EAST ROUNDUP : No. 18 Virginia Tech Defeats Boston College

Virginia Tech is off to its best start since 1981 because of its defense.

The 18th-ranked Hokies (3-0) defeated Boston College, 12-7, Saturday at Boston by limiting the Eagles to 244 yards.

BC was shut out until Jeff Ryan threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Pete Mitchell with six left.

Virginia Tech needed a strong defensive effect because the offense managed only 233 yards and no touchdowns. The Hokies’ only touchdown came on Torrian Gray’s 66-yard return on one of his team’s four interceptions.

“We’re very fortunate to be able to win while we look ragged,” Virginia Tech Coach Frank Beamer said. “Offensively, we’re awful close. We’re closer than what it looks like.”

Boston College (0-2) is far from its level of last season, when Glenn Foley ran the offense. The Eagles beat Virginia Tech, 48-34, last year as the teams combined for 1,126 yards. They combined for 477 Saturday.

Virginia Tech, which was 4-0 in 1981, held Boston College to just four first downs in the first three quarters before giving up seven in the fourth.

The Hokies began the game as the nation’s second stingiest defense, allowing 160.5 yards per game, having held its other opponents below 200 yards and 10 first downs.