Virginia Tech
Hokies

Forcing fumbles on three of N.C. State's first four plays, Grimm got the No. 16 Hokies started on their way to a 38-10 beating of the Wolfpack in Lane Stadium.

While freshman tailback Ryan Williams scored four touchdowns and wide receiver Jarrett Boykin compiled a career-high 164 receiving yards, it was Grimm who earned the starring role.

Finishing with eight tackles, two of Tech's six sacks and a fumble recovery, Grimm made his case for Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, according to defensive coordinator Bud Foster.

"I'd vote for him," Foster said. "Is there anyone else that's done the kind of things he's done? The guy is a great football player."

"I'd say it was more a case of getting lucky," Grimm said of forcing all those fumbles.

Grimm led the Virginia Tech defense to a third consecutive good performance. It held the high-powered Wolfpack to 259 total yards, only 14 of which came on the ground.

Tech's offense rolled up 397 total yards and controlled the ball for more than 34 minutes in a balanced effort. It ran for 200 yards and passed for 197.

--RB Ryan Williams had four touchdowns, giving him 16 for the year, tying a 16-year old ACC record previously set in 1993 by North Carolina's Leon Johnson.

GAME BALL GOES TO: LB Cody Grimm -- The senior finished with eight tackles, three forced fumbles, two sacks and a fumble recovery. He set the tone for the team, and the Hokies responded with a complete effort.

KEEP AN EYE ON: DE Chris Drager -- The converted tight end continues to improve by leaps and bounds at his new position. Drager had three tackles and a key second-quarter sack, forcing N.C. State to settle for a long field goal.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "With my ... son being born (Friday), there was a lot of motivation." -- CB Stephan Virgil, whose second child arrived a day before Saturday's win over N.C. State.

Defensively, Tech got pressure on QB Russell Wilson while hemming him into the pocket. The result: six sacks and no big plays on the ground for the dangerous Wilson.

STILL NEEDS WORK: WR Dyrell Roberts had a rough day, dropping a pair of passes and slipping to the turf on a first-quarter throw that would have been a TD had he stayed upright.

CB Rashad Carmichael was beaten on a pair of deep throws, giving up plays of 33 and 48 yards. It was unusual for Carmichael, who's been one of the league's top cornerbacks this year.

The offensive line didn't block as well for the pass as the coaches would have liked, yielding three sacks against a defensive line it otherwise pushed around.

ROSTER REPORT:

--C Beau Warren (knee) sat out for the third straight week, even though he dressed and was cleared to play by team doctors. Warren should be closer to 100 percent for this week's game at Virginia.

--DT John Graves (ankle) didn't start but played in a reserve role. Graves sat at the beginning so that senior Demetrius Taylor could start in his last home game.

--CB Stephan Virgil (knee) talked to the media for the first time all year and said his injury was closer to 100 percent than it had been all year. He had two tackles and recovered a fumble in the win over N.C. State.