Virginia Tech gets back on track

By ASSOCIATED PRESS Friday, Nov. 6, 2009

GREENVILLE, N.C. — Freshman Ryan Williams ran for a season-high 179 yards and No. 22 Virginia Tech avoided its first three-game losing streak in six years, holding off East Carolina 16-3 on Thursday night.

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.

Northern Illinois wins

Tommy Davis returned the opening kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown, and Chad Spann ran for a career-high 174 yards and two scores to help Northern Illinois rout winless Eastern Michigan, 50-6, on Thursday night.

The Huskies (6-3, 4-1 Mid-American) won their third straight game, scoring on five straight possessions to take a 37-6 halftime lead.

Spann had scoring runs of 65 and 79 yards in the first half, and DeMarcus Grady threw 30- and 31-yard touchdown passes to Landon Cox. Grady passed for 119 yards, ran for 104 and had a 5-yard scoring run in the third quarter.

Eastern Michigan (0-9, 0-5) twice drove inside the Northern Illinois 5 in the first quarter, but reached Huskies territory just once the rest of the way.

Dwayne Priest ran for 75 yards for the Eagles.

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