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Virginia Tech gears up for ACC play with rout

Sep 22, 2007 - 10:54 PM BLACKSBURG, Virginia (Ticker) -- Tyrod Taylor and Virginia Tech are ready for Atlantic Coast Conference action.

In their final non-conference matchup of the season, the 17th-ranked Hokies rolled over intrastate foe William & Mary, 44-3, on Saturday.

"There's a lot of football left to be played and a lot of conference play," Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "As I look at it, I'm not sure we have a dominant team in the ACC. I like to think we'll be that way eventually."

Taylor was solid in his second career start, directing the Hokies on four consecutive scoring drives. The freshman completed 6-of-13 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown pass. He also rushed for 52 yards on five carries before being replaced by Sean Glennon in the second half.

"We got to get our backups in there to get some work," Beamer said. "Even though I'd like to have given Tyrod and the first offense more reps, it was important to pull him for the next ball game."

The highly touted Taylor took over as Virginia tech's starting quarterback after Glennon was ineffective in a 48-7 loss at No. 2 Louisiana State on September 8.

After a pair of field goals by Jud Dunlevy, halfback Brandon Ore scored from two yards out to put the Hokies (3-1) ahead, 13-0.

On the ensuing possession, Virginia Tech defensive back Brandon Flowers picked off Jake Phillips' pass and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown.

Kenny Lewis capped off a 58-yard drive with an eight-yard scoring run to give Virginia Tech a 27-0 lead after the first quarter.

The Hokies upped their lead to 41-3 at the half on a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown by Eddie Royal and a 34-yard TD pass from Taylor to Ore on a screen pass.

"I look at the first half and I wish some of those field goals would have been touchdowns," Beamer said. "We need to continue to get better and Tyrod will continue to learn things.

"We've got a young guy with not a lot of reps in there and he's going at full tilt. He's an impressive guy, but we're finding out what we are offensively. Hopefully we'll continue to get better every week."

William & Mary (2-2) scored its only points on a 22-yard field goal by Brian Pate midway through the second quarter.

Dunlevy added a 38-yard field goal in the third quarter to close out the scoring.