Associated Press

Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) threw for 137 yards and ran for 61 yards against East Carolina on Thursday.

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Yes, it was a boring game. And no, Virginia Tech did not put up a lot of points.

But Thursday's win sure lifted the Hokies' spirits.

The Tech football team will have a much more enjoyable respite than it did last weekend, thanks to a 16-3 win over East Carolina.

"It's a long weekend off, which is good. ... We can watch football and enjoy it and not think about our game -- or if we do think about it, be happy at least," linebacker Cody Grimm said Thursday night after the game. "You're watching football [last] Saturday and you're like, 'We lost.' It's not as fun."

The No. 22 Hokies (6-3) were coming off back-to-back losses to Georgia Tech and unranked North Carolina. This was their second straight Thursday night game on ESPN, and the Hokies did not want to make another lousy impression.

"We couldn't play the way we did last week again, in front of everyone," said Grimm, who had 12 tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery.

The win did not provide scintillating TV viewing. But all the Hokies cared about was avoiding a third straight defeat.

"That's definitely the biggest emphasis, just to get the win," said cornerback Rashad Carmichael, who picked off a pass. "Especially after two losses, ... a win is a win."

"Sloppy or not sloppy, I think a win was good for this team," quarterback Tyrod Taylor said.

The Tech defense held ECU to its fewest points in a home game in 12 years. Ryan Williams rushed for 179 yards, and Taylor passed for 137 yards.

"It's been a tough couple weeks here, but I'm really, really proud of our players and our coaches," Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "For us to come in here after last week and the tough loss, ... it just says a lot. I use that word 'relentless' and that's exactly how I describe this football team."

This could be another good November for Beamer's bunch, especially since lightweights Maryland, N.C. State and Virginia are up next. Since going 1-3 in November in both 2002 and 2003, the Hokies are 17-2 in November outings.

"I don't know exactly know our record in November, but it's pretty good over the last few years," Beamer said. "What it says is we continue to improve throughout the season."

But the Hokies managed just one touchdown -- a 13-yard run by Taylor. A Taylor fumble cost Tech another TD, and the Hokies had to settle for field goals three times.

Tech led just 13-3 after three quarters.

"It was a little scary because we felt like we should be up by more," Grimm said. "We're like, 'We're doing a good job and we're only up by 10 still.' ... We could've had them put away earlier, but we stayed together.

"What we didn't do the last couple weeks is finish at the end. We did today."

The defense had trouble getting off the field in the back-to-back losses. The Yellow Jackets had the ball for 38:22, and the Tar Heels had the ball for 36:14. But on Thursday, ECU had the ball for 25:03. The Pirates were just 4-of-14 on third down, so there were fewer long drives.

"We eliminated the big plays, and I think that's the key," Grimm said. "When you eliminate the offensive plays, they can't get in sequence, get things rolling, know what you're in.

"When you're on the field more, they can get more reads like, 'Okay, when we're coming out in this, they're usually in this coverage.' "

The Tech offense wanted to help reduce ECU's possession time by running the ball to take some time off the clock.

Taylor did his part, rushing for 61 yards.

"Tyrod was tremendous, keeping plays alive a couple times and getting first downs and running tough," Beamer said.

Williams aided the cause with a great outing, including a 46-yard run in the second quarter in which the Pirates missed several tackles.

"I just ran hard," Williams said. "The biggest play that I had, I got hit by three or four people and I just continued to keep my legs moving."

"Some of those runs, that was relentless," Beamer said. "People looked like they had him and he just kind of kept going."

Williams bounced back after a crucial fumble in last week's loss that left him devastated.

"I researched on Walter Payton, how many fumbles he had -- all my favorite running backs," he said. "And I just realized that it happens to everybody.

"Things happen. I can't be perfect. But I can try to be as close to it as I can."