JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

Stephan Virgil (22) and the Virginia Tech defense surrendered 26 points to Duke.

BLACKSBURG -- The numbers sounded like they were straight off somebody's lotto ticket --26, 34, 48, 55 and 74.

No jackpot there last Saturday. Just ask Virginia Tech's football team. Shoot, that pick-5 combination almost sent the Hokies to the poor house before they escaped with a 34-26 victory over huge underdog Duke.

Add up the numbers and you get 237. It's also the sum of passing yards that Tech's secondary yielded on five pass completions by Duke.

"The big plays ... those are disappointing," Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster said after the game. "Those five big plays just bit us. The rest of the time we played our rear ends off."

Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis' other 17 completions in the game was worth only 122 yards.

"It seemed like every time they had a third-and-long, they would hit a big play on us," Tech linebacker Cody Grimm said. "You just can't have that kind of stuff."

Duke's 397 yards marked the second-highest total recorded against the Hokies since they joined the ACC in 2004. North Carolina State's 438 yards in 2005 tops that list.

"We've got to be consistently good ... not good one week and then off the next," said Foster, whose unit held then-No. 9 Miami to 209 yards the previous week. "We'll get it cleaned up, I assure you."

How different have things been for Foster & Co. so far?

Tech has finished first (twice), fourth (twice) and seventh in the nation in total defense the past five years. Through five games, this unit is No. 7 -- in the ACC, that is -- in total defense (339.8 ypg) and pass defense (200.2), and eighth in rushing defense.

The good news?

The red zone, where the Hokies have held opponents to only five touchdowns in 21 trips.

Those guys again

Next on tap for the fifth-ranked Hokies is a noon homecoming date with Boston College on Saturday at Lane Stadium. The pair has played twice in each of the past two seasons -- in the regular season, plus the ACC championship game. Tech won both of the title matchups, but BC has taken the past three straight regular-season meetings.

First-year coach Frank Spaziani's Eagles are 4-1, not a bad start for an outfit that was picked to finish last in the Atlantic Division in the league's preseason media poll.

"They've done a good job up there," Tech coach Frank Beamer said Monday. "I think they're much better than most people had picked them at the beginning of the year."

Happy camper

Tech defensive tackle Demetrius Taylor was wearing a huge smile after the Duke win. The fifth-year senior had four tackles, including his first career sack.

"I've been waiting five years for this," Taylor said. "It's always special as a defensive tackle when you can get in the backfield. A lot of time, you're just filling the gaps."

Taylor has started the past two games in place of injured John Graves (ankle). His 2.5 tackles for loss is tied for fourth on the defense.

"All I've wanted was an opportunity to actually feel like I'm a part of the team," Taylor said. "This year, I definitely feel that."

Tech tidbits

Redshirt freshman Lyndell Gibson is bidding for more playing time at inside linebacker behind starter Jake Johnson. In only 18 plays against Duke, Gibson had five tackles, including a stop for loss. ... Tech converted eight of 12 third-down situations, a huge step up from their 19-for-55 conversion rate in the first four games. ... Tech's 477 total yards vs. Duke was its fifth-highest total in an ACC game. ... The Hokies' Oct. 17 game at Georgia Tech will start at 6 p.m., and will be televised by ESPN2.