As the cold air whistled throughout Lane Stadium in Blacksburg and students jumped to Enter Sandman, it marked a long awaited return.

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Virginia Tech’s third-string quarterback proved good enough to down rival Virginia for a fourth straight year. Redshirt freshman Pop Watson made his first college start a memorable one, leading the Hokies to a 37-17 win over Virginia to retain the Commonwealth Cup and make Virginia Tech bowl eligible for a second straight season.

This year, when both programs have had their share of triumphs and disappointments, both teams are playing for the right to extend their season into December with a bowl game.