BLACKSBURG, Va. - Frank Solich didn't deny that No. 18 Virginia Tech's play improved as the game progressed Saturday afternoon, but he didn't mince his words when describing the Bobcats play as self-destructive either.

A tied halftime score turned in to nothing more than a side note when Ohio failed to record a first down in the second half as the Hokies found a rhythm to pull away and win 28-7 in Lane Stadium. And Bobcats wound up with more punts (13) and penalties (9) than they did first downs (5).

“Played somewhat sloppy football in the second half,” Solich said. “(Virginia Tech) certainly played much, much better in the second half. We really couldn't establish much offensively to where there's any consistency. They kept our defense on the field too long. They have big playmakers and they started to make big plays on us.”

Ohio (2-1) struck first on a 4-yard run by tailback Kalvin McRae who was stifled by the Virginia Tech (2-1) defense most of the day averaging just 2.5 yards on 22 carries.

The Hokies answered with a touchdown of their own from running back Kenny Lewis, tying the score at 7-7 and negated the damage done by two turnovers. But despite the score Virginia Tech was out-producing Ohio offensively - a lopsided 234 yards to 81 at the half - and it turned out to only be a matter of time until the score followed suit.

As the Ohio offense sputtered, Virginia Tech tacked on three more rushing touchdowns, including a 6-yard scamper from true freshman quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who looked more comfortable with each subsequent play. With an average starting field position of their own 43 in the second half, the Hokies found ways around anything the Bobcats defense managed to throw at them.

“Defensively we got a lot of third downs that we should have got ourselves off the field and they were able to convert,” strong safety Michael Mitchell said, adding that he was impressed with Taylor's 18-of-31, 287 yard passing performance.

“(Taylor)'s a good young quarterback,” Mitchell said. “He did a good job but we just had too many mental mistakes on defense to beat a good team like Virginia Tech.”