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Evans adds two more TDs to lead Hokies to fifth straight win

Oct 5, 2008 - 12:00 AM BLACKSBURG, Virginia (Ticker) -- Running room wasn't easy to come by for Darren Evans. But that didn't stop him from shouldering Virginia Tech's scoring load for the sixth straight week.

Evans continued his prolific scoring streak, rushing for a pair of touchdowns Saturday to lead 20th-ranked Virginia Tech to its fifth victory in a row, a 27-13 triumph over Western Kentucky.

Evans, the Hokies' redshirt freshman tailback, has now scored in each of his first six collegiate games. He has eight touchdowns overall and has scored twice in back-to-back contests.

The Hilltoppers did not make it easy for Evans - or anyone - as the Hokies averaged just 2.9 yards per rush in the contest. But Evans found room when he needed it.

The game turned late in the third quarter, as Evans carried the ball six times on an eight-play, 38-yard scoring drive to give Virginia Tech (5-1) a two-touchdown advantage. After quarterback Tyrod Taylor was stopped on a third-down keeper, Evans pounded the line for a 1-yard dive on fourth-and-goal.

Moments later, Hokies senior cornerback Victor Harris intercepted David Wolke's pass to set up Dustin Keys' 22-yard field goal, making it 20-3 at halftime.

Evans punished the Hilltoppers (2-4) once again in the third quarter as the Hokies began to put the game out of reach. On first-and-goal from the 8-yard line, Evans did all the damage himself, carrying the ball three times in a row and finishing with a 2-yard score to make it 27-3.

"I find myself down there when we get in that area and that's a good thing," Evans said. "I think (running backs) coach (Billy) Hite has become more confident in me. I haven't fumbled in games and I think he's confident in me and what we do down there."

Taylor, making his fourth straight start, finally threw his first touchdown pass of the year - a 27-yard strike to junior tight end Greg Boone that gave the Hokies a 10-0 lead in the first quarter.

"I've been looking for it, but as long as we're winning, I'm fine with that," Taylor said. "It's nice to get one, though ... (Boone) made a great catch and the line protected well. It was an overall great play for our offense. Those are the types of plays we've been looking for."

A sophomore, Taylor completed 10-of-15 passes for 125 yards, but did turn the ball over with a second-quarter fumble in the red zone.

Sean Glennon, who began the year as Virginia Tech's starting quarterback, took over late in the fourth and manned the Hokies' final four possessions. He completed all three of his pass attempts for 17 yards, but was sacked four times.

Saturday's game, the first meeting between the two schools, proceeded mostly as expected for the two defensive-minded teams. Both came in among the lowest-ranked offenses in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and the two combined for just 534 yards in total offense.

"I think (the games) are all going to come down to the fourth quarter," Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer said. "I am proud of the way we hung in there in the fourth quarter. I think their offense got a little quickness on our defense, but then we picked it up and got tough.

"With our football team, our goal is to try to get a little better each week. I think we did some things better, and then there were things where I think we would like to be better."

Wolke completed just 7-of-19 passes for 49 yards and an interception. He finally led the Hilltoppers on a scoring drive in the fourth, finding Tristian Jones for a 3-yard score to cut the deficit to 27-13.

Western Kentucky's biggest offensive play of the afternoon came courtesy of a fake punt on the first play of the second quarter, as punter Jeremy Moore hit Blake Boyd for a 46-yard gain.