No. 8 Virginia Tech tops N.C. State

Michael Vick’s younger brother threw for one touchdown and made several key second-half runs to lead the eighth-ranked Hokies past North Carolina State 20-16 to avenge the program’s only Atlantic Coast Conference loss.

Vick wasn’t spectacular, but he played with poise against one of the nation’s best defenses and made his biggest plays in the second half.

“I just wanted to keep moving the ball forward and moving the chains,” he said.

With his brother watching from the sideline, the younger Vick completed 10 of 21 passes for 108 yards and ran for 31 more — a performance that got higher marks from his teammates and coaches.

“It’s not even his stats. It’s more so his leadership,” running back Mike Imoh said. “When he walked in the huddle, he was in command. He really had you confident. Never when we were down or tired did we think we were going to lose.”

Imoh added a 5-yard first-quarter touchdown run for the Hokies, who handed N.C. State another disappointing result against a top-10 team.

Jay Davis threw for 311 yards for the Wolfpack, which had won eight straight openers. The loss drops N.C. State to 1-7 against top-10 teams under sixth-year coach Chuck Amato.

The Hokies came in looking to avenge last season’s 17-16 home loss to the Wolfpack, their only league setback in their inaugural ACC campaign. In that game, N.C. State had 10 sacks and held Virginia Tech to 36 yards on the ground, but got out of Blacksburg with the win after a missed 43-yard field goal from Brandon Pace on the final play.

This time, Pace connected on two field goals. And the offense — outgained 438-232 in total yards — kept plugging away at the stout N.C. State defense, which led Division I-A teams in fewest yards allowed in 2004.

Vick, suspended last season for a variety of legal issues, grabbed most of the postgame attention. He showed glimpses of the daring dashes and athleticism that made his brother a Hokies star, but more importantly, he avoided any momentum-killing mistakes.

“I handled it OK,” he said. “I could’ve done a lot better throwing the ball.”

The Wolfpack, however, made plenty of mistakes, making Sunday’s game look similar to several from last year’s 5-6 campaign.

N.C. State, which ranked next-to-last in the ACC in penalty yards last year, committed 12 penalties for 105 yards — including a 5-yard infraction for running into Pace on a missed 46-yard field goal that gave the Hokies a first down with about two minutes left.

“Silly penalties really cost us big — big,” Amato said.

With his team trailing 13-10, Vick made two big plays on the Hokies’ first drive of the third quarter — including a dazzling run in which he sidestepped two defenders in a collapsing pocket and broke free for a 24-yard gain on third down. That set up Pace’s tying 28-yard field goal with 2:19 left.

Then, after the Hokies got a 19-yard punt return from Eddie Royal to give the Hokies the ball at the 20, Vick scrambled left and connected with David Clowney for a 19-yard touchdown and a 20-13 lead early in the fourth.

Finally, with his team protecting a four-point lead, Vick had a 17-yard gain on a scramble and a 1-yard keeper on fourth down to move the chains with about 3 1/2 minutes to play.

“To come in their place and get a victory, hey, man, revenge is sweet,” said Aaron Rouse, who had an interception on the game’s final play to seal the win. “All scores are settled.”