Virginia Tech Returns Favor to West Virginia

A year after West Virginia dashed Virginia Tech’s national title aspirations, the Hokies got even.

Brandon Pace kicked four field goals to atone for last week’s late miss and Virginia Tech played superb defense to beat No. 6 West Virginia, 19-13, Saturday at Blacksburg, Va., paying back the Mountaineers for that 2003 upset.

Vincent Fuller intercepted Rasheed Marshall’s pass with 18 seconds left to seal the victory for Virginia Tech, which improved to 3-2 and held on after taking a 16-0 lead in the second half.

“They embarrassed us last year,” said Tech defensive end Jim Davis, who blocked a West Virginia field-goal attempt in the second quarter. “All the coaches kept reminding us how they just gave it to us last year.”

The Mountaineers (4-1) might have been starting to think about going undefeated, because all their remaining opponents are unranked. Last year, the Hokies’ national title aspirations were dashed by a 28-7 loss at West Virginia.

No. 4 Miami 27, Georgia Tech 3 -- Brock Berlin threw three touchdown passes and Frank Gore rushed for 115 yards to lead the Hurricanes (4-0, 2-0) over the Yellow Jackets (2-2, 1-2) at Atlanta.

Playing without injured P.J. Daniels, the ACC’s leading rusher, Georgia Tech was shut down by Miami’s tough defense, which forced four turnovers. Miami, fourth in the nation in scoring defense, has given up only one offensive touchdown in four games.

Berlin completed 10 of 20 passes for 200 yards with no interceptions. Two of his scoring passes were to Roscoe Parrish.

No. 9 Florida State 38, North Carolina 16 -- Wyatt Sexton threw three touchdown passes in his starting debut and Leon Washington ran for 153 yards and a touchdown to lead the Seminoles (3-1, 2-1) over the Tar Heels (2-3, 1-2) at Tallahassee, Fla.

Florida State built a 24-6 lead early in the third quarter but didn’t put the game out of reach until Sexton’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Chauncey Stovall completed the scoring with 6:53 left in the game.

Sexton, making his first start in place of injured Chris Rix, finished 20 for 31 for 191 yards.

North Carolina State 27, Wake Forest 21 -- T.A. McLendon capped a rally from a 14-point deficit by running for an eight-yard touchdown in overtime to lead the Wolfpack (3-1, 2-0) over the Demon Deacons (3-2, 0-2) in an ACC game at Raleigh, N.C.

McLendon finished with 139 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.

Duke 28, The Citadel 10 -- Mike Schneider threw two touchdown passes and ran for another to lead the Blue Devils (1-4) over the Bulldogs (0-3) at Durham, N.C.