11/01/97 - 9:31PM ET - Click reload often for latest version
NCAAF FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL --- --- --- --- ----- ALA BIRMINGHAM 0 0 0 0 0 VIRGINIA TECH (22) 10 10 10 7 37 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QTR: VTCH - TD, MARCUS PARKER 2 YD RUN (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK), 8:44 VTCH - FG, SHAYNE GRAHAM 46 YD, 12:30 2ND QTR: VTCH - TD, MARCUS PARKER 1 YD RUN (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK), 11:31 VTCH - FG, SHAYNE GRAHAM 19 YD, 14:55 3RD QTR: VTCH - TD, LAMONT PEGUES 2 YD RUN (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK), 5:11 VTCH - FG, SHAYNE GRAHAM 30 YD, 9:48 4TH QTR: VTCH - TD, MARCUS GILDERSLEEVE 22 YD PASS FROM NICK SORENSEN (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK), 4:29
NCAAF 1 2 3 4 F - - - - -- Ala Birmingham 0 0 0 0 0 Virginia Tech (22) 10 10 10 7 37 FINAL
Virginia Tech-Parker 2 run (Graham kick) Virginia Tech-FG Graham 46 Virginia Tech-Parker 1 run (Graham kick) Virginia Tech-FG Graham 19 Virginia Tech-Pegues 2 run (Graham kick) Virginia Tech-FG Graham 30 Virginia Tech-Gildersleeve 22 pass from Sorensen (Graham kick)
Ala Birmingham Virginia Tech First downs 9 26 Rushed-yards 42-17 57-312 Passing yards 48 84 Sacked-yards lost 8-69 0-0 Return yards 18 74 Passes 5-16-1 7-15-2 Punts 11-36.5 4-51.3 Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-1 Penalties-yards 6-38 1-5 Time of possession 30:36 29:24
Individual Statistics RUSHING: Ala Birmingham-Foster 15-50, Coleman 6-29, Thatch 5-10, Morrow 1-8, Dixon 8-minus 37, Jolly 7-minus 43. Virginia Tech-Pegues 15-100, Oxendine 18-80, Sorensen 8-65, Parker 10-40, Charlton 1-16, C Hawkins 5-11.
PASSING: Ala Birmingham-Jolly 4-13-0-25, Dixon 1-3-1-23. Virginia Tech-Sorensen 7-15-2-84.
RECEIVING: Ala Birmingham-Foster 2-6, Drake 1-23, Richards 1-11, Coleman 1-8. Virginia Tech-Gildersleeve 2-31, Parker 2-24, Handy 2-23, Charlton 1-6.
Att: 37,411
GAME RECAPMarcus Parker scored two touchdowns and Shayne Graham kicked three field goals to lead 22nd-ranked Virginia Tech to a 37-0 rout of Alabama-Birmingham in the first-ever meeting between the schools.
Parker scored on a two-yard run in the first quarter to give the Hokies a 7-0 lead and added a one-yard run around right end in the second quarter.
"I'm really proud of the way our team played today," Hokies head coach Frank Beamer said. "When I said earlier this week that this was a scary game, I really meant it. I think UAB is a very capable football team and we came into this one banged up physically."
Graham booted a 46-yard field goal in the first quarter and added a 19-yarder in the second quarter as the Hokies (6-2) built a 20-0 halftime lead. Graham added a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Parker's first score culminated a 10-play, 71-yard drive that used 3:36 of the clock. Graham's first field goal increased the Hokies' lead to 10-0 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Parker plowed in from one yard to cap a 12-play, 66-yard drive, and Graham chipped a 19-yarder through the uprights, giving Tech a 20-0 halftime lead. Parker finished with 41 yards on 10 carries.
Lamont Pegues scored on a two-yard touchdown run 5:11 into the third period to make it 27-0, as the Hokies continued to cruise.
The Hokies defense limited UAB to just 17 yards rushing and 48 yards passing.
The Hokies' final touchdown came on a 22-yard pass from Nick Sorensen to Marcus Gildersleeve 4:31 into the fourth quarter. The three play, 48-yard drive took just 52 seconds.
Sorensen completed 7-of-15 passes for 85 yards and ran for 65 yards on eight carries.
"I am especially proud of Nick Sorensen," Beamer added. "He really stepped up and played well. I am sure there were a couple of throws he would like to have back. But overall, he did an exceptional job."
Lee Jolly completed 4-of-13 passes for 25 yards for for UAB (3-5).
"It's hard to play when you can't get a ball off," Blazers head coach Watson Brown said. "Virginia Tech did not take the chances that I hoped they would. Their defense knocked us around and their quarterback threw the ball early and had nice runs. Tech definitely controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides."
Virginia Tech rolled up 396 yards of total offense, including 312 on the ground. Ken Oxedine had 80 yards on 10 carries.
Virginia Tech won for the 14th time in its last 15 home games, and improved to just 2-12-1 all-time against schools from Alabama.