No. 6 Hokies Hammer Virginia

Lee Suggs relegated Michael Vick to a supporting role in his return to Virginia Tech's lineup.

Suggs scored four touchdowns and ran for 116 yards to help the No. 6 Hokies 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.

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 Welh 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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