Virginia Tech on rise ahead of visit to Syracuse

(Photo credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images)

Kyron Drones and Virginia Tech are playing their best football of the season.

The same cannot be said for Kyle McCord and Syracuse.

The Hokies and Drones pay a visit to the Orange on Saturday, when McCord will hope to get back on track in an intriguing Atlantic Coast Conference matchup.

The Hokies (5-3, 3-1 ACC) ended September with close losses to Rutgers and then-No. 7 Miami, but October was a different story. Virginia Tech defeated Stanford, Boston College and Georgia Tech -- all by at least 15 points -- while allowing a total of 34 points.

Drones was the standout last week in a 21-6 triumph over the Yellow Jackets. He threw a touchdown pass, rushed for a score and caught a TD pass while accounting for 132 yards from scrimmage.

"I'm willing to do any and everything for this team," Drones said. "We played a hell of a game. The defense played a hell of a game. The offense, we've got things to work on, but a win is a win."

Meanwhile, Syracuse (5-2, 2-2) appeared to have some momentum of its own following three straight victories. However, it all came crumbling down on Oct. 24 against then-No. 19 Pitt.

McCord threw five interceptions -- including three that were returned for touchdowns -- in a humbling 41-13 defeat.

"He's our quarterback. He's our leader. And that's why we stuck with him and we're going to continue to stick with him," Orange coach Fran Brown said. "I mean, he just had one bad game, so it's part of football. ... I think you'll be able to see the kind of fighter he is as he keeps going from here on out."

Syracuse could lean more heavily on LeQuint Allen, who has a team-high 481 rushing yards but was limited to 32 yards on 15 attempts against the Panthers.

"We're gonna play ball," Brown said of the matchup with Virginia Tech. "We don't want the same thing to happen again. We think our quarterback is really good, but it was just an off night for the entire program."

Virginia Tech rolled to a 38-10 home victory over Syracuse last season. The Hokies outgained the Orange 528-137 in total yards and held Syracuse without a third-down conversion all game.

--Field Level Media