Final
Boston College dominates Virginia Tech
Oct 13, 2006 - 3:37 AM CHESTNUT HILL, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- Steve Aponavicius handled the spotlight like a seasoned veteran while Virginia Tech looked more like a star-struck newcomer.Playing in his first football game in either high school or college, Aponavicius kicked a pair of field goals and Kevin Challenger caught two touchdown passes to lead Boston College to a 22-3 victory over the 22nd-ranked Hokies in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup on Thursday night.
The Eagles were without regular kicker Ryan Ohliger, who was suspended indefinitely on Friday for a violation of team rules. A sophomore walk-on, Aponavicius was more than up to the challenge as he kicked two field goals in the third quarter to give the Eagles a 13-3 lead.
"The entire atmosphere was fun, every minute of it," Aponavicius said. "I just wanted to go out and enjoy it. I wasn't really nervous, and I just tried to go out there and do my best for the team.
"I never thought I would be kicking in a big game. My only hope when I tried out was that I would make the team. I had no idea I would be kicking in a game like this."
Boston College coach Tom O'Brien was impressed with Aponavicius' poise.
"He's really a confident kid," O'Brien said. "Everybody kept asking what he was going to do. The kid isn't phased by anything - he has a great personality. He kicked the ball through there. He had more fun than anybody."
Boston College (5-1, 2-1 ACC Atlantic) took a 7-0 lead with 5:11 left in the first half on a 15-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan to Challenger. After Aponavicius extended the lead in the third quarter, Ryan and Challenger hooked up again for an 18-yard TD with 6:55 to play to make it 20-3.
"It was a heck of an effort by this football team tonight," O'Brien said. "I think we started off too fast. We tried to do too many things too fast, too soon. Once we settled down, I think we got into a rhythm. The defense played great."
Ryan completed 16-of-29 passes for 174 yards for the Eagles, who handed the Hokies an ACC road loss for the first time.
Coming off a loss to Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech (4-2, 2-2 ACC Coastal) never got in synch and had four turnovers while yielding four sacks. Sean Glennon completed 23-of-34 passes for 148 yards and was intercepted twice.
"I thought Boston College played well and took advantage of turnovers," Hokies coach Frank Beamer said. "I'd say we'd need to evaluate our football team and how we're doing what we're doing, because two weeks in a row turnovers in the third quarter got us."
Boston College had not played since a lackluster 22-0 victory over Division I-AA Maine on September 30. The Eagles showed a lot more life Thursday, limiting the Hokies to 181 total yards, including 34 yards rushing on 28 attempts.
"Defensively, we played awfully well today," O'Brien said. "If you look at the stats, there wasn't a heck of a of a lot of offense through the whole game. We managed enough. The defense created turnovers."
"They have so many guys who can pound the ball," added linebacker Jolonn Dunbar, who had eight tackles and an interception. "You just have to give credit to our defense for stepping up as a unit."
It was the first time Virginia Tech was held without a touchdown since a 42-3 loss to North Carolina in the 1998 Gator Bowl.
"We have to determine what type of team we are," Beamer said. "I know it's hard to win football games when you turn the ball over."
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