VT Preview

Tonight inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, ECU and Virginia Tech fans alike will witness the matchup of a wounded giant set on revenge and a hungry underdog looking to continue a winning streak.

Last season, the two teams met in Charlotte, N.C., where ECU reversed roles to beat No. 17 Virginia Tech 27-22.

The Pirates' T.J. Lee lifted ECU over the Hokies with a returned block punt in the waning minutes of the contest to stave of Virginia Tech and snap a six-game losing steak to the Hokies.

ECU's opening stunner of the Hokies was followed up by an upset over No. 8 West Virginia, marking an appropriate opening statement for the Pirates' squad that claimed its first Conference USA title.

Though ECU has not followed up the 2008 season with the same heroics, a win over the No. 22 Virginia Tech squad tonight would provide ECU with its first and only win over a non-conference BCS opponent.

More importantly, the Pirates (5-3, 4-1 C-USA) look to extend their winning streak to three and declare bowl eligibility.

Last week, ECU picked up a 38-19 win over conference opponent Memphis, and with the Tuesday night victory, the Pirates now sit alone atop the East Division of C-USA.

Virginia Tech (5-3, 3-2 ACC) enters Greenville wounded by two consecutive conference losses to Georgia Tech and North Carolina.

The Hokies will look to regain their footing with a win over formerly ranked ECU but will realize firsthand the danger of underestimating the Pirates.

"I think our guys want to play hard for each other, and understand that this is a football team that beat us last year," Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer said. "We need to play a great football game at their place to have a chance to win it."

Despite ECU's victory over the Hokies last season, the Pirates have not won at Dowdy-Ficklen against Virginia Tech since 1992. The Hokies hold a slim 9-5 lead in the overall series.

The last time the Pirates hosted Virginia Tech at Bagwell field was 2000 where ECU quarterback David Garrard and the Hokies' signal caller Michael Vick faced off in a 45-28 VT victory.

ECU will look to maintain its spotless home record (3-0) against its most respectable home opponent of the season.

The Pirates' offense, led by sixth year senior quarterback Patrick Pinkney, hopes to follow suite of North Carolina and attack Virginia Tech on the ground.

"We (ECU) are going to try to establish our running game and try and hit them with a couple play action passes down field," ECU junior wide receiver Dwayne Harris said. "On offense, we have to do what we do best and get the ball to our playmakers."

Harris, easily the Pirates' most vital playmaker, will aid ECU as a multiple threat weapon. He can hurt a team on the ground and in the air, lining up at the receiver position, heading up the wildcat formation and managing the kickoff return.

During this season, Harris has visited the end zone a total of nine times, including four on the run, three in air and two kick returns.

With a ground game mentality, ECU will employ its full stable of running backs.

Looking to receive the majority of the carries is Dominique Lindsay, who, despite enduring injuries, leads ECU in rushing and is averaging 95 yards per game.

Giavanni Ruffin and Brandon Jackson will provide the relief assignments for Lindsay.

Ruffin, a junior college transfer, has emerged from the pack as strong secondary back, while Jackson, who blossomed early in the season, will be back in action after battling with the flu the past few weeks.

"Lindsay and Ruffin are playing with confidence and believing in the offensive line," ECU head coach Skip Holtz said. "I'm also excited to get Brandon Jackson back to where he was before getting sick."

Coach Holtz attributes much of his team's newfound offensive improvement to the offensive line.

"I think a lot of it is the fundamental development of the offensive line," Holtz said. "The development of (Terrence) Campbell and (Sean) Allen has been key."

Up front on offense, ECU has cut down on the sacks as Pinkney has only been dropped behind the line once in the last four games; a drastic improvement from the seven quarterback sacks in the first four games of the season.

In the passing game, the Pirates will need another strong performance from Darryl Freeney as Jamar Bryant and Rob Kass are both listed as questionable.

The Pirates' offense has made definite improvement in their last two games, but Virginia Tech's defense will reintroduce ECU to a high caliber defense that surpasses the likes of Memphis and Rice.

Offensively for the Hokies, dangerous duel threat junior quarterback Tyrod Taylor will lead the way.

Taylor provides Virginia Tech with a lethal combination of extreme mobility and big pass play ability, which are two things the Pirates' defense has struggled with this season.

ECU senior defensive back Van Eskridge commented on Taylor's ability.

"He (Taylor) is very illusive in the pocket," Eskridge said. "He just keeps plays alive with his feet and then ends up throwing it over everyone's head."

Along the backfield with Taylor, the Pirates will have to find a way to contain redshirt freshman Ryan Williams.

Williams, a perfect tailback built at 5'10" and 206 pounds, has frequented the end zone 10 times during on-season and averages 116 yards per game.

Looking to receive the deep ball from Taylor will be standouts Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale, who both average 25 yards per catch.

Facing an explosive offense equipped with big play potential all the way around will provide the ECU defense with possibly its biggest challenge of the season tonight against Virginia Tech.

The Pirates' defense led by the squad's eight seniors will look to play a smart sound game against the electric Hokie offense.

"The key to this game is that we cannot give up the homerun ball," Holtz said. "We're going to have to play extremely well and tackle well in the secondary."

On defense, Virginia Tech will bring a veteran front four and linebacker core led by defensive end Jason Worilds and linebacker Barquell Rivers, who has tallied 71 tackles on the year.

In the secondary, the Hokies prove just as dangerous with 6'4", 230-pound free safety Kam Chancellor and Rashad Carmichael.

Chancellor, a large defensive back, combines a physical defensive style with incredible speed, while Carmichael leads the Virginia Tech defense with four interceptions including one pick-six.

If the Hokies are successful in shutting down the run, ECU will have to pass the ball carefully.

"We have to run the ball some, but we have to be smart with how we run it," Holtz said. "We're going to have to keep them off balance, make them defend the whole field and then protect the ball."

Aside from the two sides of the football game, no game with Virginia Tech would be complete with out "Beamer Ball."

The Hokies are an excellent special teams squad through-and-through which includes the majority of their starters and a strong kicking team.

Punter Brent Bowden averages 44 yards per punt and place kicker Matt Waldron has made 10 of his 12 field goal attempts this season and spotless on extra point boots.

For the Pirates, the special teams are a cause for concern as injuries and sickness has left ECU with an inconsistent and fluid cast on the special team unit.

Kicker Ben Hartman looks to have regained his confidence following a flawed performance against UTEP and Matt Dodge continues to standout as C-USA's best punter.

"When you look at a Coach Beamer team, they play special teams and I worry about our stability in that area right now," Holtz said. "It's going to be a great challenge for our football program."

The Hokies are playing in their second consecutive Thursday contest after dropping a 20-17 decision to North Carolina last week and hold a 15-5 record on the day that overshadows the Pirates 3-6 Thursday night record.

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.