After his unit conducted a virtuoso performance against Boston College, Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster didn't get to celebrate long before getting a sobering look at his crew's next challenge.

How do the Hokies stop the Ramblin' Wreck of Georgia Tech? That will be No. 4 Tech's key assignment Saturday in Atlanta.

Georgia Tech's potent triple-option attack certainly looked unstoppable Saturday night, rolling up 532 total yards -- 401 on the ground -- as the Yellow Jackets survived a wild 49-44 shootout at Florida State.

Quarterback Josh Nesbitt carried 27 times for 140 yards and three touchdowns, and threw a 73-yard TD pass, as Georgia Tech won for the first time at FSU. Jonathan Dwyer ran 14 times for 102 yards and two TDs for the Yellow Jackets (5-1, 3-1 ACC), who stayed alive in the Coastal Division race.

Foster's defense certainly had all the answers in the 48-14 roasting of BC, limiting the wingless Eagles to 163 yards, including an absurd 3 yards and no first downs in the first half. BC got all but 26 of its yards and its 14 points in the fourth quarter against the Hokies' second- and third-team defenders.

"It was outstanding," Foster said. "The kids did a great job. [BC] was for 1-for-13 on third downs and they couldn't run the ball. We did a great job in the passing game, had a big pick [by cornerback Rashad Carmichael] for a touchdown.

"It's something we've got to continue to build on. It shows -- and that's where I'm going to challenge our kids -- we can do it every time. We can't do it every other game, if we want to reach the goals we want."

Now comes Georgia Tech. Second-year coach Paul Johnson's offense is like no other in the ACC. It's going to run the ball 85 percent, and it's up to the other side to stop it.

"One thing this offense will do is force you to play great assignment football," Foster said. "That's one thing, though, we've built in from Day 1 with our scheme. We're always, 'Who's got the dive. Who's got quarterback? Who's got pitch?' "

This will be the Hokies' second look at Johnson's unique attack. The Hokies won 20-17 last year in Blacksburg despite being outgained 387-247. The strong-running Nesbitt carried 28 times for 151 of his team's 287 rushing yards. Three turnovers and some key penalties ultimately doomed Georgia Tech's hopes.

"Playing them over and over again it gives you maybe an advantage," Foster said. "Well, I wouldn't say an advantage, because you're still got to execute, but at least you're more prepared mentally for what you're going to see.

"It's hard to simulate the speed that they can run it with. You can get the reads and all that stuff, but getting the speed, that's the hard part. You've got to catch up to it."

Georgia Tech ranks fourth in the nation in rushing offense (277 ypg). Carmichael said he knows he and the rest of Tech's secondary will be spending most of the night defending the run instead of the pass.

"We can't have missed tackles [this] week," Carmichael said. "Like [Foster] says, it's put on our big boy pads for Georgia Tech. You've got come up hitting."

Tech tidbits

The Hokies moved up to fourth in the newest AP Top 25 poll released Sunday. Tech climbed a spot when last week's No. 4 team, LSU, lost 13-3 at home to No. 1 Florida on Saturday night. ... Tech's offense has loved the sight of ACC defenses so far. In its first three league games, Bryan Stinespring's unit has averaged 37.3 points and 429.3 yards. ... Kickoff man Justin Myer had a career day against BC. Myer drilled five of his nine kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks. The five touchbacks were one more than Myer had recorded in his previous 31 kickoffs this season.