BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -- Michael Vick was hurt, so No. 11 Virginia Tech had to rely on backup Dave Meyer. Meyer, meanwhile, relied on the Hokies' stout defense.

Despite throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble, Meyer was able to pace Tech to a 31-10 victory over UAB thanks to a big effort by the defense.

"Guys were just coming up and saying, 'Stick with it. We have confidence in you, just play the game. The defense will back you up,"' Meyer said.

The Hokies allowed just 63 yards, a school record, and senior end Corey Moore had three sacks.

"I don't think everybody realizes what a great player we're seeing sometimes," Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "He has such a get-off (on a pass rush). He just beats everybody. He's a step ahead of everybody, and then after that, he's so fast. I don't think there is an offensive lineman in the country that can catch him."

"I've played them all through the years and this is the toughest (defense)," UAB coach Watson Brown said. Tech has outscored UAB 109-10 in their three games.

"These three years have been really tough," Brown said. "The scheme is tough. The players are very quick and they're very confident. They're the best I've played and that includes Nebraska, Tennesee and Arizona. I've played them all."

Shyrone Stith rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown and Andre Kendrick threw a 35-yard halfback pass for the Hokies (2-0). Kendrick's pass got Tech started again after UAB (0-2) had cut a 17-0 deficit to 17-10.

With 13:45 to play, Kendrick, a former high school quarterback, took a handoff from Meyer and found Andre Davis for the TD that gave Tech all the margin it needed.

"As soon as I took the pitch, I started laughing because the free safety came up so fast," Kendrick said. "I was so anxious, I just threw it out there. I was kind of scared I overthrew it because I was so anxious."

Meyer opened the scoring with a 41-yard pass to Emmett Johnson 2:08 into the game.

Tech's defense set up the Hokies' second touchdown, forcing the Blazers to punt from their 1 after Ike Charlton and Moore each tackled runners for losses. Tech had to drive only 39 yards in six plays, the last Stith's 1-yard dive over the pile.

Meyer's pass was intercepted at the Hokies 29 and UAB immediately converted on Daniel Dixon's TD pass to Percy Coleman with 11:10 left in the second quarter. When Jake Arians, son of former Virginia Tech quarterback Bruce Arians, kicked a career-long 47-yard field goal 38 seconds before halftime, the Blazers trailed only 17-10.

Reserve tailback Lee Suggs scored Tech's final touchdown on a 1-yard run with 2:07 left in the game.

"I think you give Alabama-Birmingham credit," Beaner said. "They're an improved program. Watson Brown has done a good job there. It's a good win for us, and now we see if we can get ready for Clemson."