The Hurricane defense picked up the slack by limiting BC to just seven points.

Additionally, the Hurricane defense scored eight touchdowns of its own.

The Hurricane defense had surrendered just 58 points all season, and Miami carried a 7-game winning streak against top-ranked opponents into the clash.

For the first half, McNabb had his way with the once-feared Hurricane defense.

That climaxed a 10-play, 64-yard drive against a suspect Hurricane defense.

Meanwhile, the Hurricane defense was knocking Virginia Tech backward.

However, a couple of long pass plays surrendered by the Hurricane defense early in the game proved to be the difference.

Suddenly, pushed by the noise and the potential consequences of a second straight defeat at home, the Hurricane defense responded.

Weakside linebacker Jessie Armstead, who had only blitzed one previous time this afternoon, made his charge from the left side of the Hurricane defense.

But that was before the Hurricane defense figured out Syracuse's option offense.