Va. Tech holds off E. Carolina

GREENVILLE, N.C. — Virginia Tech put the game in Ryan Williams' hands again. This time, he held on to it.

The freshman ran for a season-high 179 yards and the 22nd-ranked Hokies avoided their first three-game losing streak in six years, holding off East Carolina 16-3 on Thursday night. Tyrod Taylor had a 13-yard touchdown run, Matt Waldron kicked three field goals and Williams atoned for his critical miscue last week against North Carolina by cracking the 1,000-yard mark for Virginia Tech (6-3).

"That fumble did something to me, mentally, last week," Williams said. "I think the only person that was going to be able to overcome what happened last week was myself. ... I realized that it happens to everybody, nobody can be perfect."

Virginia Tech had a 379-277 advantage in total yardage, forced three turnovers and made just enough plays on offense to bounce back from losses to No. 10 Georgia Tech and the Tar Heels. The Hokies also avenged last year's loss in Charlotte in which the Pirates turned the tables on Beamerball.