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BLACKSBURG, Virginia (Ticker) -- One Big East Conference heavyweight down, one more to go for fourth-ranked Virginia Tech. Capping off what many have called the biggest football weekend in school history, the Hokies humiliated No. 15 Syracuse, 62-0, avenging last season's last-second loss and ending any question of their national title capabilities. Nearly a quarter of Lane Stadium was filled seven hours before gametime to witness ESPN broadcast its College GameDay show and the early evening turned into a time of celebration for Virginia Tech (6-0, 2-0 Big East), which posted the biggest shutout win in school history. The Hokies' swarming defense held Syracuse to a meager 120 yards of total offense. Madei Williams and Troy Nunes combined to complete just 6-of-22 passes for 43 yards for the Orangemen (5-2, 2-1), who suffered matched their worst loss since a 1912, a 62-0 beating at the hands of Princeton. Syracuse was blanked for the first time since a 13-0 loss to West Virginia on November 24, 1994. A November 13 date with No. 24 Miami is perhaps Virginia Tech's final obstacle en route to an unbeaten regular season. Virginia Tech scored two touchdowns in each quarter but needed help from the Orangemen to get on the board. Nunes completed a short out pass to Quinton Spotwood, who was wrapped up and stripped of the ball by cornerback Anthony Midget. Safety Cory Bird scooped it up and raced 26 yards for the touchdown. Shyrone Stith's one-yard TD run later in the period made it 14-0. Stith carried 22 times for 140 yards and had another one-yard scoring plunge midway through the second quarter that made it 28-0. In last year's game in Syracuse, the Orangemen recorded a 28-26 victory on the last play of the game as Donovan McNabb hit tight end Stephen Brominski for a touchdown on the last play of the game. McNabb is now in the NFL, but Virginia Tech freshman Michael Vick evoked memories of the Orangemen star. Vick, who completed 8-of-16 passes for 135 yards and a second-quarter touchdown pass, eluded Syracuse rushes on numerous occassions and made plays without making mistakes. Shayne Graham, the all-time leading scorer in Big East history, connected on a 25-yard field goal with 23 seconds left in the first half to make it 31-0 and was good from 37 yards early in the third quarter. Scoring runs by Andre Kendrick and Andre Davis turned the game into a laugher. To add insult to Orangemen injuries, Virginia Tech scored two defensive touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Safety Phillip Summers returned an interception of Williams 43 yards for a TD and linebacker Tee Butler recovered a fumble in the end zone with 2:33 left. Although he played in the second half, Syracuse linebacker Keith Bulluck was bothered by a bruised left knee throughout the final 30 minutes. Nunes suffered a twisted left ankle late in the second quarter. James Mungro led the Orangemen on the ground, carrying 10 times for 74 yards.
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