Virginia Tech rolls over Western Carolina 

BLACKSBURG — Virginia Tech got as much as it could Saturday against a mismatched opponent from a lower division that’s only won two of its lasBLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech got as much as it could Saturday against a mismatched opponent from a lower division that's only won two of its last 30 games: a chance to get better, even if things weren't perfect.

The Hokies rolled past Western Carolina 45-3 in their home opener at Lane Stadium, not a game of beauty but enough to get them into the win column in 2013.

A pair of 1-yard touchdown runs by Trey Edmunds and a 76-yarder by Chris Mangus got the Hokies' offense going, although head coach Frank Beamer still called the performance "ragged."

"Sometimes we're just not very pretty to look at," Beamer said, "but maybe we'll get prettier as the year goes along."

Improvement was all the Hokies (1-1) were looking for a week after a difficult opener against No. 1 Alabama, a game Virginia Tech lost 35-10 but actually played much closer than the final score indicated.

The defense continued to play well, holding the Catamounts (0-2) to 162 yards and scoring on a 37-yard interception return by safety Detrick Bonner. It was Virginia Tech's first defensive touchdown since Jeron Gouveia-Winslow had a pick six in the 2010 ACC championship game against Florida State.

Only a muffed punt return deep in their own territory by Kyshoen Jarrett stood in the way of the Hokies and their first shutout since last year's Bowling Green game. Richard Sigmon's 28-yard field goal shortly after that in the third quarter accounted for the Catamounts' only points.

"Maybe it's a little cocky or whatever, but when you play a team like this, you have to expect to dominate," linebacker Jack Tyler said of the third straight game the Hokies have held an opponent to 206 yards or fewer. "And coach [Bud] Foster expects us to dominate, so that's our mindset coming in."

The offense, meanwhile, needed some time to get going, and still never looked completely on point. Quarterback Logan Thomas went 17 for 31 for 200 yards and a touchdown, although he threw two more interceptions in the first half, both of in the end zone. He has three picks already this season.

He underthrew both, saying he should have gone to the back pylon to give the receiver, Demitri Knowles, a chance.

"It wasn't stupid decisions," Thomas said. "It's stuff I can clean up."

His receivers gave him a little more help than the drop-filled opener. D.J. Coles remained on the bench for a quarter and a half after his mistakes against Alabama, giving way to some more inexperienced players.

Thomas spread the wealth. Three players who didn't play big roles in the opener - receivers Josh Stanford and Willie Byrn and freshman tight end Kalvin Cline - had four catches apiece totaling 150 yards, providing steady targets for Thomas.

"I think we felt personally like we needed to do that for him," Byrn said. "But I think Logan is a guy who knows we'll be there. He knows that's not an everyday thing, that Alabama game, and we're going to come out and do better and better each game."

Coles got into the game and caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Thomas to give the Hokies a 21-0 halftime lead.

The ground game pounded things out from there. Tech ran for 237 yards, averaging 7.0 yards per carry.

Mangus' 76-yard touchdown run in the third quarter made it 28-0 and was the second run the Hokies have had this year longer than 75 yards. Redshirt freshman Joel Caleb got his first career score on a 13-yard touchdown run late.

It was a good tuneup for the remainder of Tech's non-conference schedule against East Carolina and Marshall in upcoming weeks.

"We want to be as good as we're going to be for the ACC opener," Beamer said. "I thought we took another step today."