Blacksburg, Va. ? November in Blacksburg always seems to have Big East championship implications, and it did again Wednesday night. This time, though, it was West Virginia that stayed alive.

The Mountaineers (8-3, 5-1 Big East) ran all over No. 13 Virginia Tech for three quarters and then made two huge defensive stands in the final minutes to preserve a 21-18 victory ” and their hopes for a title.

First, the Mountaineers stopped the Hokies on three straight rushes from inside the 1-yard line, the last with 3:51 left. Then, Brian King intercepted Bryan Randall’s pass into the end zone with 12 seconds left ” a questionable decision, considering the Hokies were easily in range for the tying field goal.

“This is a big thing,” West Virginia linebacker James Davis said. “We needed to show everybody around the world that we’ve got a good team.”

The loss was the third in a row for Virginia Tech (8-3, 3-3), which started 8-0 and had dreams of a national championship.

One year after finishing 3-8 and in disarray, West Virginia can gain a share of the Big East title if No. 17 Pittsburgh beats top-ranked Miami on Thursday night and the Mountaineers then beat the Panthers on Nov. 30.

Winning this one was a good way to get ready for a big finish.

The Mountaineers came in with the nation’s No. 2 running game, averaging 295 yards, and proved itself against the rapidly deteriorating Hokies.

West Virginia quarterback Rasheed Marshall (2) celebrates as the clock winds down. West Virginia beat Virginia Tech, 21-18, on Wednesday in Blacksburg, Va.

Quincy Wilson ran for 125 yards on just 11 carries, including a 42-yard touchdown run, and the Mountaineers gained 263 yards on the ground.

West Virginia also struck quickly, with drives covering 80 yards in five plays, 70 yards in five plays and 86 yards in six plays

Wilson’s big run, with 4:09 left in the third quarter, gave West Virginia a 21-10 lead, and some breathing room it sorely needed.

“I was tired,” starter Avon Cobourne said. “I said ‘Go ahead, Q. Get in there.’ Then the first play, he busts it. I was like, ‘Thank you, Jesus.’ A lot of people saw this game. It was a program-builder.”

It was the play of the game until the closing minutes, when the Mountaineers’ defense was called on ” twice ” to finish the victory.

On the goal-line stand, set up when Lee Suggs ran 8 yards on first-and-goal from the 9, West Virginia twice stopped Suggs, including on fourth down. Suggs said he crossed the goal line plane, but the officials didn’t agree.

After gaining only 2 yards on three straight rushes, West Virginia punter Mark Fazzolari stepped out of the end zone for a safety with 2:30 remaining, pulling the Hokies within a field goal of forcing overtime.

The Mountaineers’ strategy backfired when Todd James’ free kick went out of bounds, giving the Hokies the ball at midfield with 2:26 left. Randall started driving his team, getting a first-and-10 from the 11 with 21 seconds remaining.