Click here for a photo gallery from the game.
The Hokies (5-1) took a 27-3 lead with 10:39 remaining in the third quarter, then watched that lead shrink to 14 after a Western Kentucky field goal and a touchdown early in the fourth period. The Tech defense limited the Hilltoppers on their final drives to stave off any hopes of a comeback.
"I think they're all going to come down to the fourth quarter," said head coach Frank Beamer. "I'm proud of the way we hung in their in the fourth quarter.
The Hokies put up the first points of the contest on their first offensive possession with a 27 yard field goal from kicker Dustin Keys. The drive was aided by two Western Kentucky penalties, totaling 24 yards.
After the defense limited the Hilltoppers to another three-and-out, the Hokies found paydirt on their second drive. Sophomore quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed a 27 yard touchdown pass to tight end Greg Boone – his only reception on the day – with 2:11 remaining in the first period.
"It was a one-on-one situation where I knew if I beat my man over the top that Tyrod was going to put the ball in there," Boone said.
The touchdown through the air was Taylor's first scoring pass of season.
"It's nice to get one," Taylor said. "Those are the types of plays we've been looking for."
The Hilltopper special teams accounted for much of their yardage on a fake punt in the second quarter. Punter Jeremy Moore threw to Blake Boyd, who ran down the sidelines and into the end zone. However, the score was called off because of a block in the back penalty. Instead of a touchdown, Western Kentucky retained possession at the Tech 19 yard line.
The Hilltoppers eventually got a 48 yard field goal from kicker Tanner Siewert.
Later in the quarter, senior Victor 'Macho' Harris returned a punt 32 yards, giving the Hokies good field position in Western Kentucky territory.
A 17 yard pass from Taylor to wide out Jarrett Boykin set them up at the 5.
Three plays yielded four yards and a fourth-and-goal situation.
Evans then leaped over the pile and broke the plane of the end zone, giving the Hokies a two-touchdown advantage. The score by Evans gives him at least one touchdown in all six games – all of which have come in the red zone.
Harris made an impact on the defensive side of the ball soon after. He anticipated a David Wolke pass, made the interception, and then raced down the sideline. Wolke shoved Harris out-of-bounds five yards short of the goal line. After an incomplete pass, Keys connected on a chip-shot field goal just prior to the halftime break.
As the second half began, the Hokies picked up where they left off. Tech's first offensive possession began with a 28 yard pass from Taylor to receiver Danny Coale. The 10-play, 72 yard drive ended with another touchdown run from Evans, this one from two yards out.
"As long as we're moving the chains, I think we should get in the end zone like that every game," Evans said.
Western Kentucky came back with consecutive scoring drives.
The Hilltoppers changed up their offense when running back Dexter Taylor was taking snaps. Taylor led the offense down into scoring position with a nine play, 73 yard drive. The march ultimately ended in a Siewert field goal from 24 yards out. Taylor was the leading rusher on the day, accumulating 96 yards – 89 of them in the second half – on 14 carries.
After the three-pointer, the Hilltoppers then recovered an onside kick. They drove down to get their first touchdown of the game – a three yard pass from Wolke to Tristan Jones.
While the Western Kentucky offense came alive, the Tech offense sputtered.
The Hokies only managed 26 total yards in the fourth quarter. Although Taylor and Sean Glennon – who came in the third quarter – managed to go 13-for-18 passing for 142 yards, the Hilltoppers had four sacks and allowed only 12 passing yards in the final period.
Still, Western Kentucky was unable to progress down the field against the Tech defense, and the Hokies claimed their fifth straight win.
"Being 5-1 sounds pretty good, but we still have our work cut out for us," Beamer said.
The win also marks the 30th straight non-conference victory for Tech at Lane Stadium. It also is the tenth consecutive win on Homecoming weekend. Tech's last loss came in 1998 against the Temple Owls.
Western Kentucky struggled on third down conversions, going 3-for-14, and with penalties. The Hilltoppers were flagged 13 times for a total of 113 yards.
Tech did suffer one loss on the afternoon, however. Tailback Kenny Lewis Jr. suffered a ruptured Achilles' tendon injury on a running play early in the third quarter and will miss the remainder of the season.
"I told Kenny 'It's not fair. I'm sorry it happened to you, but it's part of the game," said running backs coach Billy Hite.
Lewis, a junior, was the starting running back in each of the Hokies' first six games.
"He was very vocal," Taylor said. "Guys were feeding off of him. To see him go down was hard for us. Hopefully we'll have some guys who will step up."
The Hokies will take a week off before traveling to Chestnut Hill, Mass., and a meeting with the Boston College Eagles on Oct. 18. The Eagles are 4-1 overall and 1-1 in ACC play after beating the North Carolina State Wolfpack, 38-31, on Saturday.
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