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BLACKSBURG, Virginia (Ticker) -- Ninth-ranked Virginia Tech begins life without tailback Lee Suggs on Saturday when its faces Western Michigan of the Mid-American Conference. Suggs rushed for 99 yards on 12 carries and established a school record with his 30th and 31st career rushing touchdowns in last week's 52-10 rout of Connecticut. But it was a costly victory as the Big East's leading rusher last season suffered a torn ACL in his left knee and a tear of the medial meniscus that will sideline him for the remainder of the season. While Virginia Tech (1-0) may be able to overcome Suggs' absence against Western Michigan, losing him could severely hamper the Hokies' hopes of contending for a national championship and dethroning Miami in the Big East. Suggs ran for 1,207 yards and 28 touchdowns last season and was expected to be the center of the offense after quarterback Michael Vick left school following his sophomore year for the NFL. Suggs' likely replacement is junior Keith Burnell, who played in nine games last season, but carried only 17 times for 111 yards and a touchdown. Burnell had touchdown runs of three and two yards in the first half against Connecticut. Grant Noel, a junior is taking over for Vick, completed 16-of-20 for 267 yards and three touchdowns in his first collegiate start. The Hokies moved at will, amassing 606 yards of total offense against the overmatched Huskies, who are in just their second year in Division I-AA. Frank Beamer recorded his 100th win as Virginia Tech coach. He has a mark of 100-61-2 (.613) in 14-plus seasons at the school. Western Michigan (1-0), which was picked second in the MAC's Eastern Division behind Toledo, opened its season with a 48-7 rout of Nortern Illinois as Jeff Welsh completed 19-of-26 passes for 330 yards and a school record-tying five touchdowns. Western Michigan is coming off a 9-3 season and ranked fourth in Division I in scoring defense, allowing only 11.6 points per game. The Broncos recorded three shutouts last year for the first time since 1971 and played Wisconsin tough before falling, 19-7. Virginia Tech and Western Michigan are meeting for the first time.
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