Photos by MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Virginia Tech tight end David Stanton (right) catches a pass while being defended by rover Davon Morgan during Saturday's Maroon-White game at Lane Stadium.

Virginia Tech's Brandon Dillard celebrates his touchdown reception from Sean Glennon during Saturday's Maroon-White game.

Photos by MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Bassett High School graduate Brandon Dillard had two of the biggest plays during Saturday's Maroon-White game at Lane Stadium. The walk-on is trying to earn a scholarship.

BLACKSBURG -- Give this guy a pen and tell him where to sign. Hand him a scholarship. Make it fast, too. Because Brandon Dillard is hard to catch.

Providing more evidence in his case of earning a scholarship for his final two college seasons, Dillard set up a touchdown with a 49-yard run on a reverse and caught a 25-yard TD pass to spark the White team to a 24-3 victory in Virginia Tech's Maroon-White spring football game at Lane Stadium.

If Dillard doesn't get his "free ride" soon, Macho Harris, the Hokies' star cornerback and unofficial team spokesman inferred he may be forced to intervene.

"I don't know," Harris said. "I believe after this, they're going to have to negotiate or something. They're going to have to work on something because Dillard is one of the impact players now."

Dillard, a redshirt junior who starred at Bassett High School, entered the day as the No. 1 flanker on the depth chart. He did nothing but solidify his status heading into August's preseason camp by making the two biggest plays in the 70-snap scrimmage.

"I think he might have earned his scholarship today," said senior quarterback Sean Glennon, who hooked up with Dillard on the 25-yard scoring strike. "I would imagine that if he's named the starting [Z receiver], they'll give him some money."

The speedy 5-foot-11, 180-pound Martinsville native ran a 4.28-second 40 in winter testing. On his second TD, Dillard simply ran past cornerback Cris Hill for an easy six.

"Since I've been young, I've been winning races and stuff," said Dillard, the 2005 Group AA state championship in the 100 and 200 meters. "I try to work on my speed all time, just try to get faster and faster. In the weight room, Coach [Mike] Gentry has a great speed plan for us ... squats, leg presses, curls, extensions with legs, all that helps you get faster."

When asked who's the fastest guy on the team, Dillard said: "Right now, it's me."

Harris, who had a big day at corner, with three tackles for loss, including a 9-yard chase-down sack of a scrambling Tyrod Taylor, didn't offer any argument to who's the squad's No. 1 speed merchant.

"Did Dillard say that?" said Harris, laughing. "He is. He's the fastest. He can fly. Hands down, I think he's probably the fastest guy in college football right now. ...

"And now he's really been given an opportunity. A lot of guys [four senior wideouts] are gone, so he's gotten his chance right now and he's taken advantage of it. I'm proud of him."

Glennon said he hoped Dillard gets his just reward. He said the guy has developed a pair or reliable mitts to go with his speed.

"He's got good hands," Glennon said. "He's a guy who when he came in here had a tough time, because he wasn't a receiver in high school, hadn't played a whole lot of football in his life. So his hands were his problem early on, catching a lot with his body and chest. But he looks like a receiver to me now."

Dillard's two big plays helped the White squad stockpile a 14-3 lead late in the second quarter. Glennon threw a second TD pass with 5:17 left in the game, when converted QB Ike Whitaker made a spectacular diving catch to make it 24-3.

Glennon, who finished 9-for-15 passing for 119 yards, played basically an error-free game except for one pass in which he missed tight end Greg Boone on a crossing pattern in the back of the end zone.

"I think any one of you guys interviewing me could have made that pass," said Glennon, laughing. "It just kind of flew out of my hands. That one hurt. Because the other two touchdowns I had to work for, and that one I could have just bowled it over to him."

Sophomore Tyrod Taylor, whose battle with Glennon for the starting job will resume in August, completed 11 of 19 passes for 67 yards. He threw one interception, a pick that safety Kam Chancellor returned 55 yards to the Maroon 3 and led to Dustin Keys' 18-yard field goal that made it 17-3 on the first half's final play. Taylor also was sacked three times.

"[The coaches] said the only way they were going to make a decision this spring was if one of us just separated," said Glennon of his battle with Taylor. "And I don't think that happened. We both had our bright moments, we both had our so-so moments, so I don't think you can look at both of us and say like 'he's clearly the best.'"