Nov 12, 2006, 0:35 GMT
Blacksburg, VA - Noland Burchette returned a fumble for a touchdown and the Virginia Tech defense pitched its third shutout of the season, as the 20th-ranked Hokies posted a 23-0 victory over pesky Kent State at Lane Stadium.
Sean Glennon completed 12-of-22 passes for 141 yards for Virginia Tech (8-2), which won its fourth consecutive game. Hokies wideout Josh Morgan led all receivers with four catches for 50 yards.
The Golden Flashes (5-5) held Tech running back Branden Ore to just 72 yards on 25 carries, but Kent State's offense was unable to find daylight against a dominant performance by the Hokies defense.
Michael Machen completed only 6-of-16 attempts for 98 yards with one interception for Kent State, which has lost three straight. The Golden Flashes managed just 182 total yards of offense.
Kent State running back Eugene Jarvis was unable to get on track, rushing for 62 yards on 21 attempts. Tom Sitko was the only Golden Flashes receiver to pull in more than one catch, with two for 29 yards.
In a game with no offensive stars, the Hokies defense provided the knockout blow, with defensive end Burchette plucking a Machen fumble from mid-air and rumbling 15 yards into the end zone to give Tech a 23-0 lead at 11:11 of the fourth quarter. Defensive end Chris Ellis busted through Kent State's offensive line and clocked Machen from his blind side, popping the ball up toward Burchette.
Virginia Tech's offense finally broke into the Kent State end zone on a six- yard run by Ore at 10:42 of the third quarter. Ore took the carry off of right tackle, bouncing the play outside to finish a six-play, 65-yard drive with his 14th touchdown of the season.
Kent State's Andre Kirkland made a great individual effort to thwart a scoring opportunity for Virginia Tech later in the third quarter. Tech's Eddie Royal found a seam on a punt return, busting through the Kent State wedge for 42 yards, deep into Golden Flashes territory. Kirkland caught Royal from behind inside the 15-yard line, ripping the ball loose and recovering the fumble at the 11-yard line with 8:27 left in the third quarter.
Machen and the Golden Flashes finally managed to put a decent drive together after the spark provided by Kirkland. Machen and Najeh Pruden hooked up on a 49-yard connection that moved the ball to the Hokies 37-yard line. The Golden Flashes were able to move the ball into the Tech red zone, but were unable to find the end zone. Machen was sacked on 3rd-and-goal from the seven-yard line to force a 32-yard field goal attempt that Nate Reed pushed wide right.
Tech kicker Brandon Pace provided all of the game's offense in the first half.
A Kent State miscue gave the sputtering Hokies offense an easy three points in the first quarter. Machen fumbled the snap from center and the ball was recovered by Tech linebacker Xavier Adibi at the Kent State 35-yard line. The Hokies offense was only able to move the ball 18 yards on seven plays, settling for a 34-yard Pace field goal with 3:46 left in the first quarter.
Pace banged in a 37-yard field goal in the second quarter to cap a 10-play, 27-yard drive that began at the Kent State 47-yard line. Pace has made all 14 field goals he has attempted this year.
Game Notes
Virginia Tech alum Antonio Freeman was among five inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame at halftime.Pace's second field goal was his 18th consecutive made attempt, a Hokies record, which he later pushed to 19.Kent State has only made 2-of-10 field goal attempts this season.Kent State has never beaten a ranked opponent.
Virginia Tech alum Antonio Freeman was among five inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame at halftime.
Pace's second field goal was his 18th consecutive made attempt, a Hokies record, which he later pushed to 19.
Kent State has only made 2-of-10 field goal attempts this season.
Kent State has never beaten a ranked opponent.
© 2006 The Sports Network
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