Hokies overcome injuries, kick Heels

VIRGINIA TECH 34, NORTH CAROLINA 17

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Virginia Tech’s defense did most of the heavy lifting Saturday. That was a big help for an offense that lost a couple more running backs.

Kendall Fuller returned an interception 47 yards for a pivotal touchdown in Virginia Tech’s 34-17 victory over North Carolina.

The Hokies (4-2, 1-1) scored two offensive touchdowns in the opening 3 ½ minutes and forced three turnovers, turned them into 21 points and finished with five sacks while avoiding their first 0-2 start to league play since joining the ACC a decade ago.

“The defense played lights-out,” quarterback Michael Brewer said.

Brewer was 18 of 27 for 186 yards with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Bucky Hodges. Marshawn Williams had an early 8-yard scoring run and J.C. Coleman had a game-sealing 1-yard TD.

The Hokies — who last week lost Shai McKenzie for the season — had two more rushers hurt: Williams sprained his left ankle and Trey Edmunds will miss 6-8 weeks after breaking his right collarbone without any contact, team officials said.

“We are just having trouble keeping those guys healthy, but that’s just part of it and we’ve got to move forward,” Virginia Coach Frank Beamer said.

Elijah Hood had a short touchdown run. Marquise Williams rushed for 94 yards, was 17 of 33 for 187 yards passing and briefly made things interesting with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Quinshad Davis with 4:15 left.

The Tar Heels (2-3, 0-2) have lost their first two conference games for the second consecutive year.

In other games involving Atlantic Coast Conference teams, Florida State (5-0, 3-0) kicker Roberto Aguayo kicked a career-high five field goals in a single game as the top-ranked Seminoles eased to a 43-3 victory over Wake Forest (2-4, 0-2) in Tallahassee, Fla. … Clemson freshman Deshaun Watson threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more and Clemson (3-2, 2-1) posted its first shutout in six years, defeating visiting North Carolina

State (4-2, 0-2) 41-0. ... Kevin Parks ran for a career-best 169 yards and a touchdown and Virginia (4-2, 2-0) slowed

Pittsburgh’s running game and added a defensive touchdown in a 24-13 victory against the Panthers (3-3, 1-1) in Charlottesville, Va. … Deon Hill ran 8 yards for a decisive touchdown on fourth down, Zach Laskey rushed a career-high 29 times for 133 yards and Georgia Tech (5-0, 2-0) stayed unbeaten with a 28-17 victory over

Miami (3-3, 1-2) in Atlanta.