By Carlos Pineda
SouthernPigskin.com

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Virginia Tech’s defense set the tone early, and the Hokies jumped out to a 24-3 lead.

Virginia Techs defense set the tone early. The Hokies scored 14 points in the opening three-and-a-half minutes, and added 10 second-quarter points to jump out to a 24-3 lead. Virginia Tech defeated North Carolina 34-17 to improve to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the ACC. The Tar Heels have now dropped their third straight game and have a 2-3 record overall and 0-2 in league play. Below are three takeaways from the game.

1. Tech defense guides Hokies

The Hokies forced a strip stack on the opening play of North Carolinas initial drive, which quickly set up Marshawn Williams eight-yard touchdown run two plays later. In all, Virginia Tech forced three turnovers, had five sacks and held the Tar Heels to a season-low 323 yards of total offense in this game. The Hokies looked to be in full control right before halftime when corner Kendall Fuller returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 21 points.

Defensive end Ken Ekanem had quite the impact with six tackles and three sacksx94 including the strip sack on the first play of the game. Ekanem had four tackles for loss.

2. Mistake-free offense wins game

Williams was effective early running the ball and quarterback Michael Brewer avoided the mistakes that have plagued the Hokies of late. Brewer completed 18 of 27 passes for 186 yards with a touchdown and only one interception. Tight end Bucky Hodges caught a 26-yard touchdown pass to give Virginia Tech a 14-3 lead in the first quarter.

While the Hokies converted less than half of its third down attempts, they managed to score on four of their five red zone possessions. Virginia Tech also dominated time of possession, hanging onto the ball for more than 41 minutes.

3. Heels were still in it

At least the Tar Heels defense didn’t surrender astronomical yards of offense like they had the past three games, 608.7 yards to be exacts. Saturday was more pedestrian. North Carolina gave up 357 yards. But the problem was on the other side of the ball. Marquise Williams and the offense were only two of 13 on third downs and failed to convert any of its fourth down attempts. Despite trailing 24-3 after three quarters, the Tar Heels made things interesting after scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns to trail by only 10, 27-17. But any hopes of a win quickly vanished after North Carolina fumbled a punt return inside its own 15 with three minutes left in the game. After the Hokies took possession, they scored another easy touchdown to put this one away for good.