NCAAF RUTGERS AT VIRGINIA TECH NOTE: FINAL RE-SENT TO CORRECT THE TIME OF THE THIRD VIRGINIA TECH TOUCHDOWN.
Extended BoxNCAAF 1 2 3 4 F - - - - -- Rutgers 0 0 7 0 7 Virginia Tech (20) 6 22 5 14 47 FINAL
Virginia Tech-FG Graham 30 Virginia Tech-FG Graham 36 Virginia Tech-Hall 44 pass from Clark (Clark run for two-point conversion) Virginia Tech-Hall 52 pass from Clark (Graham kick) Virginia Tech-Charlton 26 interception return (Graham kick) Virginia Tech-FG Graham 44 Rutgers-Den Thomas 59 pass from Mcmahon (Barone kick) Virginia Tech-Safety Virginia Tech-J Smith 98 interception return (Graham kick) Virginia Tech-Ward 20 run (Graham kick)
Rutgers Virginia Tech First downs 14 20 Rushed-yards 31-84 45-175 Passing yards 215 265 Sacked-yards lost 4-36 2-3 Return yards 1 200 Passes 11-32-6 15-31-0 Punts 7-42.0 5-38.6 Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-1 Penalties-yards 3-33 9-91 Time of possession 25:21 34:39
Individual Statistics RUSHING: Rutgers-Crooks 26-118, Den Thomas 1-2, Mcmahon 4-minus 36. Virginia Tech-Stith 11-80, Sorensen 5-34, Ward 3-24, Clark 8-23, Kendrick 3-9, Houseright 3-4, J Ferguson 1-3, Piniella 1-1, Pegues 10-minus 3.
PASSING: Rutgers-Mcmahon 9-23-5-199, Edmonds 2-9-1-16. Virginia Tech-Clark 14-28-0-251, Sorensen 1-3-0-14.
RECEIVING: Rutgers-Hutton 5-85, Den Thomas 2-64, A Holland 2-41, Riddick 1-20, Powell 1-5. Virginia Tech-Hall 5-123, J Ferguson 3-38, Carter 2-58, Pegues 2-3, Slowikowski 1-24, Wynn 1-14, Harrison 1-5.
Att: 42,452
Game StoryBLACKSBURG, Virginia (Ticker) -- No. 20 Virginia Tech rebounded from last weekend's devastating loss by returning two of a school record-tying six interceptions for touchdowns en route to a 47-7 dismantling of Big East Conference foe Rutgers.
Virginia Tech (8-2, 5-2 Big East) likely lost all conference title hopes last weekend, allowing a TD on the final play of a 28-26 loss to Syracuse.
But cornerback Ike Charlton and linebacker Jamel Smith had interception returns for scores of 26 and 98 yards, respectively, to help embarrass Rutgers (5-6, 2-5). Charlton's TD increased the Hokies' advantage to 28-0 with 21 seconds left in the first half.
"Our defense has been good. Except for a few plays in the Temple game, this team has played well and made a lot of big plays," said Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer. "That's what you get when you have great athletes flying around, doing their job."
Al Clark helped Virginia Tech to a 21-0 cushion with a pair of second-quarter TD passes to Ricky Hall. He finished 14-of-28 for 251 yards.
"I think that we have some good receivers and there is no question in my mind that Al is a quality quarterback," Beamer added.
Rutgers quarterback Mike McMahon kept his team's 97th-ranked defense on its heels by throwing five interceptions. Backup Brendan Edmonds added another for the Scarlet Knights, who lost their sixth straight in the series and failed to qualify for a bowl.
"We played a very superior opponent this afternoon," explained Rutgers coach Terry Shea. "Everything we set out to do in terms of pulling this one out seemed to show up in reverse today for us.
"In terms of where we go from here, it's not easy to lose a football game at the end of the season, especially one that meant a great deal to us. But today was not our day."
Rutgers improved considerably from last year's 0-11 finish but handed the game to the Hokies, who opened and closed the scoring with a pair of 11-play marches. They needed just 18 other offensive plays to destroy the Scarlet Knights.
Shayne Graham kicked a pair of field goals to give Virginia Tech a 6-0 advantage. His 36-yarder with 84 seconds left in the first quarter ended a four-play, zero-yard drive after an interception.
Clark and Hall then connected on TDs of 44 and 52 yards as Tech needed a combined 1:55 to score on a pair of three-play drives.
The Scarlet Knights gave away the opening possession of the second half with another interception, leading to Graham's 44-yard field goal and a 31-0 lead at 12:51. The Hokies lost seven yards on the drive.
Just two minutes later, McMahon finally found his own receiver, hooking up with running back Dennis Thomas from 59 yards to cap a four-play, 99-yard drive. He completed 9-of-23 passes for 199 yards, while Edmonds went 2-of-9 for 16 yards.
Linebacker Jarrett Ferguson sacked McMahon in the end zone for a safety with 7:32 left in the third period. Smith added a 98-yard interception return 3:19 into the fourth quarter, increasing the lead to 40-7. It was two yards short of the school mark set by Keion Carpenter in 1996.
"Overall, I'm really proud," Beamer said. "I understand that we tied the (1968) Liberty Bowl team for interceptions in a game. That's kind of special to me because all of my coaches and buddies were back there."
"I think their defense ranks right up there with the best, no question in my mind," Shea said. "I have watched them all year on various tapes and I had respect for them coming into the game."
Jacki Crooks carried 26 times for 118 yards for Rutgers. Shyrone Stith led the Hokies with 80 yards on 11 rushes.