pull within 30-17 after trailing 27-3 in the third quarter. But Virginia (5-7, 3-5) couldn’t complete the comeback and as a result, won’t be eligible for a bowl game.

If Watson were nervous about being Virginia Tech’s third starting quarterback in as many games, he sure didn’t show it early. He led the team on a 90-yard drive to start the game, Tuten rushing the last 6 yards for a 7-0 lead with 9:06 left.

The Hokies grinded out another long drive on their next possession, gobbling nearly seven minutes of clock before John Love booted a 44-yard field goal at the 1:16 mark. The Cavaliers got on the board with 2:46 left in the half on Will Bettridge’s 37-yard field goal but experienced a disastrous last two minutes.

On the first play after the two-minute timeout, Watson found Jaylin Lane for a 66-yard touchdown pass. Muskett fired an interception in the final minute that led to Love’ 31-yard field goal and a 20-3 advantage at the half.

Watson made it 27-3 with a 5-yard scoring jaunt with 10:05 left in the third quarter, five plays after Muskett was stopped for no gain on 4th-and-1 at the Virginia 45. Muskett scored on a 2-yard run less than five minutes later before Love hit a 28-yard field goal for a 30-11 Virginia Tech cushion.

–Field Level Media