Hokies hammer mistake-prone Pack

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Four N.C. State turnovers - including two lost fumbles on the Wolfpack's first three plays on offense - helped Virginia Tech win 38-10 on Saturday at Lane Stadium.

Linebacker Cody Grimm forced three fumbles to tie an NCAA single-game record for the Hokies, and redshirt freshman Ryan Williams ran for four touchdowns to hand N.C. State (4-7, 1-6 ACC) its sixth loss in the last seven games.

No. 16 Virginia Tech (8-3, 5-2) took a 10-0 lead after recovering early fumbles by Russell Wilson and Darrell Davis. N.C. State bounced back and trailed just 17-10 after Josh Czajkowski's 45-yard field goal with 1:52 remaining in the second quarter.

But the Hokies converted a third-and-18 and a third-and-11 on their final drive of the first half. Virginia Tech took advantage of two pass interference penalties on Brandan Bishop in the end zone to score on a 1-yard run by Williams with 37 seconds left in the half.

After leading 24-10 at halftime, the Hokies scored on the opening drive of the third quarter on a 19-yard run by Williams as he dragged safety Earl Wolff for the last 10 yards into the end zone.

With Virginia Tech ahead 31-10, the outcome essentially was decided even though there still was almost an entire half left to play. 

Earlier. . . 

It's getting ugly in Blacksburg.

Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor and wide receiver Jarrett Boykin twice exploited freshman cornerback Jarvis Byrd on a 97-yard touchdown drive. Taylor hit Boykin for a 35-yard gain on third-and-4, then passed 38 yards to Boykin for a touchdown.

The Hokies lead 38-10 with 1:42 remaining in the third quarter.

Earlier. . . 

A holding penalty and a J.R. Sweezy sack took Virginia Tech out of field goal range as N.C. State's defense made a stand after Jarvis Williams' fumble.

The Hokies, leading 31-10, punted with 8:59 remaining in the third quarter.

In other news, N.C. State reserve cornerback DeAndre Morgan is out for the rest of the game with a concussion suffered on a tackle of Ryan Williams. 

Earlier. . . 

Jarvis Williams became the third N.C. State player to lose a fumble in Wolfpack territory.

On the Wolfpack's first possession of the third quarter, Stephan Virgil stripped Williams, and Virginia Tech recovered at the N.C. State 31.

Virginia Tech leads 31-10. 

Earlier. . . 

Ryan Williams' fourth and most spectacular touchdown run of the game has increased Virginia Tech's lead over N.C. State to 31-10.

Williams dragged safety Earl Wolff 10 yards into the end zone at the end of a 19-yard run with 12:25 remaining in the third quarter. 

Earlier. . . 

Thanks to a pair of big third-down conversions, Virginia Tech has increased its lead over N.C. State to 24-10 with 37 seconds remaining at halftime.

On a third-and-18, Jarrett Boykin got behind Jarvis Byrd for a 42-yard reception. On third-and-11, Brandan Bishop was called for pass interference in the end zone. After another Bishop pass interference penalty, Ryan Williams scored on a 1-yard run. 

Earlier. . . 

N.C. State is keeping it close.

After recovering a Ryan Williams fumble, the Wolfpack got into scoring position with a 48-yard pass from Russell Wilson to Owen Spencer. Despite an intentional grounding penalty against Wilson, the Wolfpack got a 45-yard field goal from Josh Czajkowski.

Virginia Tech still leads, 17-10, with 5:31 remaining in the second quarter.  

Earlier. . . 

N.C. State's defense has made a big play of its own.

C.J. Wilson hit Ryan Williams to cause a fumble, and Audi Augustin recovered at the N.C. State 34-yard line with 7:23 remaining in the second quarter. The Wolfpack still trails, 17-7.  

Earlier. . . 

An amazing play by Tyrod Taylor has helped Virginia Tech add to its lead.

On second-and-15 from the N.C. State 19, Taylor was just about sacked when he fired a pass to Jarrett Boykin just before hitting the ground. The 17-yard gain set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Ryan Williams.

The Hokies lead 17-7 with 14:42 remaining in the second quarter. 

Earlier. . . 

Virginia Tech LB Cody Grimm has tied an NCAA record with three caused fumbles in the game.

Grimm did it in the first four plays, causing fumbles by Russell Wilson and Darrell Davis, which the Hokies recovered, and Toney Baker, which was recovered by N.C. State's Owen Spencer.

Tech leads 10-7, final minute, 1st quarter. 

Earlier. . . 

After opening the game with a pair of fumbles, the N.C. State offense finally has gotten on the board.

A 33-yard pass from Russell Wilson to Jay Smith put the Wolfpack in position to score. Then Wilson pump faked to freeze a Virginia Tech safety and passed to a wide-open Owen Spencer for 20 yards and a touchdown.

The Wolfpack trails 10-7 with 2:20 remaining in the first quarter. 

Earlier. . . 

Two early fumbles have put N.C. State in a double-digit hole in a difficult environment.

Russell Wilson and Darrell Davis both fumbled in the Wolfpack's first three plays from scrimmage on offense. The Wolfpack defense held Virginia Tech to a field goal after the first fumble, but Ryan Williams converted the second fumble with a 4-yard touchdown run.

Virginia Tech leads 10-0 with 7:55 remaining in the first quarter. 

Earlier. . . 

Make that two fumbles in three offensive plays for N.C. State.

This time, Cody Grimm caused a fumble by wide receiver Darrell Davis that was recovered by Stephan Virgil at the N.C. State 25-yard line. 

Earlier. . . 

N.C. State's defense stiffened and benefited when a Virginia Tech receiver slipped in the end zone after the Russell Wilson fumble.

Matt Waldron's 26-yard field goal put Virginia Tech ahead 3-0 with 11:50 remaining in the first quarter. 

Earlier... 

It didn't take long for N.C. State to make its first big mistake at Virginia Tech.

On the first play from scrimmage, linebacker Cody Grimm beat Toney Baker on a blitz, causing and recovering a fumble by Russell Wilson after a sack.