7 November 2009 / AP, GREENVILLE, NC
Freshman Ryan Williams ran for a season-high 179 yards as No. 22 Virginia Tech held off East Carolina 16-3 on Thursday to avoid its first three-game losing streak in six years.
Tyrod Taylor had a 13-yard touchdown run, Matt Waldron kicked three field goals and Williams atoned for his critical miscue last week against North Carolina by cracking the 1,000-yard mark for the Hokies (6-3). They had a 379-277 advantage in total yardage, forced three turnovers and made just enough plays on offense to bounce back from losses to No. 10 Georgia Tech and the Tar Heels while also avenging last year’s loss in Charlotte in which the Pirates turned the tables on Beamerball. Williams, whose fumble in the closing minutes last week gave North Carolina a chance at a winning field goal on the final play, helped make Virginia Tech the third school to have freshmen rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive years after Darren Evans did it last year.
