Grading the keys

Grading the three keys A+Ryan Williams recovering. Virginia Tech's redshirt freshman tailback bounced back in a big way, carrying 26 times for 179 yards -- his season high. He also became the 12th Tech tailback to rush for 1,000 yards and has 1,109 for the season. In the Hokies' previous game, a 20-17 loss to North Carolina, Williams lost a fumble on his final carry, on Tech's 24-yard line with 2:02 left. The turnover set up Carolina's game-winning field goal. AClean snaps. Redshirt freshman center Michael Via started for the first time, in place of injured junior Beau Warren, whose sprained left knee, suffered against North Carolina, prevented him from making the trip to East Carolina. Via appeared to handle things well, as he committed no glaring errors on snaps, which is all the Hokies can really ask for at this point. A-Stop allowing long runs. East Carolina's longest carry was 18 yards by running back Dominique Lindsay. Overall, the Pirates ran 31 times for 110 yards. Through their first eight games, the Hokies allowed 14 runs of 20 yards or longer -- the same number they allowed in 14 games last season and three more than they allowed in 14 games in 2007.