Photo by Justin Cook | The Roanoke Times

Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor (5) runs down the field and away from Furman's Brandon Williams during the first half Saturday. Taylor was in on the majority of offensive plays for the Hokies.

Virginia Tech 24, Furman 7

Stories

• Game highlights
• Hokies labor for win
• Ground assault revived
• Aaron McFarling: Decision sound; Taylor needed

Photo gallery

• See more images from the Tech-Furman game

Multimedia

• Prep for the game with Hokies fans at the Let's Go Hokies pep rally in Roanoke

Virginia 16, Richmond 0

Stories

• UVa defense stout before ex-aide
• Lalich questions persist

Press Box blog

• Cavs beat Richmond, 16-0
• UVa holds on
• UVa scores
• Third-quarter stats
• Halftime update
• UVa-Richmond pregame

BLACKSBURG -- Virginia Tech found its old running shoes Saturday.

Led by quarterback Tyrod Taylor's 112 yards on 14 carries, the Hokies amassed 261 yards on the ground in their 24-7 victory over Division I-AA Furman at Lane Stadium.

It was Tech's most rushing yards in 20 games, dating back to a 261-yard effort in a 24-7 win over Clemson in 2006. Thank Taylor, redshirt freshman tailback Darren Evans said.

"With Tyrod's ability, it spreads out the defense a lot more and he still has the option to throw the ball," said Evans, who had 72 yards on 11 carries. "When the defense is so spread out that's when the big holes start opening up and that's when the big gains start coming."

Evans had runs of 10, 16 and 19 yards. Kenny Lewis Jr. had a 23-yard touchdown burst in his 50-yard rushing day.

Lewis also snared a pass over his left shoulder for a 10-yard TD reception from Sean Glennon that put Tech ahead 10-0 midway in the third quarter.

"[Lewis] made that play," Glennon said. "I knew he was going to have to hold on for life because he was going to get hit when he caught it."

Lewis said he took a shot for his first collegiate TD catch.

"I paid for it when they hit me in my ribs!" he said. "But when I looked over and saw I was in the end zone, I was OK."

Quick slants

Junior CB Stephan Virgil had a second straight strong game. Virgil picked off his first college pass in the third quarter to set up Tech's final TD. ... Redshirt sophomore DT John Graves blocked a 33-yard field goal in the third quarter. Graves is the first Hokie to block a kick in consecutive games since John Engelberger (1997). ... Furman's fourth-quarter TD was the first by an I-AA school vs. Tech since JMU lost 49-20 in Lane in 1992. Tech had outscored its past five I-AA foes 234-3. ... Furman received a check for approximately $275,000.

Personnel department

Redshirt freshman Jaymes Brooks made his college debut in the second quarter, subbing at right guard when starter Sergio Render was shaken up. ... Justin Myer kicked off in the second quarter, making him the ninth true freshman to play for the Hokies this season. ... True freshman tailback Ryan Williams didn't play.

Trainer's table

The Hokies played most of the way without Jason Worilds. The starting defensive end injured his left shoulder early in the game and did not return. Starting linebacker Cam Martin (Martinsville) suffered a groin injury early in the second half and did not return.

On deck

The Hokies open ACC play when Georgia Tech (2-0, 1-0) visits Lane Stadium Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (WSET). The Hokies have taken three of four meetings with the Yellow Jackets since joining the ACC in 2004. Georgia Tech's only victory in the span was a 38-27 upset in Blacksburg in 2006. First-year coach Paul Johnson's club won 19-16 at Boston College Saturday.