BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) – Marcus Vick got back to being efficient, throwing for 280 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers, and No. 3 Virginia Tech won its 11th consecutive game on a Thursday night, beating No. 13 Boston College 30-10.
Vick completed 22 of 28 passes a week after throwing three interceptions in a 28-9 victory at Maryland. Brandon Pace added three short field goals for the Hokies (8-0, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who have not lost a Thursday night game since 1995.
The Eagles (6-2, 3-2) got them then, 20-14, but were dominated this time.
Boston College came in allowing just 78 rushing yards per game, fourth best in the country, and the Hokies got 212 using a backfield by committee.
The Eagles were seventh in overall defense, allowing just 272 yards per game, and the Hokies rolled up 492 as the former Big East members renewed their rivalry in the ACC.
The Eagles, in their first season in the ACC, finished with only 184 yards, 59 after halftime.
The Hokies, stuck in third-place behind Texas and USC in the Bowl Championship Series standings, led 23-10 for most of the fourth quarter.
Then Vince Hall returned an interception 13 yards for a touchdown with 3:16 left to punctuate the victory. Quinton Porter was in the grasp of defensive end Darryl Tapp when he threw the ball and Hall snatched it.
The play added a bit of Beamerball to the victory, but this one was more about efficiency on offense and defense, and the ability of Pace to keep the points coming.
The Hokies now have nine days to prepare for a visit from No. 6 Miami on Nov. 5.
On a chilly night at soldout Lane Stadium, the Hokies were held to field goals on their first two drives, and trailed at home for the first time all season. Porter made that happen when he hit Will Blackmon for a 29-yard TD early in the second quarter.
But the play seemed to wake the Hokies up. They drove 65 yards in 11 plays on their next possession, Royal covering the final 15 on a reverse. After stopping the Eagles without a first down, the Hokies drove 69 yards in 11 plays. Vick hit Josh Hyman for 15 on a third-and-10, and Josh Morgan for a 3-yard TD 33 seconds before halftime.
A field goal by William Troost in the third quarter got the Eagles within 20-10, but Pace answered that with a 31-yarder – he also hit from 26 and 32 – three plays into the fourth quarter. Hall’s second interception return TD of the season sealed it.
AP-ES-10-27-05 2308EDT
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