LSU Can’t Handle Hokies

Arkansas State or Louisiana State, Virginia Tech still dominated.

The No. 16 Hokies followed a season-opening laugher against Arkansas State with an impressive 26-8 victory against No. 14 Louisiana State on Sunday at Blacksburg, Va., using an opportunistic defense.

“If you can play defense and get a few points off your kicking game and let your offense keep getting better, that’s a good plan,” Coach Frank Beamer said after only his fourth victory against a top 15 team in 25 tries.

The Hokies (2-0) managed only 231 yards, but gave up only 214 and scored when a 17-yard punt return by DeAngelo Hall set up a 27-yard touchdown drive and a blocked punt set up a 29-yard touchdown march. Their third touchdown, after a 58-yard drive, was set up by an interception.

All three touchdowns came on the ground, with Lee Suggs, who gained 89 yards in 23 carries, scoring from six and two yards and Kevin Jones scoring from the two as the Hokies loaded the line against the Tigers and challenged them to try to stop the tailbacks.

Kentucky 22, No. 17 Louisville 17--Taylor Begley kicked three field goals and the Wildcat defense dominated the Cardinals and quarterback Dave Ragone at Louisville, Ky.

Jared Lorenzen passed for 195 yards and a touchdown as the Wildcats ended a three-game losing streak to the Cardinals.

Ragone, touted as a Heisman Trophy candidate, spent most of the game on the run from Kentucky’s pass rush. He was sacked three times, completed 14 of 39 for 193 yards and had a touchdown pass and an interception.

The Cardinals managed only 248 yards against a Kentucky defense that ranked 109th in the nation in yards allowed last season.

Hawaii 61, Eastern Illinois 36--Timmy Chang passed for 374 yards and three touchdowns as the Warriors defeated the Panthers Saturday night in Honolulu in the season opener for both teams.

Chang, who sat out most of last season after suffering a wrist injury in the third game, completed 19 of 30 passes, including scoring passes of 13, 59 and 19 yards.