BLACKSBURG — Thousands of Virginia Tech fans exited Lane Stadium at halftime of Friday’s game against Cal. They had seen this movie before.
Or so they believed.
Yes, the Hokies had yielded 20 consecutive points and trailed by 10. And yes, their penchant for damaging penalties and special-teams gaffes had re-emerged.
But something flipped at intermission, and what subsequently transpired was a stirring and flawed testament to resilience egged on by a shirtless band of presumably well-lubricated knotheads braving mid-30s temperatures in the north end zone.
Tech 42, Cal 34. Double-overtime.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our football team and our coaching staff,” interim head coach Philip Montgomery said.
Such sentiment usually rings hollow, win or lose. But Montgomery’s words, delivered with his unbreakable stoicism, were authentic and merited.
The Hokies (3-5, 2-2 ACC) bulldozed the Golden Bears, outrushing them 357-39 on the night. Tailback Marcellous Hawkins (167 yards) and quarterback Kyron Drones (137 and two touchdowns) were the ringleaders, running behind a dominant line, with Drones also throwing touchdown passes to Takye Heath (two) and Ayden Greene (one).
“That dude’s special,” Montgomery said of Drones.
Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones (1) gets by California defensive back Cam Sidney (20) for a touchdown in overtime during an NCAA college football game between California and Virginia Tech, Friday Oct. 24, 2025, in Blacksburg, Va. (AP Photo/Robert Simmons)
Drones wasn’t the only one.
Kemari Copeland, a redshirt junior out of Virginia Beach’s Kellam High, became the first Tech defensive tackle to register three sacks in a game since his position coach, J.C. Price, had four in 1995 against Miami. Linebacker Kaleb Spencer had a team-high nine tackles, and cornerback Thomas Williams broke up three passes, two in the end zone.
“We just kept having faith,” Copeland said, “trusting we were going to win.”
Such faith and trust were absent in September, when on consecutive Saturdays, at home no less, fourth-year coach Brent Pry lost this team. Those embarrassing performances against Vanderbilt and Old Dominion prompted his demise.
But at no point have the Hokies checked out on Montgomery. Certainly not in victories over Wofford and N.C. State. And not in setbacks to Wake Forest and No. 7 Georgia Tech.
That’s a credit to him, the staff and players, for compartmentalizing natural concerns about the future while tending to the present.
But at what point, it was fair to wonder, might mounting defeats exact a lasting toll?
At several junctures Friday, the breaking point seemed near. To wit:
The Hokies squandered an early 10-0 lead and were booed off the field at halftime, trailing 20-10. Worse yet, they had no one to blame but themselves.
Immanuel Hickman (unnecessary roughness), Hawkins (unsportsmanlike conduct), Ben Bell (lined up in the neutral zone) and Williams (false start) gift-wrapped valuable yards, a first down and, ultimately, a touchdown to the Bears.
Williams’ infraction was the costliest, forcing punter Nick Veltsistas to re-kick from deep in Tech territory. Cole Boscia blocked the second punt, giving Cal possession at the 21-yard-line, and eight plays later, Kendrick Raphael scored from the 1.
“Second quarter was a little rough,” Montgomery said.
“The way we handle adversity is how we’re going to win this game,” defensive tackle Kelvin Gilliam said he told his teammates.
Tech handled it by outgaining Cal 172-15 in the third quarter, and when Drones scooted 14 yards to the end zone midway through the fourth quarter, the Hokies were back in front at 27-20.
But adversity wasn’t satisfied.
The Bears (5-3, 2-2 ACC) promptly drove to Tech’s 5-yard-line, where on third-and-goal, Bell sacked Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele for an 8-yard loss. The tackle was textbook.
But wait.
Referee Tim Hedgepeth casually dropped a flag for roughing the passer, much to the justified outrage of the Hokies’ sideline. Instead of fourth-and-goal at the 13, Cal had first-and-goal at the 2, and Raphael immediately scored the tying touchdown.
You want more adversity?
John Love, as reliable a placekicker as has worn a Tech uniform, doinked a 45-yard field goal attempt off the right upright with 1:02 remaining, after which Cal drove toward a potential winning field goal.
“I was just praying: Please miss it,” Copeland said.
Chase Meyer obliged, missing wide right from 49 yards and sending the game to overtime.
The teams traded touchdowns in the first OT, Sagapolutele throwing a 25-yard dart to tight end Mason Mini, and Drones countering with a 17-yard run.
Finally, after nearly four hours, resolution came in the second overtime. Drones found Heath in the end zone from 7 yards out and ran for a 2-point conversion, after which the defense stopped Cal on downs.
“The joy and the excitement in that locker room is unbelievable,” Montgomery said.
With games remaining versus No. 19 Louisville, Florida State, No. 9 Miami and No. 16 Virginia, the Hokies are about to encounter a formidable November. Indeed, if those rankings hold, this will mark the first time Tech’s final four contests have ever included three top-20 foes.
Injuries and talent deficiencies have left the Hokies vulnerable, but as Friday showed yet again, they’re not inclined to cave.
“These guys,” Montgomery said, “they’ve stayed together. They’ve welded together.”
Much to the delight of the bare-chested crew in the stands that the players couldn’t help but notice.
“Crazy,” Heath said. “I don’t know if I’d have had that in me.”
Most didn’t know the Hokies had Friday’s comeback in them either.
David Teel, david.teel@virginiamedia.com
