Wilson, Evans combines for 3 touchdowns as Virginia Tech beats East Carolina 49-27

Virginia Tech beats East Carolina 49-27

BLACKSBURG, Va. — David Wilson ran for two touchdowns and Darren Evans added a rushing score to lead Virginia Tech to a 49-27 win over East Carolina on Saturday.

Virginia Tech (1-2) rallied from a 10-0 deficit, scoring 28 unanswered points in the second half.

The Hokies won their first game of the season despite losing standout tailback Ryan Williams, a redshirt sophomore who broke Tech’s single-season rushing record last season (1,655 yards). Williams injured his right hamstring with 7:24 left in the first half and did not return.

Virginia Tech trailed 27-21 in the third quarter, but they took the lead when Wilson scored on a 3-yard run with 4:34 left in the quarter. The Hokies’ defense then held the Pirates (2-1) on the ensuing possession.

Wilson, a sophomore, scored on an 8-yard run with 29 seconds remaining in the quarter to give Tech a 35-27 lead.

The Hokies put the game away on East Carolina’s next possession when cornerback Rashad Carmichael intercepted a Dominique Davis pass and returned it 68 yards for a touchdown.

Carmichael’s second interception — the Hokies’ first two interceptions of the season — set up Tech’s final score. Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor hit Jarrett Boykin for a 69-yard touchdown with 13:22 left in the game that gave the Hokies a 49-27 lead.

Wilson rushed for 89 yards on 12 carries, while Evans finished with 91 yards on 10 carries. Taylor completed 8 of 16 for 199 yards and two touchdowns, and Boykin had 118 yards receiving.

East Carolina was led by Davis, who completed 30 of 44 for 251 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions. The Pirates, who were looking to go 3-0 for the second time since 1999, scored on five of their first six possessions in the game, but Tech’s defense held ECU to just three points and 83 total yards in the second half.