Hokies stick it to Peay

By The Associated Press

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — With the offense struggling, Virginia Tech turned to its old friend — special teams — for a pair of big plays to spark a 42-7 victory over Austin Peay on Saturday.

Kyshoen Jarrett reeled off a 46-yard punt return to set up the No. 15 Hokies’ first touchdown, and Tony Gregory’s punt block led to their second score before Virginia Tech — playing its second game in six days after a season-opening overtime win over Georgia Tech — finally got untracked.

The Hokies (2-0), long noted for their special teams play, finally put together a 71-yard drive in the closing 1:32 of the first half. That was followed by an 80-yard scoring march on their second possession of the second half for a 28-0 lead, and the rout of an overmatched FCS opponent was finally on.

The Governors (0-2) responded with a six-play, 78-yard drive of their own to extend their string of consecutive games without being shut out to 75. Wes Kitts had a 32-yard run on the drive to go over 100 yards for the second consecutive week, and Terrence Oliver scored on an 8-yard run.

Virginia Tech promptly reasserted control, though, with a 72-yard drive capped by Logan Thomas’ 13-yard pass to Randall Dunn to make it 35-7, and by late in the third period Thomas was done for the day. He finished 15 of 23 for 212 yards and also scored on a 1-yard sneak after the second-quarter punt block.

 

#1 Alabama……………………….35

Western Kentucky……………….0

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — AJ McCarron passed for 219 yards and matched his career high with four touchdown passes to lead Alabama over Western Kentucky.

McCarron had two scoring tosses apiece to Christion Jones and Kevin Norwood.

 

#9 South Carolina……………..48

East Carolina…………………….10

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Dylan Thompson completed 21 of 37 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns to help South Carolina (2-0) beat East Carolina.

The Pirates (1-1) gained 403 yards. But the Pirates turned the ball over five times, including four interceptions and a fumble in just 16 plays.

 

#11 Michigan State……………41

Central Michigan…………………7

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) — Andrew Maxwell threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns, and Michigan State cruised to a win over Central Michigan.

The Spartans (2-0) scored 10 points in the final minute of the first half to take a 24-0 lead.

 

#12 Clemson……………………..52

Ball State…………………………..27

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — DeAndre Hopkins caught three touchdown passes, Andre Ellington rushed for two scores and Spencer Benton kicked a 61-yard field goal to set an Atlantic Coast Conference record in Clemson’s victory over Ball State.

Ellington’s two short TD runs helped the Tigers (2-0) get off to a fast start, and Tajh Boyd found Hopkins for touchdown passes of 13, 34 and 15 yards in the second period.

 

#14 Ohio St……………………….31

UCF……………………………………16

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Braxton Miller became the first Ohio State quarterback to rush for three touchdowns in 34 years and he passed for another score to lead the 14th-ranked Buckeyes over Central Florida.

A week after setting a school quarterback record with 161 rushing yards in a 56-10 win over Miami (Ohio), Miller ran for 141 yards on 27 carries.

 

#19 Michigan…………………….31

Air Force……………………………25

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Denard Robinson ran for 218 yards, threw for 208 and scored four times to help No. 19 Michigan hold off Air Force.

Cody Getz ran for 130 yards, with his third rushing TD and a 2-point conversion pulling Air Force within three early in the fourth.

 

#21 Kansas State……………….52

Miami……………………………….13

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Collin Klein threw for 210 yards and ran for 71 more, accounting for four Kansas State touchdowns.

John Hubert added 106 yards rushing and a touchdown, and Daniel Sams added two scores on the ground.