The Hokies (4-1) have won four straight after losing their opener to East Carolina. The Huskers (3-1) lost a nonconference home game for only the third time since 1991.
The Cornhuskers started their rally after trailing 28-10 in the final minute of the third quarter. Roy Helu scored from 12 yards and Nate Swift ran back a punt 88 yards for a touchdown.
Tyrod Taylor scored from 2 yards out to give Virginia Tech a 35-23 lead with 2:28 left, but Ganz led the Huskers 80 yards in 56 seconds, hitting Todd Peterson with a 17-yard touchdown pass to get the Huskers within five. Virginia Tech recovered the onside kick but failed to run out the clock.
The Huskers started their last possession at their own 10 with 25 seconds left. Joe Ganz hit Niles Paul for 21 yards and Peterson for 25 more, but cornerback Stephan Virgil knocked the ball loose and safety Dorian Porch recovered to secure the win for Virginia Tech.
Taylor, 8-0 as the Hokies' starting quarterback, rushed for 87 yards and completed 9-of-15 passes for 171 yards. Ganz was 17-of-26 for 278 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception.
Virginia Tech got out to a quick 9-0 lead, marking the first time in seven games that the Hokies scored in the opening quarter.
Virgil came up the gut untouched to block Dan Titchener's punt out of the end zone for a safety, making this the 16th straight year that Virginia Tech has blocked at least one.
The Hokies added to their lead after Victor "Macho" Harris returned an interception to the Nebraska 11, setting up Evans' 1-yard touchdown.
The Huskers pulled to 9-7 when Virginia Tech's secondary bit on a play-action fake and Ganz hit an all-alone Mike McNeill for a 32-yard touchdown.
Virginia Tech was up 18-10 at half after Keys kicked field goals of 19, 38 and 27 yards on consecutive possessions, and he added a 36-yarder to end the first series of the third quarter.
Nebraska beat Virginia Tech 41-24 in 1996 Orange Bowl, the teams' only previous meeting.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/9/213714