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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- Lee Suggs relegated Michael Vick to a
supporting role in his return to Virginia Tech's lineup.
|  | | Michael Vick returned from his injury, then hobbled his way past Virginia. |
Suggs scored four touchdowns and ran for 116 yards to help the Hokies (No. 5 ESPN/USA Today, No. 6 AP) close the regular season with a 42-21 victory over
rival Virginia on Saturday night.
Suggs scored on runs of 30, 3 and 6 yards and caught a 23-yard
pass for his first career touchdown reception as the Hokies (10-1)
tried to improve their credentials for a berth in the Bowl
Championship Series.
"We've got the best player in the country, we've got fans that
travel," coach Frank Beamer said. "To me we've got everything
you'd want for a major bowl and hopefully that's going to be the
case."
The game, started in a wind chill that made it feel like 19
degrees and with sometimes steady rain falling, wound up just the
latest in a growing strand of highlights for Suggs, a quiet
sophomore tailback.
Elevated into the lineup this season after junior Shyrone Stith
left for the NFL after last year, Suggs had already set Big East
records for rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns and points in the
first 10 games.
"I'm surprised at what I've done, but very happy," he said.
So, too, are the Hokies. Suggs scored five touchdowns two weeks
ago with Vick sidelined, and took the pressure off again Saturday
night.
"We have the best quarterback in the country and that tailback
is not far behind," Beamer said of the 207-pounder. "What he can
do in a game, his speed and his toughness, he's getting into a
class of his own, too."
With 28 touchdowns this season and two last year, Suggs has
already tied the Virginia Tech record for career touchdowns,
joining James Barber, who played from 1971-73, and Cyrus Lawrence,
a Hokie from 1979-82.
Virginia (6-5), seeking a seventh victory for the 14th
consecutive season, will need a bowl invitation and victory to
extend that streak. Coach George Welsh said he knew the situation,
but couldn't say, although its appears very likely the Cavaliers
will play in a bowl in Hawaii.
Vick, who had played only one of the last 10 quarters after
spraining his left ankle Oct. 28 against Pittsburgh, stayed in the
pocket more than usual, dancing around only to keep plays alive and
barely taking off.
But without sprinter Andre Davis, who played only a few plays
because of his own ankle injury, Vick showed a flair for short- to
medium-range passes, completing 16 of 23 for 202 yards with one TD.
Emmett Johnson, the Hokies' top receiver with Davis sidelined, had
six catches for 71 yards.
"He's a big boost to our offense. When Mike is out there,
everybody's confidence goes up. We know that plays are going to be
made," he said.
Virginia, which started redshirt freshman Bryson Spinner in
place of injured quarterback Dan Ellis, gained 142 yards on 15
rushes in the first quarter, but managed just 157 yards total over
the final three quarters.
"We just kept going three and out," Virginia offensive tackle
Brad Barnes said. "I thought we'd be able to run the ball all
night."
Antwoine Womack gained 120 yards in the first quarter on 10
carries, including a 53-yard burst. He finished with 134 yards on
20 attempts.
Spinner was 9-for-20 for 157 yards, including a 62-yarder.
"The kicking game hurt us," Virginia coach George Welsh said,
citing a muffed punt that led to one Hokies touchdown and a 61-yard
return that set up another. "Those made a big difference, then our
offense went to sleep."
With Vick completing several key passes, the Hokies scored 21
second-quarter points to take a 28-14 halftime lead. Suggs ran 30
yards for the tying touchdown, his 25th rushing TD of the season,
and caught a 23-yard bullet from Vick after he escaped trouble 19
seconds before halftime.
In between Suggs' TDs, Jarrett Ferguson's 1-yard dive finished
off a 14-yard drive set up by Ronyell Whitaker's 61-yard punt
return.
Suggs added a 3-yard scoring run in the third quarter and a
6-yarder in the fourth as the Hokies won their second straight in
the series and for the 41st time in 82 games. Virginia has won 36
with five ties.
The Hokies trailed 14-7 after the first quarter and got their
only touchdown on a gift from Virginia. James Johnson muffed a punt
at the Cavaliers' 25, Chad Beasley recovered for the Hokies and
Ferguson ran it the last 13 yards to tie it at 7 after just 7:23.
Womack scored on a 24-yard run and Tyree Foreman had TD runs of
7 and 11 yards for the Cavaliers, the latter to get them within 14
at 35-21.
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ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
Virginia Clubhouse
Virginia Tech Clubhouse
Hokies hope to keep Beamer; reports say Tar Heels pursuing
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Michael Vick escapes tacklers and finds Lee Suggs 23 yards downfield for a TD.
avi: 800 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Antwoine Womack breaks loose for a 24-yard Virginia touchdown.
avi: 679 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Ronyell Whitaker returns the Virginia punt 55 yards to set up a Hokie score.
avi: 1052 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Va Tech's Lee Suggs takes the pitch from Michael Vick and scores on a 3-yard sweep.
avi: 476 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Tyree Foreman finds a hole and runs for a 7-yard Virginia score.
avi: 727 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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