Unfamiliar script but familiar result as Hokies fall at Pitt [Video]

By David Teel

PITTSBURGH

Through five games this season, Virginia Tech had yielded five rushing touchdowns. Saturday at Pittsburgh, they allowed six — to one player.

There were several ways to envision the Hokies losing to the Panthers. Kedon Slovis shredding their depleted secondary and Pitt smothering their tepid offense were chief among them.

Neither happened. Instead, Israel Abanikanda happened.

In an historic performance, Abanikanda abused Tech for 320 rushing yards and the aforementioned six scores in a 45-29 Panthers victory.

“Obviously,” Hokies coach Brent Pry said, “that … bothers me tremendously.”

We can only imagine.

First, Pry is a defensive coach who earned a sterling reputation as Penn State’s coordinator. Second, as a rookie head coach, he’s seen Tech (2-4, 1-2 ACC) lose in myriad fashions this year.

But just when the offense showed life, and on an afternoon when special teams scored a touchdown, and the pass defense was serviceable, another XXL issue emerged.

The Hokies began the …