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LSU hosts Virginia Tech in marquee matchup Saturday

Sep 8, 2007 - 10:28 AM No. 9 Virginia Tech (1-0) at No. 2 LSU (1-0) 9:15 pm EDT

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (Ticker) -- Virginia Tech understandably struggled in an emotional season opener. The Hokies will have to play significantly better to win their second 2007 contest.

Ninth-ranked Virginia Tech visits second-ranked Louisiana State on Saturday in the marquee matchup of the season's second week.

Playing their first contest since the April 16 campus massacre in which 32 students and faculty members were murdered, Virginia Tech struggled to a 17-7 home win over East Carolina on Saturday.

The Hokies trailed, 7-3, late in the first half before safety Victor "Macho" Harris returned an interception 17 yards for a score, and they shut down the Pirates thereafter.

Still, Virginia Tech did not look good. Perhaps affected by a pregame ceremony honoring the victims, the Hokies committed three turnovers and were limited to just 33 rushing yards.

LSU, meanwhile, manhandled Southeastern Conference rival Mississippi State on the road, 45-0, in its first contest.

New starting quarterback Matt Flynn had a mediocre outing - throwing a pair of touchdowns but only for 128 yards - but it did not matter as the Tigers recorded six interceptions, three by Craig Steltz.

In the only previous meeting between the squads, Virginia Tech posted a 26-8 home win to open the 2002 season.

LSU has won 13 straight home games dating to the 2005 season.