Virginia Tech Runs Its Record to 7-0 for First Time in 32 Years

No. 3-ranked Virginia Tech relied on its running game and overcame the passing of David Priestley in a 30-17 Big East Conference victory Saturday at Pittsburgh.

Quarterback Michael Vick ran 46 yards for Virginia Tech’s first touchdown, and Andre Kendrick rushed for 162 yards as the Hokies improved to 7-0 (3-0 in the Big East) for the first time since 1967, when Coach Frank Beamer was a player.

Priestley completed 28 of 46 passes for 407 yards for Pittsburgh (2-3, 4-4). Virginia Tech had allowed only 719 yards passing in its first six games.

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Kenny Kelly completed 21 of 34 passes for 268 yards and two second-half touchdowns for No. 23 Miami (4-3, 2-0 in the Big East) in a 28-20 victory over West Virginia (3-5, 2-2) at Miami. The Hurricanes trailed, 13-0, at halftime, the first time in 15 years they had been scoreless at home in the first half. Last week, Miami overcame a 28-point deficit in a 31-28 victory over Boston College, which bounced back with a 24-23 victory at Syracuse (5-3, 2-2). The Eagles (6-2, 3-2) are assured of their first winning season since 1994. . . . Devin Scott completed 36 of 45 passes for 311 yards and a school-record six touchdowns to lead Temple (2-6, 2-2) in a 56-28 victory over Rutgers (0-8, 0-4) at Philadelphia. Scott completed his first 13 passes.

Chad Pennington completed 26 of 33 passes for 288 yards and four touchdowns for No. 13 Marshall (8-0, 5-0 in the Mid-American Conference) in a 41-9 victory over Northern Illinois (4-5, 4-2) at Huntington, W.Va. It was the fourth time this season Pennington passed for four or more touchdowns. . . Quarterback Joe Walland scrambled for a 29-yard touchdown with 6:41 left as Yale (6-1, 2-2 in the Ivy League) ended a losing streak at six against Pennsylvania (3-4, 2-2) with a 23-19 victory at New Haven, Conn.

SOUTH

Chris Redman became the career leader in completions in Division I in leading Louisville (6-3, 3-1 in Conference USA) to a 23-14 victory over visiting Alabama Birmingham (3-5, 2-2). Redman, with 23 completions (in 34 attempts for 224 yards and two touchdowns), passed Brigham Young’s Ty Detmer as the NCAA career leader at 975. Redman, who also holds the NCAA career attempts record at 1,587, is second to Detmer in career passing yards at 11,829. . . . Gerard Arnold rushed for 142 yards in 13 carries and three touchdowns for the second time this season for Memphis (3-5, 2-1) in a 31-26 victory over Tulane (3-5, 1-2) at New Orleans.

MIDWEST

Tim Rattay completed 44 of 66 passes for 508 yards and three touchdowns to lead Louisiana Tech (6-2) to a 34-17 victory at Toledo (3-5). . . . Robert Cooper ran for 209 yards and three touchdowns for Cincinnati (3-5) in a 52-42 victory over Miami of Ohio (5-3) at Oxford, Ohio--the highest-scoring of 104 games between the schools. Miami’s Travis Prentice scored on a one-yard run in the first quarter for his 73rd career touchdown and needs two more to tie Ricky Williams’ NCAA-record. . . . Tim Lester broke the Mid-American Conference record for career passing yards (10,482), getting 373 and two touchdowns by completing 29 of 48 attempts for visiting Western Michigan (7-2, 6-0) in a 24-10 victory over Akron (6-3, 4-2). Brian McClure of Bowling Green held the previous record of 10,280 yards from 1982-85.

SOUTHWEST

Anthony Adams returned a fourth-quarter interception 55 yards for a touchdown to give sluggish No. 17 East Carolina (7-1, 3-1 in Conference USA) a 19-3 victory at Houston (4-4, 2-2). The Pirates were outgained, 363-223. . . . Fresno State (6-3, 3-1 in the Western Athletic Conference) overcame a 14-point deficit in a 28-14 victory over Tulsa (1-7, 0-5). The game was Tulsa’s first under Pat Henderson, who was named interim coach after the dismissal of longtime coach Dave Rader Monday. . . . Josh McCown threw for two touchdowns for Southern Methodist (2-5, 2-2) in a 27-2 victory over Rice (5-4, 4-1) at Dallas. The Owls had a win streak end at five games.

WEST

Kevin Feterik completed 24 of 31 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns for Brigham Young (7-1, 4-0 in the Mountain West Conference) in a 27-20 victory over Air Force (4-3, 1-3) at Provo, Utah. The victory was the 250th for BYU’s LaVell Edwards. . . . New Mexico (3-4, 2-1) scored in the third quarter for the first time in more than a year in a 27-6 victory over Nevada Las Vegas (3-5, 1-3) at Albuquerque, N.M. The Lobos had been outscored, 101-0, in the third quarter in their previous 10 games. . . . Demario Brown rushed for a career-best 239 yards in 33 carries but his effort wasn’t enough for Utah State (2-6, 1-2 in the Big West) in a 33-27 loss to Boise State (6-3, 3-1) at Logan, Utah. Brown, a senior, went over 100 yards for the 19th time. . . . Trevor Insley, the nation’s leading receiver, had 14 catches for 263 yards and two touchdowns for Nevada (3-6, 2-1) in a 41-28 victory over North Texas (2-6, 1-3) at Reno. Insley has 99 receptions for 1,461 yards this season.

SOUTHLAND

Marcus Brady passed for 358 yards and three touchdowns, including the game decider to Gil Rodriguez with 13 seconds left, as Cal State Northridge (5-4, 4-2 in the Big Sky Conference) was a 30-28 winner over visiting Weber State (3-6, 2-4). . . . Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (2-6) had a 21-0 lead but lost, 42-28, to visiting Portland State (7-2).