Boston ? Virginia Tech stayed unbeaten by doing what it does best run the ball and force turnovers and passed its toughest test so far.

The fourth-ranked Hokies improved to 6-0 for the fifth straight season as Lee Suggs and Kevin Jones both rushed for more than 140 yards in a 28-23 victory over Boston College on Thursday night.

“Basically, it was run it and pound it,” Hokies coach Frank Beamer said. “For the overall goals of this football team, we need to throw it better.”

That hasn’t been necessary so far as Virginia Tech has averaged 240 yards rushing and the defense has produced 20 turnovers. The offense has committed just five.

The Hokies, second in the nation in turnover differential, needed three of them in or near the end zone to stop BC drives and win their seventh straight game against the Eagles. Virginia Tech had three interceptions against Brian St. Pierre and one fumble recovery.

“All in all, that’s a good night against that defense,” BC coach Tom O’Brien said of St. Pierre, who threw for 232 yards and was sacked once.

He also scored on a 1-yard run that made it 28-23 with 49 seconds to go. Then the Hokies came through again as Michael Crawford intercepted the 2-point conversion attempt.

Virginia Tech quarterback Bryan Randall (3) is sacked by Boston College's Derric Rossy, right. Tech slipped past BC, 28-23, on Thursday in Boston.

“They fought until the end,” Virginia Tech safety Willie Pile said. “We were fortunate to come out with a win.”

Suggs rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns, Jones ran for 144 yards and one score, and the Hokies amassed 334 yards on 61 carries in their Big East opener. That was still less than their season-high of 395 yards in a 47-21 win over Marshall.

The Hokies have only one game left against a ranked team, No. 1 Miami in the regular-season finale. BC (3-2, 0-2) already has lost to Miami.

Jamal Burke’s 83-yard punt return 1:03 before halftime made it 14-7 and was the first touchdown in the first half against Virginia Tech this season.

“That was a big play,” O’Brien said. “It got us back in the game.”