BLACKSBURG — Virginia Tech didn’t look sharp in the first half against Austin Peay, but the No. 15 Hokies appear to have rekindled “Beamer Ball” at least for a day.

A big punt return and a blocked jumpstarted a sluggish Virginia Tech and helped build a 21-0 halftime lead on the Governors, a team from the Football Championship Subdivision.

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The Hokies’ offense sputtered until Kyshoen Jarrett returned a punt 46 yards to the Austin Peay 6 late in the first quarter. Three plays later, Michael Holmes ran untouched into the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown run, the first of his career, to make it 7-0.

Midway through the second quarter, Tony Gregory blocked an Austin Peay punt, the second blocked punt of his career.

After a 23-yard pass to Marcus Davis got the ball near the goal line, quarterback Logan Thomas scored on a 1-yard sneak to make it 14-0. It was Thomas’ 12th career rushing touchdown.

The Hokies made it 21-0 just before halftime on a drive that went 71 yards in a little over a minute. Thomas connected with Corey Fuller on a 30-yard touchdown across the middle with 26 seconds on the clock.

Thomas was 9-for-14 for 154 yards and a touchdown in the first half. After a slow start, the Hokies finished the half with 205 yards.

Virginia Tech’s defense didn’t allow much of anything. The Governors didn’t have a first down until 18 minutes into the game and only crossed the 50 thanks to a Hokies fumble.

Austin Peay had 95 total yards, with only 11 passing.