The Hokies (7-1, 3-1 Big East) got two touchdowns from their defense and another on a 10-yard drive set up by the defense to end Miami’s 39-game regular season winning streak, its 27-game winning streak in the Big East and perhaps its hope for a third straight championship appearance.
Miami (7-1, 3-1) hadn’t lost in league play since a 43-10 wipeout here on Nov. 13, 1999.
The Hurricanes didn’t score until 7:53 remained on a 10-yard pass from backup Derrick Crudup to Jason Geathers. By then, it trailed 31-0.
No. 10 Virginia Tech finished with 219 total yards, just 44 through the air, and didn’t complete a pass until Marcus Vick hit Doug Easlick on a swing pass for a 2-yard loss with 2:30 left in the third quarter.
About two minutes later, Vick made the only other completion a big one, hitting Ernest Wilford for 46 yards and a TD that made it 31-0.
Kevin Jones, who ran for 124 yards, scored the other touchdown on a 2-yard run after a 44-yard interception return by Michael Crawford, the last pass Brock Berlin threw before being replaced by Crudup.
Berlin, who led the Hurricanes back from 23 points down in a 38-33 victory against Florida, didn’t have it this time as the Hokies sacked him three times and had him running on both interceptions.
He finished 16-for-25 for 164 yards.
Berlin wasn’t the only Miami player who struggled.
Earlier, the Hokies DeAngelo Hall stripped a ball from Roscoe Parrish and ran 28 yards for a second-quarter touchdown, and Eric Green picked off an off-balance throw by Berlin and ran 51 yards for a score.
Green’s play started a 21-point third quarter for the Hokies.
Green also blocked a 39-yard field goal try in the first quarter, the Hokies’ 101st kick block since Beamer arrived in 1987, and the Hokies caught an early break when Kevin Everett failed to catch a sure touchdown.
The play came on a fake field goal in the second quarter when Matt Carter spotted Everett completely alone in the end zone and threw a perfect pass to him, but the tight end let it slip through his hands.
It was that kind of night for the Hokies, and for the Hurricanes, both of whom now find themselves trailing Pittsburgh (3-0) and tied with West Virginia in the race for the Big East championship and BCS bid.
Virginia Tech and Miami also both still have games against the No. 25 Panthers, who beat Boston College 24-13 on Saturday. Virginia Tech travels to Pitt next Saturday, and the Hurricanes go to Pitt on Nov. 29.
