BLACKSBURG, Va. – Jai Patel kicked a 24-yard field goal with 1:56 left to help Rutgers to a 26-23 victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday.

Patel’s field goal capped a 68-yard drive after Rutgers (3-0) blew a 16-point lead early in the fourth quarter but held on to record its first road win of the season and its 10th consecutive non-conference victory.

Virginia Tech (2-2) took the lead after Patel’s field goal at its 25-yard line, but on the third play of the drive, quarterback Kyron Drones’ pass was intercepted by Rutgers’ Robert Longerbeam, sealing the victory for the Scarlet Knights.

The Hokies had tied the game at 23-23 after scoring touchdowns in the fourth quarter and converting two-point conversions on back-to-back possessions. Bhayshul Tuten scored both of the Hokies’ touchdowns on runs of 14 and 2 yards.

Kyle Monangai and Samuel Brown V combined for 144 rushing yards and three touchdowns for Rutgers, which finished with 187 rushing yards.

Tuten ran for 122 yards and led the Hokies.

Findings

Rutgers: Greg Schiano made a strange decision in the third quarter: He threw the ball on fourth down from the one-line when the lead was 23-7 and couldn’t convert it.

This was one of many scoring opportunities – the Scarlet Knights missed two field goals and lost a fumble inside the Virginia Tech 5 – that Rutgers missed in a game it easily could have won.

But the Scarlet Knights have survived and are undefeated in their opening game in the Big Ten.

Virginia Tech: The Hokies waited too long to get going in this game and it cost them dearly.

They lost the ball three times and were unable to stop it, so they clearly lost the battle for possession time (39:20-20:40).

All in all, it was another non-conference loss against a Power 4 opponent.

Virginia Tech has lost 12 consecutive non-conference games against Power 4 opponents and Notre Dame.