Ethan Grunkemeyer produced five of Virginia Tech's nine explosive plays

VMI went three-and-out on 67% of its drives. That is the game. Virginia Tech runs away from VMI, 73-3 at Lane Stadium. Virginia Tech led from start to finish and never let VMI within striking distance. Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for 224 yards on 20 attempts with two touchdowns and ran two times for 6 yards.

One team finished its drives

Virginia Tech scored on 71% of its drives to VMI's 13%: Ethan Grunkemeyer (12 pts), Que'Sean Brown (6 pts) and Bryce Baker (6 pts). Virginia Tech produced 9 plays of 15+ yards to VMI's 2: Ethan Grunkemeyer (involved in 5), Que'Sean Brown (involved in 3) and Bryce Baker (involved in 2). Stacked together, it was never close.

The names on it

Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for 224 yards on 20 attempts with two touchdowns and ran two times for 6 yards, with two third-down conversions and a hand in five plays of 15 yards or more. Que'Sean Brown caught six passes for 109 yards, one of them for a touchdown, with a hand in three plays of 15 yards or more. Bryce Baker threw for 127 yards on 12 attempts with one touchdown. For VMI, Leo Boehling ran 10 times for 7 yards. Traveion Slaughter ran three times for 21 yards and caught one pass for 19 yards. Chandler Wilson lost 16 yards on eight carries. Aycen Stevens was the disruptive one for Virginia Tech: 1.5 sacks, 1.5 TFLs, 3 tackles.

What VMI has to fix

VMI was not without production. Jack Joyce , but it arrived in a game that was already gone.

The defensive story

Three names to keep, all for Virginia Tech: Aycen Stevens (1.5 sacks, 1.5 TFLs, 3 tackles), Thomas Williams (1 INT) and Mylachi Williams (1 sack, 2.5 TFLs, 2.5 tackles). 3 of Virginia Tech's 5 sacks came from the defensive line, which is how this defense has generated pressure since 2016.

The takeaway

Virginia Tech did exactly what a better team should against VMI: leave no doubt. Jack Joyce was responsible for 3 of VMI's points; there was not enough behind him.