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Hokies stop slide: Virginia Tech takes advantage of ECU mistakes
AP Photo
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor dives for a touchdown on a 13-yard run for Virginia Tech, the only TD in the Hokies’ 16-3 victory over ECU.
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Published: November 6, 2009
GREENVILLE - Freshman Ryan Williams ran for a season-high 179 yards and No. 22 Virginia Tech avoided its first three-game losing streak in six years, holding off East Carolina 16-3 last night.
Tyrod Taylor had a 13-yard touchdown run, Matt Waldron kicked three field goals and Williams atoned for his critical mistake last week against North Carolina by cracking the 1,000-yard mark for the Hokies (6-3).
They held a 379-277 advantage in total yardage, forced three turnovers and made just enough plays to bounce back from losses to No. 10 Georgia Tech and the Tar Heels. They also avenged last year's loss in which the Pirates turned the tables on Beamerball.
Patrick Pinkney was 16 of 33 passing for 167 yards with a late interception for East Carolina (5-4), which was playing its first Thursday night home game since 2001 and hosted the Hokies for the first time since 2000.
The upstarts from Conference USA had won three of their past four against ranked teams, including last year's 27-22 upset that was keyed by a late blocked punt, and they pulled out a few stops for this special occasion. They designated the game a "blackout," welcomed back to town former star quarterback Jeff Blake and broke out a new helmet logo with a tricorne-clad skull and crossbones to replace the traditional "ECU."
But ultimately, they had too much to overcome: two fumbles in Tech territory, too many overthrown receivers by Pinkney, their sixth-year quarterback, and some baffling-at-times decisions. Trying to tighten things up late in the third, East Carolina ran five consecutive direct snaps to receiver Dwayne Harris, but the last was stuffed for a drive-killing 8-yard loss.
Virginia Tech, a 13-point favorite, was strong early -- at one point holding a 252-109 advantage in total yards -- but for a while, all the Hokies had to show for it was two field goals.
Waldron kicked a career-long 41-yard field goal to cap their second series, then made the score 6-0 with a 22-yarder late in the first quarter after a 75-yard drive stalled at the 5.
Taylor put the Hokies up 13-0 with his touchdown run with 2:06 before halftime, but the Pirates countered with a quick 73-yard march capped by Ben Hartman's 24-yard field goal on the final play of the half.
At times, both teams had trouble stringing together a few positive plays.
One play after Dominique Lindsay's 20-yard touchdown run was called back on a holding penalty, Rob Kass was stripped by Tech's Cody Grimm. The Hokies gave it right back when -- two plays after Williams' 46-yard run -- Taylor took off for the goal line but fumbled through the back of end zone.
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