By JEFF MEZYDLO
STATS Senior Writer

No. 23 Virginia Tech (5-3) at East Carolina (5-3), 7:30 p.m. EDT

After two consecutive losses, Virginia Tech is looking for some
motivation. Facing East Carolina could help provide just that.

Trying to avoid their first three-game losing streak in six
years, the visiting 22nd-ranked Hokies look to avenge a rare
loss to the Pirates in a non-conference matchup Thursday night.

On Oct. 10, Virginia Tech (5-3) beat Boston College 48-14 for
its fifth straight win to remain in the national championship
picture. However, after losing 28-23 at then-No. 19 Georgia Tech
and being upset 20-17 at home by North Carolina last Thursday,
the Hokies are looking for motivation with their national title
hopes dashed and ACC championship game chances suddenly slim.

"I think the motivation is to come out here so you don't feel
like this again," said Hokies linebacker Cody Grimm, dismissing
a sixth consecutive 10-win season as a motivator. "Ten wins is
one thing, but I don't want to feel like this any more and the
only way to do that is to win."

Virginia Tech hasn't lost three in a row since dropping its
final two regular-season games and falling 52-49 to California
in the 2003 Insight Bowl. The Hokies were 5-3 at this point last
year and went on to win five of six to finish 10-4.

That should be enough to give the Hokies a boost Thursday. If
not, the memory of last season's 27-22 upset loss to East
Carolina in Charlotte, N. C., could help.

The Hokies had won six straight in the series, but the Pirates
returned a blocked punt 27 yards for a touchdown with 1:52 left
to stun then-No. 17 Virginia Tech in its season opener.

Though Virginia Tech leads the series 9-5, it should again be in
for a challenge while making its first visit to Greenville since
a 45-28 win Sept. 7, 2000.

"You get into some of these big-game atmospheres and it's good
to see our players understand the type of effort it's going to
take," said East Carolina coach Skip Holtz, whose team has won
six in a row at home.

"There is an awful lot of buildup and excitement for this game,
venue and atmosphere. I think Greenville will come alive a
little bit Thursday. We're really excited to not only play
Virginia Tech, but to play the team at home."

Virginia Tech couldn't hold a 14-0 lead against the Pirates last
year and failed to keep a late three-point, fourth-quarter lead
against North Carolina last week. Ryan Williams' fumble led to
the Tar Heels' game-winning field goal as time expired and
dropped the Hokies to 3-2 in the ACC.

Like his teammates, Williams - a freshman who's rushed for 930
yards and 10 TDs - knows he must move on.

"There's no reason to dwell on it. I can't take it back,"
Williams said. "I can't change what happened. Thursday, I'll be
the same old guy and I'll be ready to play."

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor was sacked three times and did not
throw a touchdown pass last Thursday after tossing at least one
in six straight games and five over his previous three contests.
Virginia Tech was held to 256 yards - its fewest since totaling
155 in a season-opening loss to Alabama.

Defensively, the Hokies allowed 181 yards on the ground after
giving up a season-high 309 against Georgia Tech. Virginia Tech
allows 154.1 rushing yards per contest.

"I firmly believe we are a good football team," coach Frank
Beamer said. "But the problem has been being consistently good.
We have to continue to work to get that consistency."

East Carolina (5-3) rushed for 158 yards against Virginia Tech
last season and a season-high 275 in a 38-19 win at Memphis last
Tuesday. The Pirates, first in Conference USA's East Division,
average 149.4 yards on the ground.

Dominique Lindsay rushed 22 times for 139 yards and Patrick
Pinkney threw for 216 yards and a touchdown while running for
two more scores as East Carolina won for the fourth time in five
games.

Pinkney was 19 of 23 for 211 yards with a touchdown through the
air and one on the ground against Virginia Tech last season.

East Carolina's 31-17 loss at then-No. 24 North Carolina on
Sept. 19 snapped a three-game winning streak against ranked
opponents.