Virginia Tech Takes 63-7 Rout

By the end of the first quarter, there was no doubt Virginia Tech Coach Frank Beamer was going to celebrate his 150th win.

Lee Suggs ran for his first touchdown in almost a year and Virginia Tech scored a team-record 56 points before halftime Sunday as the No. 16 Hokies routed Arkansas State, 63-7, in the Hispanic College Fund Football Classic.

Opening the season without 11 starters from last year, Virginia Tech was led by sophomores Bryan Randall and DeAngello Hall, who combined for five touchdowns. “When you have some fast guys you just want to play fast and watch the blurs go by,” Beamer said.

Hokie running back Suggs, the nation’s leading scorer two years ago, made a successful return after missing nearly all of last year because of a torn ligament in his left knee. He gained 87 yards and scored the Hokies’ second touchdown on a 42-yard run in his first game since Sept. 1, 2001, when he was injured against Connecticut.

“It’s been a year since I’ve been in the end zone,” Suggs said. “It’s just a wonderful feeling.”

Randall, who replaced Grant Noel at quarterback in the second quarter, completed six of eight passes for 66 yards, including a 19-yard pass for a touchdown to Mike Imoh. Randall also ran for two touchdowns.

Hall scored twice in the first quarter, returning a punt and an interception for touchdowns.

Seven Virginia Tech players had touchdowns in the first half as the Hokies took a 56-0 lead. The previous Virginia Tech record for points in a first half was 49, against Rutgers in 1999.

“The way it happened was unbelievable,” said Steve Roberts, Arkansas State’s first-year coach. “You don’t expect that to happen. We didn’t take care of the football. They took advantage of the mistakes we made.”

Nearly all the Hokies got some playing time after Tech scored touchdowns on five consecutive possessions in the first quarter.

“We dressed 70 guys, and I think we got 68 into the game,” Beamer said.

The Hokies had some tough adjustments to make on defense after losing six starters and five of its front seven, including standout linebackers Ben Taylor and Jake Houseright.

But the inexperience didn’t appear to change the way the Hokies usually dominate opponents. Arkansas State turned the ball over five times and was held to 227 yards, 73 of which came on Elliott Jacobs’ touchdown pass to Mike Cox in the third quarter.

“The defense is ready,” Hall said. “No matter what people say, the defense is ready.”

Jacobs completed nine of 16 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown. Mike Cox caught five passes for 120 yards and a touchdown.

Arkansas State was 2-9 last season and hasn’t had a winning season since 1995. Arkansas State sorely missed two-time 1,000-yard rusher Jonathan Adams, who is now on the New Orleans Saints. Adams’ successor, Danny Smith, had 36 yards rushing and was benched after fumbling three times.