Virginia Tech 15, East Carolina 10: Logan Thomas directed an 75-yard third-quarter scoring drive and the nation's fourth-ranked passing defense picked off three passes as the visiting Hokies survived special teams struggles to stave off the Pirates.

Thomas completed 6-of-7 passes for 60 yards on the game-winning drive, which concluded with a 3-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Coles to give the Hokies a lead they would not relinquish. The touchdown immediately answered East Carolina's 44-yard field goal by Warren Harvey, which was set up by Danny Webster's 22-yard punt return on the Pirates' first drive of the second half.

Virginia Tech sophomore Demitri Knowles caught eight passes for 99 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown to cap off a 70-yard scoring drive in the first quarter. Kicker Cody Journell missed field goals of 38 and 40 yards and an extra point following the Coles' TD.

It took only 1:39 for the Pirates to drive 75 yards and score as quarterback Shane Carden tossed a 22-yard score to Bryce Williams - the first touchdown of his career. After Knowles' TD, the first half was a defensive battle as the two squads each punted four times.

Carden completed 19-of-31 yards for 158 yards, but threw his first three interceptions of the season, including two to freshman Brandon Facyson. Running back Vintavious Cooper lead the Pirates in rushing and receiving as he ran eight times for 28 yards and caught five passes for 52 yards.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Virginia Tech's Mark Shuman tackled Carden in the end zone for a safety with 1:31 left. ...East Carolina struggled on third down, converting 3-of-11 chances. ... Logan Thomas became the Hokies' all-time leader in completions and pass attempts after completing 25-of-43 passes for 258 yards.