BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Brenden Motely threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score to lead Virginia Tech past Furman 42-3 on Saturday.
Motley was 16 of 24 for 233 yards passing in his first career start in place of Michael Brewer, who broke his collarbone in Monday night’s loss to No. 1 Ohio State.
Andrew Motuapuaka scored on an 18-yard interception return, and Motley bullied in from the 4 to give the Hokies a 14-0 halftime lead.
Virginia Tech (1-1) broke it open in the second half, scoring touchdowns on its first three possessions.
Motley threw a 63-yard pass to Travon McMillian that led to a 1-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Ford. On the Hokies’ next series, Motley completed a 23-yard pass to Ford, and a 29-yard pass to Cam Phillips to set up Trey Edmunds’ 1-yard touchdown run.
The Hokies’ Adonis Alexander intercepted Reese Hannon’s pass. On the next play, Motley connected with Ford again, this time with a 32-yard touchdown pass to make it 35-3.
Virginia Tech finished with 583 yards of offense, their best since 2010 and most with offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler, who took over in 2012. The Hokies finished with 299 yards rushing and 284 yards passing.
J.C. Hollingsworth kicked a 49-yard field goal for Furman (0-2) in the third quarter.
Furman, which scored 35 points and had 525 yards of offense in their season-opening loss to Coastal Carolina, finished with just 254 yards with three turnovers against the Hokies.