No. 2 Virginia Tech Turns Trick Without Vick, 37-34

Pittsburgh knocked Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick out of the game, but Lee Suggs and Dave Meyer wouldn’t let the Panthers knock the No. 2-ranked Hokies out of the national championship picture Saturday at Blacksburg, Va.

Meyer replaced the injured Vick and completed three consecutive passes for first downs on the final drive that led to Carter Warley’s 27-yard field goal with 16 seconds to play, which gave the Hokies a 37-34 victory.

Suggs rushed for 164 yards and three touchdowns for Virginia Tech, 8-0 overall and 6-0 in the Big East, which extended its regular-season winning streak to 19 games and won a record 14th consecutive conference game.

Vick sprained his right ankle when he has sacked late in the first half and didn’t return. The leading Heisman Trophy contender watched from the sidelines with his ankle in a brace and crutches under both of his arms.

Vick’s status is day-to-day pending an examination today when the swelling goes down.

Pittsburgh (5-2, 2-2) lost despite four touchdown passes by John Turman, three to Antonio Bryant. Turman was 17 of 26 for 311 yards.

Meyer was seven for 13 for 114 yards, including three completions for 34 yards to get the Hokies to Pittsburgh’s 26. After Jarrett Ferguson ran twice for 16 yards, Warley redeemed himself after missing a field goal earlier in the quarter.

“I was confident,” said Meyer, a fifth-year senior said. “I’ve run this offense here for five years. I was ready to roll. I can’t say enough about the way everyone hung together, kept their composure and kept doing the things that have made us successful. It was a good testament to this team.”

No. 4 Miami 42, Louisiana Tech 31--James Jackson rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns and Santana Moss added 158 all-purpose yards and two scores as the Hurricanes prevailed in a nonconference game at Miami.

The Hurricanes (6-1) kept their national title hopes alive with their fifth consecutive victory. Miami, which plays host to Virginia Tech on Saturday, had four turnovers, committed 12 penalties and allowed the Bulldogs (2-7) to gain 485 yards.

Ken Dorsey, a sophomore who came into the game having thrown just two interceptions in his career, threw three and Jackson fumbled once.

“Not every one of your performances are going to be absolutely beautiful. We’re glad to get this game over with,” Hurricane Coach Butch Davis said before abruptly ending his postgame news conference after just a few questions.

The Hurricanes scored on three of their first four possessions to take a 21-3 lead. Jackson had two one-yard scoring runs sandwiched around Moss’ 43-yard end around.

Moss had a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter.

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Boston College 42, Rutgers 13--William Green weaved through a strong wind and a weak Rutgers defense, rushing for 223 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles (5-3, 2-3) won easily at Boston.

Rutgers fell to 3-5 and 0-5.