CBS SportsLine wire reports
Sept. 26, 1998

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Keion Carpenter had three interceptions, including one returned for a fourth-quarter touchdown, and No. 21 Virginia Tech defeated Pittsburgh 27-7 on Saturday despite playing without its top two quarterbacks.

Virginia

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Tech (4-0, 2-0 Big East) had to use Nick Sorenson, a safety and former quarterback, because starting quarterback Al Clark was injured last week and backup Dave Meyer suffered a shoulder separation on the first play of the second half.

VIRGINIA TECH'S DEFENSE HAD a key goalline stand, a blocked field goal, a blocked punt that led to a field goal, 10 sacks and a fumble recovery.

"We thought we needed to have a good game because of the way they torched us last year," said Carpenter, referring to the 30-23 loss that cost Virginia Tech a shot at the Big East title. "We knew we had to come out and make plays."

Virginia Tech scored touchdowns on its first two possesions and held Pittsburgh (1-2, 0-1) to two yards on its first four possessions.

Lamont Pegues broke two tackles on a 20-yard TD run and, after Carpenter's first interception, Shyrone Stith scored on a 16-yard run. The Hokies went ahead 17-0 on Shayne Graham's 41-yard field goal with 11:19 left in the second quarter.

PITTSBURGH TOOK ADVANTAGE OF an interception by Seth Hornack after a deflected pass with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Matt Lytle to Latef Grim.

Meyer was injured and fumbled on the first play of the second half. After an 11-yard pass from Lytle to Grim, the Panthers had a first-and-goal inside the 2 and was on the verge of pulling within a field goal of the Hokies.

But

Virginia Tech and Keion Carpenter are No. 1 in the Big East after routing Pittsburgh. (AP)

the defenders held their ground on two option plays and a sweep, and Corey Moore blocked Paul Ruzila's 26-yard field goal attempt.

"The defense really stepped up today for us," Meyer said. ``They're awesome."

Meyer completed his first six passes and was 7-of-9 for 98 yards and one interception -- on a deflected throw -- in the first half. But the Hokies played conservatively in the second half, relying on defense.

"We obviously hurt ourselves tremendously," said Pitt coach Walt Harris. "It should have been a touchdown. They stepped it up and we didn't."

AND CARPENTER CAME THROUGH again with an interception -- taken at the Virginia Tech 19 and returned to the 40 -- to stop a Panthers drive late in the third quarter.

With 12:20 remaining, Carpenter made a one-handed grab on a sideline pass that went through the hands of a Pittsburgh receiver. He returned it 16 yards for a touchdown that put Virginia Tech ahead 24-7.

"The defense took a ton of pressure off," Meyer said. ``We're trying to move the ball and sometimes maybe we're a little stagnant and they go out there and make plays like they've been doing all season."

Virginia Tech added a 28-yard field goal after Larry Austin blocked a punt.