Boston College overtakes Virginia Tech

Boston College s Jamie Silva dives to tackle Virginia Tech tailback Brandon Ore with one arm.

BLACKSBURG, Va. Matt Ryan threw a 24-yard touchdown pass on the run and across the field to Andre Callender with 11 seconds left and No. 2 Boston College remained undefeated with an improbable 14-10 victory over No. 8 Virginia Tech last night.

Ryan sealed his status as a serious Heisman Trophy contender with two touchdown passes in the final 2:11 after doing little for the first 55 minutes against the Hokies swarming defense.

Boston College (4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) improved to 8-0 for the first time since 1942 and validated itself as a national title contender.

Ryan finished 25-for-52 for 285 yards with two interceptions, but the final numbers hardly told the story.

With the Hokies (6-2, 3-1) leading 10-0 late in the fourth and the Eagles backed up against their own goal line, Ryan finally found a rhythm. He led a 91-yard scoring drive, capped by a 16-yard TD pass to Rich Gunnell with 2:11 left.

After BC recovered an onside kick, Ryan went back to work. Three times he scrambled away from pressure to complete passes. On the last play, Ryan slipped away from the rush, slid to the left, and spotted Callender drifting back into the end zone away from the defense. Ryan let loose, Callender cradled in the winning score and BC narrowly averted becoming the fourth second-ranked team to lose in the last four weeks.

Sean Glennon, making his first start for the Hokies since being benched after the 48-7 loss to LSU early in the second week of the season, played steady on a soggy night at Lane Stadium. He was 15-for-25 for 149 yards with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Royal in the second quarter and a 41-yard hook up with Royal in the third that set up Jud Dunlevy s 44-yard field goal that made it 10-0.

Glennon was better than Ryan for most of the game and it looked as though Virginia Tech, eighth in the BCS standings, would get a second chance to sneak into the national title race after D.J. Parker picked off Ryan s pass in Eagles territory late in the fourth quarter.

The Hokies couldn t convert the interception into points and Ryan went 9-for-15 on the final two drives.

3 Spartans face charges

EAST LANSING, Mich. Michigan State football players SirDarean Adams, T.J. Williams and Jeremy Ware have been charged with unarmed robbery in the parking lot of a store.

They were arraigned Wednesday in District Court in Mason, Mich., on a felony robbery charge, according to court records. Williams also was charged with misdemeanor assault and battery in the April 21 incident.

A pretrial hearing was set for Oct. 30 on the robbery case.

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said in a statement, which didn t identify the players, that they have maintained their innocence. He said the team was notified in April about the case and has monitored the situation.

Dantonio said the players will remain on the roster and retain the opportunity to play. Adams is a starting linebacker, Williams a starting cornerback and Ware a reserve.

Ingham County prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III said the three players were charged in an incident that took place in a grocery store parking lot outside a nearby party.

Eligibility sought for 2 Vols

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer plans to seek a sixth year of eligibility for two of his players.

Fulmer said the Vols will file a waiver with the NCAA for senior defensive back Antonio Gaines and senior tight end Brad Cottam.

Gaines missed his freshman year following shoulder surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2007 season after tearing a knee ligament during the Southern Miss game.

Cottam has endured a slew of injuries five operations and a car accident during his time in Knoxville.