Virginia Tech defeats Liberty 36-13 to start Fuente era

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) Virginia Tech quarterback Jerod Evans threw for 221 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Hokies to a 36-13 season-opening victory over Liberty on Saturday, handing new coach Justin Fuente his first victory as the Hokies' head coach.

Fuente, who spent the previous four seasons at Memphis, took over in January for Frank Beamer, who retired after 29 years as Virginia Tech's head coach. Fuente's decision last week to name Evans the starting quarterback certainly looked like a good move after Evans completed 20 of 32 passes.

Evans threw touchdown passes on the Hokies' last two possessions of the first half to help Virginia Tech rally from a 13-10 deficit. Evans, who won a three-man battle for the job, played less than three quarters.

Liberty amassed just 160 yards of offense, scoring all of its points off of Virginia Tech turnovers. The Hokies lost four fumbles.

THE TAKEAWAY

LIBERTY: Liberty quarterback Stephon Masha got off to a rough start in his attempt to replace Josh Woodrum, a four-year starter. Masha completed 9 of 25 for 70 yards and two interceptions. It was a sloppy debut overall for Liberty, which committed 13 penalties, including eight false-start penalties.

VIRGINIA TECH: The Hokies' defense struggled with consistency a year ago, but looked good Saturday. Virginia Tech, which intercepted just 10 passes last season, had three, marking the 41st time under defensive coordinator Bud Foster that the Hokies have intercepted at least three passes in a game. They're 38-3 in those games.

UP NEXT

LIBERTY: The Flames will serve as hosts to Jacksonville next Saturday in Liberty's home opener. The game will be Liberty's first against an opponent from the Pioneer Football League.

VIRGINIA TECH: The Hokies now get ready to take on Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway Saturday night in a game that could set college football's single-game attendance mark. The two teams haven't met in the regular season since 1937.