NCAAF FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL --- --- --- --- ----- VIRGINIA TECH (15) 7 0 7 3 17 BOSTON COLLEGE 0 0 0 0 0 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QTR: VTCH - TD, PIERSON PRIOLEAU 85 YD INTERCEPTION RETURN (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK), 13:26 2ND QTR: NONE 3RD QTR: VTCH - TD, LAMONT PEGUES 2 YD RUN (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK), 8:37 4TH QTR: VTCH - FG, SHAYNE GRAHAM 29 YD, 6:22
Extended BoxNCAAF 1 2 3 4 F - - - - -- Virginia Tech (15) 7 0 7 3 17 Boston College 0 0 0 0 0 FINAL
Virginia Tech-Prioleau 85 interception return (Graham kick) Virginia Tech-Pegues 2 run (Graham kick) Virginia Tech-FG Graham 29
Virginia Tech Boston College First downs 10 15 Rushed-yards 47-164 47-179 Passing yards 72 116 Sacked-yards lost 2-14 3-26 Return yards 156 15 Passes 6-10-2 10-20-3 Punts 3-46.7 7-30.1 Fumbles-lost 6-4 4-1 Penalties-yards 3-22 7-78 Time of possession 26:07 33:53
Individual Statistics RUSHING: Virginia Tech-Pegues 22-148, J Ferguson 3-15, Stith 5-9, Kendrick 2-4, Sorensen 15-minus 12. Boston College-Cloud 32-186, Washington 1-8, Dewalt 1-3, Mutryn 13-minus 18.
PASSING: Virginia Tech-Sorensen 6-10-2-72. Boston College-Mutryn 10-20-3-116.
RECEIVING: Virginia Tech-Hall 4-56, Harrison 1-9, Handy 1-7. Boston College-Dicosmo 3-59, Cloud 3-17, Ellis 2-21, Tardio 2-19.
Att: 37,628
Game StoryCHESTNUT HILL, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- Pierson Prioleau had an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown as 15th-ranked Virginia Tech used a series of big plays on defense and special teams to blank Boston College, 17-0, in a Big East Conference matchup.
In a driving rainstorm, Virginia Tech's offense was of little use, committing six turnovers. But the Hokies (5-0, 3-0 Big East) intercepted Eagles quarterback Scott Mutryn three times -- including Prioleau's first-quarter score -- and blocked two punts in posting their second shutout of the year.
"This was truly a game where the kicking game gets in there as a factor," Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "It was a perfect night to block some kicks and fortunately we did that."
Lamont Pegues carried 22 times for 148 yards and scored the lone offensive touchdown for Virginia Tech. The Hokies have surrendered just 30 points through five games.
Mike Cloud was brilliant in defeat for Boston College (3-2, 2-1), rushing for 186 yards on 32 carries. He entered the game fourth in the nation with an average of 169 rushing yards per game.
But he could not help BC avert its first shutout in 18 years. The Eagles were blanked for the first time since Navy shut them out, 21-0, on October 4th, 1980. They were shut out at home for the first time since September 15th, 1972, when Tulane posted a 10-0 victory.
"The fact that I ran for over 100 yards again means nothing," Cloud said. "We lost the game, we made some key mistakes and they capitalized. We were able to show that we have a great defense on national TV, but unfortunately our offense tonight took a step backwards, a big step backwards."
After a sloppy start caused by the weather, the Eagles had a chance to strike first near the end of the first quarter. BC had a 2nd-and-12 from the Virginia Tech 21 when Prioleau stepped in front of Mutryn's pass and took it 85 yards the other way for a 7-0 lead with 1:34 remaining in the period.
The defenses remained in control before Virginia Tech came up with a big play midway through the third quarter. BC was forced to punt from its own end and Andre Davis raced through and practically took the ball out of punter Jason Malecki's hands. The Hokies came up with the loose ball, setting up Pegues' two-yard run for a 14-0 cushion with 6:23 left in the quarter.
The Eagles still had a chance to make a game of it late in the third with a 1st-and-goal from the one-yard line. But the Hokies came up with a tremendous defensive stand, stopping Mutryn twice on sneaks and sacking him once.
"That goal-line stand was amazing," Beamer added. "That's two weeks in a row from the one yard line that a team doesn't score on us. They tried two quarterback sneaks ... you just wanted to keep them snapping the ball, because the way the ball was wet, the more chances you handle the ball the more chances you could fumble."
Virginia Tech used another special teams play to cap the scoring. BC's Jermaine Walker muffed a punt and Ricky Hall recovered for the Hokies at the Boston College 18. Shayne Graham booted a 29-yard field goal 6:22 into the fourth quarter to make it 17-0.
Boston College's highlight came at halftime when two of its greats had their numbers retired. Quarterback Doug Flutie, the 1984 Heisman Trophy winner, and Mike Ruth, who won the 1985 Outland Trophy, were honored. Flutie made No. 22 famous, while Ruth clogged the middle of the defense wearing No. 68.
Nick Sorensen, starting at quarterback for the injured Al Clark, completed 6-of-10 passes for 72 yards and was picked off twice. Mutryn was 10-of-20 for 116 yards to go along with his three interceptions.