The longest streak of its kind in the country
Maryland had not lost to a nonconference opponent in 20 games, the longest such run anywhere in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Virginia Tech ended it in College Park overnight, 35-26.
Ethan Grunkemeyer did the damage before half-time. Three touchdown passes and a scrambling fourth score, all inside the first two quarters. He finished 31 of 39 for 314 yards without an interception.
The Hokies scored on five of their first six possessions and led 35-14 in the third quarter.
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Franklin returns to a school that once promised him the job
This was Virginia Tech’s first road win under James Franklin, and it arrived at a programme with a long claim on him. Franklin worked two separate stints as a Maryland assistant and was formally designated the Terrapins’ coach in waiting before the school scrapped that arrangement in 2011. Grunkemeyer followed him from Penn State, where Franklin was fired last year in his 12th season in charge.
Virginia Tech took the opening kickoff and went 75 yards, Luke Reynolds catching a tight end screen and running it down the middle for a 14-yard score. Reynolds finished with 12 receptions for 107 yards. The next drive looked identical: low-risk throws, off-tackle runs, 74 yards of it. Facing third-and-goal from the 18, Grunkemeyer dropped back and then ran straight up the middle to make it 13-0.
Maryland replied through three straight Malik Washington completions worth 70 yards and an Iverson Howard 2-yard run. Virginia Tech answered again as Jeffrey Overton Jr. took a swing pass out of the backfield 49 yards down the left sideline. Overton added a 2-yard run in the third quarter, and Marcellous Hawkins Jr. carried 16 times for 75 yards.
Washington’s numbers did not cover the gap
Washington threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns, going 30 of 43 without an interception. Chris Durr Jr. caught 12 passes for 109 yards and two scores.
Two of those touchdowns came in the fourth quarter, and Maryland went for two after each one. Both attempts failed. The Terrapins fall to 2-1 having spent the night chasing.
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