CBS SportsLine wire reports
Oct. 24, 1998

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Alabama-Birmingham is no Temple.

No. 23

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Virginia Tech, upset by the Owls last week, dispatched UAB 41-0 Saturday night behind a dominant running game and overpowering defense.

"Our defense had its pride hurt a lot last week," coach Frank Beamer said, referring to the 28-24 loss to previously winless Temple. "We needed to feel better about ourselves."

"We don't take anyone lightly anymore," said fullback Jarrett Ferguson, who rushed for two first-half touchdowns.

Virginia Tech (6-1) allowed only 94 yards in its third shutout of the season and second consecutive against UAB (2-5), which never crossed midfield.

THE HOKIES HAVE HANDED the Blazers their worst two losses since moving up to Division I-A three years ago. They limited UAB to just 65 total yards, the all-time low for both UAB's offense and Virginia Tech's defense, in last year's 37-0 decision.

"It was just a total mismatch," Blazers coach Watson Brown said. "You can't call a pass, you can't call a run. We couldn't handle them in any shape, form or fashion."

Lamont Pegues rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries for his third straight 100-yard effort. Ferguson, meanwhile, recorded his first two rushing touchdowns of the season on runs of 23 and 6 yards.

UAB managed just 19 yards on 29 rushes and went 0-for-11 on third down conversions and managing just eight first downs.

"We came out with the mindframe to not let them score," Hokies defensive end Corey Moore said.

"We came to play," tackle Carl Bradley said. "This game meant a lot to us, and it meant a lot to put last week's game behind us."

THE BLAZERS DIDN'T DO much better in the kicking game. The Hokies' Larry Austin blocked Lee Carter's punt and Marcus Gildersleeve fell on the ball in the end zone to make it 24-0 at halftime.

"I think they were panicking," Austin said. "They acted like they wanted to try a fake when we lined up in full-block mode."

Quarterbacks Daniel Dixon and Lee Jolly both struggled. Dixon went 5-of-14 for 48 yards with an interception and Jolly was 2-for-7 for 32 yards. The two combined for minus-44 yards rushing, mostly coming on failed option plays.

"They just laid it to us," Dixon said. "It was frustrating because we weren't able to get things going."

Virginia Tech didn't do much with its passing game, either, and didn't need to with 58 rushes for 261 yards. Nick Sorensen, subbing for injured Al Clark, went 6-for-14 for 43 yards and threw an interception in the end zone in the third quarter.

Backup Dave Meyer hit Ricky Hall for a 54-yard TD early in the fourth quarter. Meyer was 2-for-4 for 66 yards.